Water Leak Detection
A damp patch, a stain on the ceiling, a water bill that has doubled or a meter that keeps turning with every tap off. We find where the water is coming from with as little disruption as possible, and if anything does need opening up we agree the spot with you first.
Water leak detection, step by step
Most water leaks show themselves a long way from where they start. Water runs along joists, down cavities and across the top of ceilings, so the stain you can see is rarely above the pipe that is failing. Guessing, and opening walls and floors until the leak turns up, is slow, expensive and leaves you with a repair bill for the damage caused by the search.
We start by working out which system is leaking: the cold mains, the hot water, the heating circuit or a waste pipe. A pressure test on each, a check of the meter and a test strip on the escaping water usually answer that within the first hour. From there the right tool does the rest: a thermal camera to map hot pipe runs and wet areas, an acoustic ground microphone to listen for the leak through floors and screeds, and hydrogen tracer gas for pipes that are buried, boxed in or simply silent.
Once the leak is pinpointed we mark it, photograph it and, if you want us to, open up only that spot and repair it. You get a written report with the readings, thermal images and photographs, which is exactly what your buildings insurer asks for under trace and access cover.
Water leaks in our own photos
From your first call to a leak you can see in the report
Call or WhatsApp with a few photos and a line about the symptoms. We ask a handful of questions, agree a fixed price and book the survey, usually for the same or the next day.
On arrival we pressure test the mains, hot water and heating, check the meter and test the escaping water, so we know what we are looking for before the detection starts.
Thermal imaging, the acoustic ground microphone and tracer gas are used as the pipework dictates until the leak is marked on the floor or wall.
You get a written report with readings, thermal images and photographs, ready for a trace and access claim. If you want the leak fixed, we open that one spot and repair it.
A report your insurer can act on
Most buildings insurance policies include trace and access cover for finding a hidden leak and making good the way in. Our report is written for that claim: what we tested, what we found, where it is, with photographs, thermal images and readings.
- Turn off the stop tap or the heating and stop topping up
- Photograph the damage, the boiler gauge and the meter
- Tell your insurer a leak is suspected and detection is being arranged
- Trace and access pays to find the leak and make good the access
Water leaks: questions answered
How do you find a water leak without damaging my home?
We use kit that works through walls and floors: a thermal imaging camera to see temperature differences, an acoustic ground microphone to hear water escaping under pressure, and tracer gas that rises through floors and walls to the point of the leak. Nothing is opened until we know exactly where the leak is.
How do I know I have a hidden leak?
Common signs are a water bill that has jumped, a meter that turns with every tap and appliance off, a boiler that keeps losing pressure, a warm patch on a floor, damp or staining that comes back after drying, low pressure at the taps, or a hissing sound in a quiet room.
How long does a leak detection survey take?
Most home surveys take between two and four hours. Larger properties, long pipe runs or leaks that only show under certain conditions can take longer, and we tell you before we start if that looks likely.
Do you repair the leak once you have found it?
Yes, if you want us to. Because the leak is pinpointed first, the repair is usually a small opening in one place rather than a whole floor or wall. If you would rather use your own plumber, the report and the marked location give them everything they need.
What does a water leak detection survey cost?
We agree a fixed price before we come out, based on a short conversation about the property and the symptoms. There are no hourly surprises, and if a leak cannot be located non-invasively we tell you honestly rather than keep going.
Related services
Think it is a water leaks problem?
Call now and we will tell you straight away whether it needs a same-day visit. Or send a photo of the stain, the meter or the boiler gauge on WhatsApp.
07516 755 680