Not every fault that appears on a Friday evening needs an out-of-hours call-out, and some that look minor should not be left. Voltify Contractors provides property maintenance in West Ham as part of its documented E15 coverage, covering plumbing, electrical repairs, decorating and general handyman work. This page helps you judge the difference: what is usually urgent, how to make things safe in the meantime, and when a standard-hours visit is the sensible choice.
Why the timing affects the cost
Standard working hours are 7am–5pm, Monday to Friday, and the documented standard minimum call-out is £80 for the first hour. Outside those hours, emergency call-outs are available, but they are priced differently and carry a different minimum charge. If a problem can be made safe and left until the next working day, waiting is usually the cheaper option. If it cannot, it should not wait.
Urgent now, or fine until the next working day?
| What is happening | Usually | What to do first |
|---|---|---|
| Water leaking that you cannot stop, or coming through a ceiling near light fittings | Urgent | Turn off the stopcock. If water is near electrics, switch off at the consumer unit only if you can reach it without touching anything wet. |
| Burning smell, scorch marks, or a socket or switch that feels hot | Urgent | Switch that circuit off at the consumer unit and do not use it until it has been checked. |
| No power anywhere in the home | Check first | If neighbours are also without power, it is likely a power cut: call 105. If only your home is off, check whether the main switch or a trip switch has gone off. |
| One circuit keeps tripping | Can often wait | Unplug everything on that circuit and reset it. If it trips with nothing plugged in, book an electrician. |
| Washing machine or dishwasher leaking | Can usually wait once isolated | Turn off its water valve and unplug it. |
| Toilet will not flush | Depends | Urgent if it is the only toilet in the home; otherwise book a standard-hours visit. |
| Dripping tap, slow drain, loose handle or blown bulb | Can wait | Book during standard hours. |
| You smell gas | Emergency, but not for us | Leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. Gas work is not among the services Voltify Contractors lists. |
Making a leak safe while you wait
- Turn the stopcock clockwise to shut off the water. It is often under the kitchen sink or in a cupboard near where the supply enters.
- Open the cold taps to drain water still in the pipes.
- If water has reached light fittings or sockets, keep away from them and switch off the affected circuits if it is safe to do so.
- Catch drips, move belongings and take photos. They help whoever carries out the repair, and your landlord or insurer if you need to report it.
After the emergency: the permanent repair
An urgent visit is mainly about stopping the damage. What follows is often better planned during standard hours: replacing the failed pipe or fitting through plumbing repairs, testing and repairing affected circuits through electrical services, then repairing plaster and repainting stained ceilings through painting and decorating. Smaller follow-up jobs, such as refitting a boxed-in pipe or rehanging a door that swelled, come under handyman and property maintenance.
To arrange either type of visit, call 020 3411 1855 or email info@voltifycontractors.co.uk, and say what has happened, what you have already switched off, and whether you own or rent the property.
West Ham and surrounding coverage
West Ham shares E15 coverage with Stratford and Stratford New Town, and Voltify Contractors also covers Canning Town in E16. See the full list of areas we cover, or view all services.
