FAQ

Identifying a water leak can save you from a lot of trouble and expense. Leak signs sometimes aren’t easy to see, but if you pay attention to the right clues, you can nip significant damage in the bud. Indoor leaks tend to show up as stained areas on ceilings, walls, or floors. One clue that your indoor plumbing might be trying to tell you something is a sudden increase in your water bill. I remember once opening a water bill that was almost double what we’d normally pay. After a search that felt a bit like a scene from “CSI,” we found the leak and got it fixed.

Finding concealed leaks can be difficult, but you can try several methods before turning to plumbing professionals. The first and most reliable method involves checking your water meter. First, make sure no water is being used in your home (turn off and shut down all water-using appliances), and then check the water meter reading. Wait a couple of hours without using any water, and check the reading again. If the numbers have changed, you have a leak somewhere.

There is also a method that involves direct listening. I had a neighbor who was convinced this was the way to find a water leak. When the house was quiet, he would walk around, listening intently for the sound of water running. He said this worked for him! Of course, he could just be a good storyteller. If you don’t have that kind of time to devote to leak detection, you can look for telltale signs instead—things like damp spots, mold (in places where it shouldn’t be, like under paint or in your bathroom), or bulging paint.

A thermal imaging camera can be helpful if you are still indecisive. Unlike a regular camera, it can “see” infrared radiation (heat) and translate it into an image humans can understand. This heat-detecting ability can uncover temperature differences that might indicate water issues, such as leaks, behind your walls or under your floors. Heat escaping through a surface generally means that something’s wrong in that area, so if you wanted to try and pinpoint potential problem spots in your house, a thermal camera can do that for you.

Homeownership comes with a variety of responsibilities, and one of these is maintaining a home that doesn’t leak.

Unfortunately, the older a house gets, the more likely it is to develop a leak, and that’s just part of the life cycle of a structure. Water can seep through most anything, given enough time and the right circumstances. The most common cause, according to my inspection of narratives by people whose basements have flooded, is that the house is old and the pipes are past due for an upgrade. If they’re not wearing glasses and have poor eyesight, inspectors shouldn’t be surprised if a basement-dweller stops to ask for their narrative. The second most common cause seems to be too much pressure in the system. A system under duress is like a person under stress: Something’s bound to give.

Another reason for plumbing leaks is if the pipes are clogged. When a pipe is blocked, the water has no choice but to find its way out through a weak spot if there is one. Clogs can also occur because of sudden changes in temperature. Hot water in the pipes one day and then a sudden chill can cause the plastic and metal to either split or not fit as well as they should. I mentioned earlier that I see a lot of human error in the plumbing trade, and that’s because it’s true! 

Leaks can and do happen because of poor work done by a DIYer or because of a hapless plumbing contractor.

For sure, employing a leak detection service can be an astute investment, particularly when you suspect an elusive leak but can’t discern its source. Though it may appear at first glance to be an unnecessary outlay, one must consider the potential costs associated with not nipping a hidden leak in the bud. Water damage can be widespread and exorbitant, touching not just the skeletal system of your house but also the many personal items within it.

Specialised gear, like thermal imaging cameras and acoustic listening devices, are used by leak detection services to locate water leaks. These professional services can pinpoint a leak’s location in a structure without causing any undue damage to the property. They use the latest technology to find the leak’s source quickly and efficiently. 

Call us if you think you might have a leak in your foundation or another severe location. If we can’t do the job for you, we will help you find someone who can. If you do have a leak, we’ll help you find it before it causes major damage to your property.

Often, spotting a leak early on can keep it from morphing into a larger, more expensive situation. Having a professional find and furnish details about your leak can also make dealing with the insurance company easier.

Several factors can influence how much a leak detection service costs, mainly the difficulty of the job and the location of the leak. Most often, I think you’d pay somewhere between £495 and £995 for a professional to do the work. Some companies give you a flat rate, while others base the cost on hours of work. When you think of this as a possible expense, keep in mind that it’s usually a small fraction of what potential water damage might end up costing. And I know complaints are often made about the sky-high insurance premiums we pay, but at least those do seem to cover a range of costs associated with these sorts of repairs.

It’s wise to obtain several estimates and see what’s included in the price before you engage a service. Some firms provide a free consultation, which can be useful for service-user and service-provider alike. Others may include in their fee some minor repairs that can add value. If your home has an insurance policy, check to see whether it covers the kind of detection work we’ll be discussing here; your policy might help offset the cost of the service

Several factors can affect how long it takes to detect a leak, including the complexity of the problem and the techniques used to find it. Most often, leak detection is straightforward enough that a skilled professional can accomplish it within a couple of hours. Sometimes, though, the source of the leak is so well concealed that it takes a full day’s work to find it. 

What approach does a plumber take when a direct line of sight isn’t possible, as with the driveway case I mentioned?

To understand this, we can first consider the simpler cases where a leak can be verified visually. These might be leaks in clear signs of water damage, such as wall discoloration, bubbling paint, and the like. Once a professional understands where the water damage is evident, they can work backward to reason where the water might be coming from.

If you’re confident with DIY projects and determined to work on your plumbing, some leaks can be fixed on your own. For the really simple ones—like a dripping faucet or an inconspicuous loose pipe—adequate tools and essential plumbing knowledge should take you seamlessly and safely through the repairs. These basic fixes are so simple, so well-trodden, that I could guide you through them just as easily as my dad or the internet could. But there’s a big “if” at the start of this story: if you’re confident and if you want to. If you’re even a little unsure, much less doubting your ability, it’s best to call in a pro. My dad never said much on the subject, but I know from experience that a 5-minute trim on the right end of a plumbing disaster is worth much more than the sodden consequence of a misguided repair.

Certainly, it can! The very existence of mold in our homes indicates that there is a dampness or moisture problem that needs to be addressed. Mould loves wet, warm environments. Of the four basic requirements for mold growth—organic material for food, a suitable temperature, shelter, and moisture—only the last one is really capable of being addressed through maintenance and inspection techniques, and that’s the big reason for the emphasis on preventing leaks and detecting them when they do happen. If the moisture levels in your home are kept within the range that’s comfortable for us but too dry for mold (under about 60 percent relative humidity and around 21 degrees Celsius), then you simply won’t have mold.

Whether your insurance will pay for detecting a leak depends on your specific policy and situation. Some homeowners insurance policies cover the cost of finding a leak—especially if the leak has caused damage to the property. However, some policies don’t cover it at all, while others have exceptions and limitations. Your best bet is to look over your policy and/or contact your insurance agent to find out what you’re covered for. I have a friend in Leeds whose homeowners policy covered the cost of detecting a leak but not the cost of fixing it. Mine didn’t even cover the detection, but, I have the equipment and can fix my own.

Leak detection that doesn’t involve tearing up your property is, unsurprisingly, the best option. Non-invasive methods essentially use advanced technology to work around the structure until they can locate the leak. The most basic non-invasive technique is listening. Water being forced through a hole in a pipe makes a noise. It doesn’t only sound different when compared to water flowing normally; it also sounds different based on what kind of pipe it’s in. Non-invasive methods are particularly useful in homes with modern construction methods and materials, which can make it hard to ensure a good seal without the use of adhesives or to ensure a good fit without using fasteners. Hearing a leak helps the technician determine the position of the problem, while the problem itself is discovered without having to dig or cut.

The leak detection service can take from one to three hours, on average, to complete. However, the work may take longer if the leak is particularly complex, if your property is large and challenging to navigate, or if multiple leaks are involved. Our team at Leak Detection Specialist Wolverhampton strives to make the process as fast and painless as possible. Still, we also emphasise accuracy. If we don’t find a leak, it might mean we avoided a false positive; but if we do find a problem, we can be sure we’ve identified a true leak.

Is there any risk of damage to my property when using your leak detection services?

At Leak Detection Specialist Wolverhampton, we prioritise non-invasive techniques to locate leaks, which means there’s minimal risk of damage to your property. Our advanced tools, such as thermal imaging cameras and acoustic detection devices, allow us to pinpoint leaks without needing to tear down walls or dig up floors. In the rare case where accessing the leak might require some level of intervention, our technicians will discuss all options with you beforehand to ensure you’re fully informed.

To ensure accurate and non-invasive leak detection, we use a combination of advanced leading-edge tools and laboratory electronics. In our arsenal, we have thermal imaging cameras that detect temperature variations behind walls and under floors. We have an arsenal of microphones that listen for the sound of escaping water. Finally, we occasionally use tracer gas, which is introduced into the plumbing system; the gas’s escape point is detected with a laboratory-sized electronic sniffer. All of these tools work relying on the same basic principle: they take advantage of the fact that a leak changes the temperature, pressure, or sound signature of the environment around it.

Water supply interruptions may be necessary for some tests to be conducted or to ensure the detection methods are working properly. We do not like to do this, however, and understand that it is not a desirable situation. If this should become necessary, we will do our best to make it a very temporary situation and inform you ahead of time if at all possible.

Our goal at Leak Detection Specialist Wolverhampton is to resolve your leak issue in as few visits as possible. In most cases, we’re able to detect and diagnose the problem in a single visit. However, if the situation is particularly complex or if additional repairs are required, a follow-up visit might be necessary. Rest assured, we’ll keep you informed every step of the way and work around your schedule to minimise any inconvenience.

Absolutely! At Leak Detection Specialist Wolverhampton, we take the quality and accuracy of our services very seriously. That’s why we can confidently offer a guarantee of no find, no fee for residential customers. If we cannot find the source of your leak, then you do not pay us for the service. Hearing this, some people might think, “Sure, it sounds like a nice guarantee to offer. But do they really back it up?” To this, we say: Yes, we really do.

At Leak Detection Specialist Wolverhampton, our primary focus is on accurate and non-invasive leak detection. Once we’ve identified the source of the leak, we will provide you with a detailed report and discuss the best course of action. While we specialise in detecting leaks, we can also arrange for repairs to be carried out by trusted partners, or we can guide you on the next steps if you prefer to use your own plumber or contractor. Our goal is to make the process as seamless as possible for you.

While our expertise lies in leak detection, we understand that water damage can be a significant concern. Although we do not directly carry out water damage repairs, we can recommend reliable professionals who specialise in this area. We’ll also provide you with a comprehensive assessment of the damage, which you can use when seeking repair services or making an insurance claim. Our aim is to ensure that you have all the information you need to restore your property effectively.

Trace and Access refers to the process of locating the source of a leak and gaining access to it so that it can be repaired. At Leak Detection Specialist Wolverhampton, we use advanced techniques to trace the leak’s origin without causing unnecessary damage to your property. Once the leak is located, accessing it might involve some level of intervention, such as removing a section of wall or floor. Many home insurance policies cover Trace and Access, so it’s worth checking with your provider to see if you’re eligible for this coverage.

After a leak, it is very important to dry out the affected area to prevent any additional damage or mould from forming. The first thing to do is to remove all the water that is still standing using pumps or vacuums. Wet vacuums work quite well for this purpose. The next step is to ventilate the area as much as possible. If you have windows that face the affected area, open them. If you have doors that can be opened to the area, open them. Then, use fans, if you have them, to increase air circulation and make the wet vacuum’s work more effective. Another effective method for drying out an area is to use a dehumidifier. If you have one available, turn it on and place it in the area that is affected. If the water has soaked into any carpets, you will need to pull the carpet up and use the wet vacuum on the underside of the carpet. Do not be surprised if it takes several days for the area to completely dry.

Yes, we can. At Leak Detection Specialist Wolverhampton, we understand that it’s not always convenient for you to be present during our visit, especially if you’re dealing with a rental property. We’re happy to work with your tenants or arrange access through a keyholder. We’ll communicate with you throughout the process to ensure you’re informed and comfortable with the work being carried out. Our team is fully insured, and we take great care to respect your property as if it were our own.

Detecting a leak can, at times, be an uphill task. This is because of three main factors: the leak’s location, the construction of the property, and the plumbing system’s constituent materials. Deep leaks within walls, beneath floors, or in generally inaccessible areas can be much more difficult to find than surface leaks. Similarly, older properties with outdated plumbing systems can lead to much more challenging search operations than modern units with contemporary materials. Still, the team at Leak Detection Specialist Wolverhampton has the know-how and the tools to handle all of these difficulties and find your leak efficiently.

While Leak Detection Specialist Wolverhampton specialises in leak detection throughout your property, including plumbing systems, our services do not extend to diagnosing or repairing faults within boilers. Boiler issues often require specialised attention from a Gas Safe registered engineer who is trained to handle heating systems. If you suspect a problem with your boiler, we recommend contacting a qualified heating engineer. We can, however, help determine if a leak in your system is related to your plumbing, which can sometimes impact your boiler’s performance.

Yes, you can cancel an appointment that has already been booked with Leak Detection Specialist Wolverhampton. We understand that sometimes plans change unexpectedly. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please contact us as soon as possible. We appreciate a minimum of 24 hours’ notice, which allows us to adjust our schedule and accommodate other clients. If you need to reschedule, we’ll do our best to find a new appointment time that works for you.

Of course. Understanding an insurance claim can be intimidating, and we know that water damage or leaks add another layer of frustration to the process. Our findings will add clarity to your situation and allow you to work with your insurance company with confidence. We’ll provide you with a detailed report that includes the source of the leak, the extent of the damage, and the work necessary to rectify the problem. And while we don’t directly work with the insurance companies, we’re happy to assist you with the use of our report that acts as a key to understanding your claim on the part of the insurance company.

Secondary or intrusive access is when someone has to cut into the building to get to the leak. When our technicians determine that a leak is located at pipe B in the wall next to the shower (for example), and methods like infrared (IR) thermography have failed to locate it, we may have to go ahead and cut a hole in the wall next to the shower to reach that pipe and repair it. In other words, we use “cutting-edge” technology for making leak access decisions but still may wind up doing something akin to what the old, non-tech way of doing it to fix the leak.

If we are to look for a leak under your flooring, we would need to use special equipment and techniques. At our company, Leak Detection Specialist Wolverhampton, we have developed a process that combines several different ways of detecting a water leak. The first method is using an acoustic listening device. If water is leaking from a pipe, the sound of the escaping water can be detected with an acoustic listening device. The second method involves using a thermal imaging camera. If a pipe is leaking, the area above the leak tends to be a different temperature than the surrounding area. If we find a temperature anomaly, it will guide us to where the leak is located. We may also use some other techniques, down to the final one of possibly using a listening device that is coupled with a miniature camera sent into the pipe to find the leak.

While Leak Detection Specialist Wolverhampton specialises in detecting leaks throughout your property, our services do not include finding or repairing leaks within central heating boilers themselves. Boiler systems are complex and require the expertise of a Gas Safe registered engineer to diagnose and fix issues. However, we can help identify leaks in the central heating system, such as those in the pipework or radiators, which might be affecting your boiler’s performance. For boiler-specific issues, we recommend contacting a qualified heating engineer.

Yes. We are able to do that. And we are able to do it with a good degree of accuracy, usually within 2 to 3 square feet, and that’s good enough to get us to go ahead and make the necessary repairs to stop the leak. Why? Because leaks under the house are bad news. They can compromise your foundation, ruin your flooring, and create a mold situation almost immediately. We’re reading here from a very negative script. But it’s a very negative circumstance. Again, we don’t have a great way of finding the leak except through the use of a couple of very specialised, very expensive tools.

A slab leak occurs when a pipe beneath the concrete foundation of your home leaks. These leaks can be tricky to detect because they are hidden beneath the slab. However, there are signs you can watch for, such as unexplained water pooling around the base of your home, unusually high water bills, or the sound of running water when all taps are off.

At Leak Detection Specialist Wolverhampton, we use specialised equipment to locate slab leaks without causing unnecessary damage. Acoustic listening devices help us hear water escaping from pipes under the concrete, and thermal imaging cameras can detect heat changes that indicate moisture. Once we locate the leak, we’ll provide you with a detailed report and discuss the best options for repair.

Roof leaks can be caused by various factors, including weather damage, ageing materials, or poor installation. Heavy rain, snow, or wind can damage shingles or tiles, leading to gaps where water can seep in. Over time, roofing materials can deteriorate, especially if they haven’t been properly maintained. In some cases, roof leaks are due to faulty flashing or improperly sealed roof vents. Regular inspections and maintenance are key to preventing roof leaks.

Finding a pipe leak can be challenging, especially if the pipe is hidden behind walls or under floors. Start by looking for visible signs such as damp spots, mould, or water stains. You can also listen for the sound of running water when no taps are on. Another method is to check your water meter: turn off all water in the house and see if the meter continues to run. If you suspect a leak but can’t locate it, professional leak detection services like ours use advanced tools like thermal imaging and acoustic listening devices to pinpoint the source.

Toilets invariably start leaking with age, but that doesn’t mean the eventual failure of the fixtures isn’t preventable for a while. If you ever happen to find water leaking from our toilet into the surrounding area, it’s likely due to one of three part failures: the flapper valve, the flush valve, or the fill valve. Of these three big troublemakers, the flapper valve is the most common source of a leaking toilet and arguably the easiest to swap out. If your toilet continues leaking after a flapper replacement, your fill valve has likely lost its shut-off mojo. Other less likely suspects are the wax ring, which provides a watertight seal between the toilet and the floor, and the tank-to-bowl nuts.

Locating a leak in a water heater starts with checking the area around the heater for any signs of water pooling or dampness. It’s smart to check the top of the heater, where the pipes enter and leave, for any potential leaks, and to take a close look at the pressure relief valve. The valve is often overlooked, but if it’s faulty or if it’s too much pressure in the tank, it can and will leak. A very good sign of a leak is rust or corrosion around the base of the water heater. If there are clear signs of either around the base, the tank is more than likely leaking.

In many cases, yes, it is possible. If the most serious plumbing problems are fixed by professionals, the next tier of plumbing problems—those that are serious but also accessible and visible—can often be tackled by someone who’s pretty handy and has some basic plumbing knowledge. These problems include a dripping faucet or a toilet that runs continuously. Easy-to-follow instructions for fixing these types of leaks can be found on many home improvement and how-to websites.

First, turn off the water supply. Next, use towels, buckets, or your child’s inflatable swimming pool to contain the water. If the leak is coming from a pipe, you might patch it with duct tape until the plumber arrives. For more significant leaks, call in the pros—better to find the source of the problem now than to risk extensive water damage later. If your homeowner’s insurance covers those kinds of repairs, it might help to take a few pictures of the damage for the “before” part of the claims process.

When there’s a water emergency, there’s no time to waste. It might be counterintuitive—why stop the water if you need to save a flooding building? But if a pipe has burst, or if water is pouring into your home for any other reason, you need to get the supply stopped so that the situation can be brought under control. If that’s not happening, your home is seriously endangered.

The first step is to find your main shut-off valve. In most homes, it’s located near where the water enters the house. But it could also be in the basement or a utility room.

Water damage can hit when you least expect it. Your first step is to eliminate all standing water. If your area has a power supply, you can use a commercial wet vacuum. Otherwise, you’ll have to rely on bucket brigade-style methods. Once the bulk of the standing water is gone, the area needs to be dried. Your best tools for this are air movement and dehumidification. If you can set up a small fan blowing into the area while it’s sealed off, you can make some good progress. Don’t neglect using dehumidifiers during this stage. And if you don’t have any, you can rent a couple.

Preventing a repeat leak from happening is a two-part equation. The big part is making sure the home is safe: regular maintenance and prompt attention to any signs of trouble can make a big difference. Lopez (1993), among others, notes that water is a persistent danger to the home, one that challenges the very boundaries of shelter. Long-term protection requires a close-up understanding of systems, complemented by an ability to see building materials in the light of water’s long-term effects. A plumbing system that has clear, straight runs, neat joints, and no sharp bends or kinks is a better bet for leak prevention than a system riddled with twists, turns, and intrusions.

At Leak Detection Specialist Wolverhampton, we are equipped with the latest technology and have a vast amount of leak detection experience. This puts us in a good position to find leaks with a high level of assurance. We aren’t sorry to say that we are routinely successful in covering the most common places to check for leaks. And when we find the leaks we’ve been asked to find, our customers seem quite pleased. Those of us who work for the company and get to carry out this mission seem to enjoy our jobs. It’s a win-win situation.

At Leak Detection Specialist Wolverhampton, we have an experienced team in place for leak detection. Our field team has hands-on experience working in leak detection. Each of our technicians goes through intensive training and is kept up-to-date on the latest tools and techniques for detecting leaks. We have a proven track record of locating leaks in a number of properties—residential, commercial, and even vacant buildings—and our at-the-ready team of problem solvers is always up for the next leak challenge.

Certainly! Our Leak Detection Specialist Wolverhampton technicians possess all the necessary certifications and are trained to conform to the highest industry standards. We take great pride in ensuring that our team is up to date with the latest knowledge and technologies so our customers can have confidence that they are receiving an absolutely top-quality service. All our technicians participate in regular continuing education. And while good ol’ paper certs are nice, it’s really the regular hands-on training and close-to-home service that make the difference.

For us, customer satisfaction is paramount. We do not want any of our customers to be unhappy; if you are unhappy, we want to know about it. We want to know why you are unhappy, and we want to know what we can do to rectify the situation and make you happy again. In fact, we want to be your leak detection company that you are happy to have served you, and we are committed to getting it right with our service so that you are left glad that you chose us.

At Leak Detection Specialist Wolverhampton, quality is our utmost priority. We guarantee not only the workmanship but also the materials we use. If our customers are not satisfied, we will go to great lengths to make it right. Unlike some businesses that might offer what is effectively a limited warranty, we offer a customer satisfaction guarantee that not only protects but goes beyond what is typically protected in a warranty. We have no problem redoing work if we did not meet what we feel is our standard of excellence the first time around.