A step-by-step diagnostic app that walks you through common heating faults, shows you how to fix them, and only calls a plumber when you actually need one. Save £100-£350 per call-out.
The average UK emergency plumbing call-out costs £110-£350, yet 30-40% of call-outs are for trivial issues: bleeding a radiator, repressurising a boiler, checking the thermostat. Homeowners pay hundreds for 5-minute fixes because there's no trusted diagnostic tool.
UK homeowners pay emergency rates for problems they could fix themselves. A radiator that won't heat up often just needs bleeding — 2 minutes, zero cost.
23.6M UK homes have central heating. Most homeowners can't tell a pressure fault from a thermostat issue. They call a plumber for everything.
Homeowners worry they'll break something. Without guided, safe instructions, they default to paying a professional — even for simple fixes.
Boilers fail at 8pm on a Sunday. Out-of-hours call-outs cost £200-£350. Many are simple thermostat resets that take 30 seconds.
Current options: YouTube videos (not interactive) or call a plumber (£££). Nothing in between that says 'try this first, and if it doesn't work, here's who to call.'
Every month, 50,000-80,000 people Google 'boiler not working' in the UK. They find forums, videos, and plumber listings — no structured diagnostic tool.
A Progressive Web App that asks you what's wrong, walks you through checks with pictures and videos, shows you how to fix it, and only connects you to a vetted plumber when it's beyond a DIY fix. Available on any device, no download needed.
Answer simple questions about what's happening. 'Is the boiler making noise?' 'Which radiators are cold?' The app narrows down the fault to 2-3 likely causes.
Each diagnosis links to a short video showing exactly how to fix it. Bleeding a radiator, topping up pressure, resetting a thermostat — all filmed from the homeowner's perspective.
The app detects gas-related symptoms and immediately redirects to 'Call a Gas Safe engineer now.' Never advises on gas work — fully compliant.
If the fix requires a professional, one tap sends your diagnosis summary to a vetted plumber on WhatsApp. They arrive knowing exactly what's wrong.
The app builds a profile of your heating system. Annual service reminders, efficiency tips, and seasonal checks to prevent breakdowns before they happen.
Every 'need a plumber' tap is a qualified lead for SoVael's existing trades pipeline. The app is both a consumer tool AND a lead-gen engine.
Conservative projections. Free tier drives adoption; Pro tier converts DIYers; referral fees and white-label deals drive B2B revenue. Breakeven by Year 2.
| Metric | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Users (Year 3) | 5,000 | 18,000 | 35,000 |
| Pro Users (£4.99 one-time) | 500 | 2,500 | 5,500 |
| Premium Users (£2.99/mo) | 100 | 600 | 1,200 |
| Pro Revenue | £2,495 | £12,475 | £27,445 |
| Premium Revenue | £3,588 | £21,528 | £43,056 |
| Plumber Referral Fees (£20/lead) | £12,000 | £36,000 | £72,000 |
| White-Label (10 firms) | £0 | £24,000 | £60,000 |
| Total Revenue | £18,083 | £94,003 | £202,501 |
| Operating Costs | (£36,000) | (£48,000) | (£60,000) |
| Net Profit | (£17,917) | £46,003 | £142,501 |
| 3-Year ROI | 180% |
No. It's a Progressive Web App (PWA) — it works in your phone browser, no download needed. You can add it to your home screen and it works like a native app, even offline.
Yes. £110 is the average emergency call-out. If the app helps you fix one radiator that just needed bleeding, you've saved £110. If it prevents one unnecessary out-of-hours call, you've saved £200-£350.
The app will never advise you on gas work. It detects gas-related symptoms and immediately tells you to call a Gas Safe engineer. All guided fixes are for water-side issues only: bleeding radiators, repressurising, thermostat checks.
One tap connects you to a vetted, local plumber on WhatsApp. Your diagnosis summary is sent ahead so the plumber arrives knowing exactly what's wrong — saving you time and money.
Yes. The basic symptom checker and top 3 fixes are free forever. The full diagnostic tree, video guides, and boiler manual lookup unlock for £4.99 one-time.
Full business case, app architecture, go-to-market strategy, financial model, and 90-day launch plan — £49.
Nobody claimed this opportunity. Sovael Studio launches internally in 30 days if no buyer emerges.