The Purple Plumbing People
BackBased in Faringdon, The Purple Plumbing People have established a formidable reputation, not just as local tradespeople, but as a benchmark for customer service in the plumbing and heating sector. This family-run business, with a reported 60 years of combined experience, has garnered an overwhelmingly positive reception from clients, reflected in a near-perfect online rating score from well over 100 reviews. Customers frequently describe a seamless and professional experience from the first phone call to the completion of the job, a testament to the company's well-organised structure.
Service Quality and Professionalism
One of the most consistently praised aspects of The Purple Plumbing People is the calibre of their engineers. Technicians are repeatedly described as punctual, polite, knowledgeable, and exceptionally tidy. Testimonials often highlight how engineers take care within a client's home, demonstrating a level of respect that builds immediate trust. This professionalism extends to their technical abilities. Whether tackling a simple dripping tap, replacing a stopcock, or undertaking a full boiler installation, the workmanship is noted for being of a very high standard. The company demonstrates impressive resourcefulness, with one customer noting that when a supplier issue arose, the team quickly sourced an alternative part to ensure the job was completed the same day, avoiding inconvenience.
Range of Plumbing Services
The Purple Plumbing People offer a comprehensive suite of services that go beyond basic repairs. Their expertise is broad, positioning them as a versatile contractor for many household needs. Crucially, they are both Gas Safe registered (Reg No: 574243) and OFTEC registered, which is a legal requirement for any engineer working on gas appliances and a vital mark of competence for oil-based systems. This ensures they are qualified to handle a wide array of tasks safely and legally.
- Central Heating: They specialise in complete central heating installation, maintenance, and repairs for gas, oil, and LPG systems. This includes boiler servicing, power flushing, and radiator work.
- Boiler Work: Services cover the full spectrum of boiler repair, annual boiler servicing, and full replacements. They also handle landlord gas safety certificates.
- General Plumbing: This includes fixing leaks, burst pipes, and addressing issues with taps, toilets, and showers.
- Bathroom Installations: Through a sister company, they offer complete bathroom and wet room design and installation, including mobility bathrooms.
Customer Experience and Pricing
The customer journey appears to be a core focus. Administrative staff are noted for being helpful and efficient, providing clear communication and follow-up calls. This strong back-office support ensures that appointments are managed effectively and that clients feel well-informed throughout the process. In terms of cost, while they may not be the absolute cheapest option available, customers frequently describe their pricing as "very reasonable" and feel the quality of the service provides excellent value for money. This suggests a pricing structure that is transparent and fair, aligning with the high quality of work delivered.
Points to Consider
No service is without its potential drawbacks, and there are a few points for potential customers to bear in mind. The most significant is the company's operating hours. Their standard schedule is Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with weekends listed as closed. While their website mentions a "limited out of hours service", those in need of a 24-hour emergency plumber for a crisis that occurs late on a Saturday night or a Sunday morning may need to look elsewhere. The term "emergency" in their service list seems to primarily apply to rapid responses during their core business week, where they have been known to attend to leaks within the hour.
Another consideration is their popularity. As a highly-regarded team of local plumbers, their schedule can be busy. This means that for non-urgent work, it may be necessary to book in advance. While this is a sign of a successful business, it could be a minor inconvenience for those hoping for immediate availability for a routine job.
Final Assessment
In conclusion, The Purple Plumbing People stand out as a premier choice for plumbing and heating needs in Faringdon and the surrounding areas of Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire. Their strengths lie in their exceptional customer service, highly professional and skilled engineers, and a comprehensive range of certified services. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from a large number of customers speaks volumes about their reliability and the quality of their workmanship. While the limited weekend availability is a definite factor to consider for out-of-hours emergencies, for any planned projects or weekday urgent repairs, they have proven themselves to be one of the most trusted and competent plumbers in the region.