Trough repair in Exeter
Professional trough repair services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-110
Typical Duration
1-2 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Water troughs repaired - leaks sealed, cracks fixed, float valves sorted. Get your livestock water holding properly without constant refilling or waste.
Leaking Troughs Waste Water And Your Time
If your livestock trough is leaking, cracking, or constantly draining, you're wasting water and spending time refilling it far too often. Most trough problems are fixable with the right materials and know-how.
💡 Pro tip: Catch trough problems early - small cracks are easy to seal, big splits often mean replacement. Check troughs regularly, especially before winter when freezing can turn small cracks into big problems overnight.
Common Trough Problems
| Problem | Typical Cause | Fix Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Leaking cracks | Age, frost damage, impact | Seal with epoxy or sealant |
| Rust holes (metal) | Corrosion from water/weather | Patch or replace if widespread |
| Brittle plastic | UV degradation | Replace - too far gone to fix reliably |
| Leaking joins | Sealant failed, movement | Re-seal with proper materials |
| Float valve issues | Sediment, worn mechanism | Clean, adjust, or replace valve |
What You Get
🔧 Typical Repairs
| Type | What's Done |
|---|---|
| Crack sealing | Clean crack, apply proper sealant or weld |
| Hole patching | Patch rust holes in metal troughs |
| Joint resealing | Strip old sealant, re-seal properly |
| Float valve | Clean, repair, or replace mechanism |
| Plumbing | Fix leaking pipes or connections |
📦 You're Left With
- Trough that holds water properly
- No more constant refilling
- Working float valve if you have one
- Repair that'll last (if trough is sound)
Pricing Guide
| Repair Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Small crack/leak seal | 1 hr | £60 |
| Multiple repairs or valve work | 1.5 hrs | £85 |
| Extensive repairs or replumbing | 2 hrs | £110 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Add materials - sealants, patches, replacement valves if needed. Very damaged troughs may need replacement rather than repair.
Worth Repairing If...
✅ Single problem - one crack or leak, rest of trough sound
✅ Good condition overall - not brittle, cracked throughout, or very old
✅ Quality trough - heavy-duty ones worth fixing, cheap ones not so much
❌ Replace instead: Multiple cracks, brittle plastic, widespread rust, very old and degraded
Why Choose Us for Trough repair in Exeter?
Leaks sealed with proper materials
Cracked troughs repaired or replaced
Float valves and plumbing fixed
Saves water and refilling hassle
What to Expect
Step 1: Assess The Damage
I'll check where it's leaking, how bad the damage is, and whether the trough is worth fixing or past saving. Honest assessment - sometimes repair is pointless on a trough that's done.
Step 2: Source Materials
If you need specific sealants, patch materials, or replacement valves, I'll advise what's needed or supply it. Different trough materials need different repair approaches.
Step 3: Make Repairs
Clean and prep the damaged area properly - this matters more than people think. Apply sealant or patch, fix any plumbing issues, test it holds water before calling it done.
🔧 DIY Tips
Basic trough repairs are often DIY-able if you know what you're doing:
🔧 Materials you might need
- Epoxy putty or two-part sealant
- Fiberglass patch kit (for larger holes)
- Wire brush and sandpaper
- Degreaser or cleaner
- Silicone or mastic (for joins)
- Replacement float valve if needed
🔨 Sealing cracks properly
- Empty and clean trough completely - repairs don't stick to dirty surfaces
- Roughen area around crack with sandpaper - gives key
- Degrease thoroughly - critical step people skip
- Let it dry completely - can't seal wet cracks
- Apply epoxy putty or two-part sealant generously
- Smooth it down, let cure fully before refilling (read instructions!)
- Some repairs need 24-48 hours curing time
📐 Patching holes
- Metal troughs: fiberglass patch or epoxy repair
- Large holes need backing plate for support
- Clean rust completely before patching - wire brush or grinder
- Patch both sides if you can access it
- Paint over metal patches to stop new rust
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Not cleaning/prepping surface - repair fails immediately
- Filling trough before sealant has cured - waste of time and materials
- Using wrong type of sealant for the material
- Trying to repair troughs that are genuinely past saving
- Not finding and fixing the actual cause (like overflow pipe blocked)
💡 Pro trick: For pinhole leaks in metal troughs that you can't easily access, try filling with a small amount of bentonite clay powder in the water - it often seals small holes from the inside as animals drink. Not a permanent fix but buys time.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
💧 Winter damage: Freezing water expands and can turn small cracks into big splits overnight. If you have troughs that leak slightly, either fix them before winter or break ice daily so it doesn't freeze solid and force cracks wider.
Float valve maintenance: Most float valve problems are preventable - flush them out every few months if your water source carries sediment. Much easier than repairs.
Prevention: Position troughs where livestock can't damage them by leaning or rubbing. A kicked or barged trough cracks more easily.
Material differences: Plastic troughs rarely repair well once brittle from UV - the whole thing is degraded, not just the crack. Metal troughs often worth fixing. Concrete troughs are hardest to repair effectively.
Replacement cost: Sometimes a new trough is genuinely cheaper than messing about with repairs. Plastic field troughs are £30-100 depending on size - if repair takes two hours and materials, might as well buy new.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you fix a cracked plastic trough?
Depends on the crack. Small cracks in plastic troughs can often be sealed with proper plastic welding or two-part epoxy. Big cracks or multiple splits usually mean the trough's done - plastic gets brittle with age and UV. I'll tell you straight if repair will hold or if replacement makes more sense.
My metal trough is rusting through - worth fixing?
Rust holes can be patched but it's usually a temporary fix - once metal troughs start rusting through, more holes appear. If it's just surface rust, cleaning and coating helps. Holes right through? Patch might buy you a year or two but budget for replacement. Galvanized troughs last much longer.
The float valve on my trough keeps sticking - can you fix it?
Usually yes - float valves stick from sediment buildup or the float mechanism seizing. Clean it out, check the valve seat, replace the mechanism if it's worn. Sometimes easier to replace the whole float valve assembly than mess about repairing a knackered one.
How long do trough repairs typically last?
Depends what's wrong. Properly sealed cracks or holes in good condition troughs can last years. Patches on troughs that are generally past it might only buy you months. Repaired float valve plumbing should last as long as the parts themselves.
Should I just replace the trough instead of repairing?
If it's a small specific problem (one crack, leaking joint, faulty valve), repair is usually cheaper and quicker. If it's old, brittle, multiple cracks, or the whole thing's on its last legs, replacement makes more sense. I'll advise honestly when I see it.
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