Leak Detection & Repair

Advanced leak detection using thermal imaging and acoustic equipment to find hidden leaks without unnecessary damage.

Price: From £150
Typical time: Same day
Guarantee: 12 months on workmanship

9.96/10 on Checkatrade from 103 reviewsGas Safe registered, trading since 2009

Our work: Floorboards lifted along a hallway to trace a pipe run

About leak detection & repair

A hidden leak usually shows up as a damp patch, a musty smell, a warm patch of floor, or a water meter that keeps ticking over when nothing is running, and finding it without unnecessary damage starts with working out roughly where it is before anything gets opened up. Most jobs in Romford and the surrounding Havering area begin with a visual check - looking at pipe runs, joints, under sinks, and around bathrooms - since a lot of leaks are found this way without any specialist kit at all.

Where the leak isn't visible, depending on the leak we use a pressure test to confirm whether the sealed system is actually losing water and roughly how fast, and a moisture meter to check how far damp has travelled into a wall, floor, or ceiling. These give a good indication of where to look next without lifting floorboards speculatively.

For leaks that stay hidden after that - inside a solid floor or behind tiling, for example - specialist trace-and-access work using thermal imaging or acoustic listening equipment can be arranged. That's a more involved survey aimed at pinpointing the exact location before any opening-up work happens, so the repair itself is as targeted as possible.

Once the source is confirmed, the repair depends on what's found: a joint may just need reseating or resealing, a section of pipe may need replacing, or a fitting may need renewing. The aim throughout is to open up as little as possible and leave the property in a state that's easy to make good afterwards.

What's included

How the job runs, start to finish.

1Visual inspection of accessible pipework and fittings
2Pressure test to confirm whether the system is losing water
3Moisture readings to narrow down the affected area
4Arrange specialist trace-and-access survey if needed
5Open up only the section required to reach the leak
6Repair or replace the faulty joint, pipe, or fitting
7Re-test the repaired section before closing up
8Advise on making good the affected area

Leak Detection & Repair pricing

Price

From £150

Typical time: Same day

Non-Invasive
Thermal Imaging
Trace & Access
12-month workmanship guarantee

Every job is priced before any work starts, and quotes are free.

Call 07502 225764 Get a free quote

Signs you need leak detection & repair

A damp patch that doesn't dry out or keeps returning
A musty smell with no obvious source
Water meter still moving with everything turned off
A warm patch on a floor above a heating pipe run
Peeling paint or bubbling plaster near pipework
Unexplained rise in water bills
A boiler or heating system losing pressure repeatedly

What customers say

All 103 reviews

“Burst outside pipe in the freezing weather very quick response and fixed and very reasonable”
Plumbing Repair · Checkatrade review, RM14
“I requested Dan and his team to help locate and fix a leaking water pipe in a small block of flats. The work carried out was of an excellent standard with minimal fuss and in a timely manner. Dan and his team explained clearly the work that had to be done and communicated clearly with all parties impacted. Dan has undertaken a number of jobs for me in the last 2 years all of which have been completed to the highest standard. Highly recommended.”
Plumbing Repair · Checkatrade review, RM11
“Turned up on time. Done the job Done exactly what they said. Would recommend Excellent!”
Plumbing Repair · Checkatrade review, RM5

Leak Detection & Repair questions

Clear answers to your most common plumbing concerns.

How do you find a leak without breaking walls?

We use non-invasive technology like thermal imaging and acoustic sensors to pinpoint the leak precisely.

Will you need to lift my floor to find a leak?

Not always. Visual checks, pressure testing, and moisture readings often narrow the leak down enough to open up a small, specific section rather than a whole floor. Lifting boards more widely is only done when those methods can't pin down the location closely enough.

How do I know if I have a hidden leak at all?

A water meter that keeps moving with every tap and appliance off is one of the clearest signs, along with unexplained damp, a musty smell, or a heating system that keeps losing pressure. Any of these on their own is worth getting checked before the damage spreads.

Can a leak under a concrete floor be fixed without breaking it up?

Sometimes the pipe can be capped off and rerouted above floor level instead of chasing into the slab, depending on the layout. This gets assessed once the leak's general location is known, since it's not always possible for every system.

How long does leak detection take?

A straightforward leak found by visual inspection or pressure testing can often be dealt with in one visit. A leak needing specialist trace-and-access work usually needs a survey visit first, followed by a separate visit to carry out the repair once the location is confirmed.

Do you check for leaks before a bathroom or kitchen is retiled?

Yes, a pressure test on the pipework is worth doing before any tiling or flooring goes back down, since it confirms the joints are sound while they're still accessible. It's far cheaper to catch a slow leak at that stage than after the room is finished.

Where we work

Based in Romford, covering Havering, Essex and London.

Leak Detection in Buckhurst Hill

Leak Detection & Repair guides

Signs You Have a Hidden Water Leak (And What to Do)Hidden water leaks can cause thousands in damage before you notice them. Learn the warning signs and how to find leaks in your Essex home.7 min read

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