The second Quality Plumber Week, which takes place from 28 September to 4 October, celebrates the essential and highly skilled work plumbers carry out every day.

Doing the jobs that most householders would rather leave, plumbers often come to the rescue with burst pipes and broken boilers but are rarely recognised for the service they provide.


Organised by Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors (APHC), the week aims to raise awareness of skills within the plumbing and heating industry, while shining a spotlight on the many plumbing businesses that play a vital part in our communities from unblocking sinks to making sure drinking water is safe. Quality Plumber Week will also stress the importance of using properly qualified, trained and accredited plumbers in a bid to reduce the numbers of rogue traders operating in the industry.


Plumbing and heating engineers work across a wide-range of specialisms from traditional pipework, boiler installations and seemingly simple plumbing work, to increasingly popular new green technologies such as biomass boilers and ground source heat pumps. Yet, whatever the job, quality plumbers have extensive training and experience behind them to ensure the latest regulations and safety measures are met. These are constantly under review, with professional plumbing firms working hard to keep up-to-date to comply with these in order to protect their customers.


John Thompson, chief executive of APHC, said: "There are thousands of excellent plumbers working throughout England and Wales; who provide exceptional service and advice to homes and businesses. Unfortunately for them rogue traders seem to grab the headlines, which tarnishes the entire industry.


"The plumbing industry prides itself on extremely high standards, with plumbers and suppliers continually developing new systems and technologies to benefit the way we live. Plumbing businesses also contribute significantly to our economy; for example youth employment is being addressed via apprenticeships and on the job training to ensure the next generation of plumbers are competent in the trade."


Plumbers are being encouraged to get involved and win 'seven prizes in seven days'. Quality plumbers can post pictures of themselves working on quality installations throughout the week using the hashtag #QPW15 to be entered into a daily prize draw.


Working with partner trade suppliers, prizes include:



  • A wetroom kit from AKW Ltd

  • MagnaCleanse flushing system

  • Bosch professional cordless hammer drill

  • Polypipe plumbing equipment

  • Wilo backpacks

  • Hep20 goody bags from Wavin.


For more information on Quality Plumber Week, and to learn how you can get involved, visit www.aphc.co.uk/quality-plumber-week. You can also join the conversation on social media using hashtag #QPW15.