On this page

Before the visit: the three questions

The enquiry form asks where water shows, since when, and how we get in. Those three answers decide which tests come first. A stain that appeared overnight points to a different cause from one that has crept for months, and a locked loft or a floor under fitted units changes the order of work.

A photograph of the stain or the meter helps, but is not required. Nothing needs to be dismantled beforehand, and householders are asked not to open pipework or boxing themselves. The preparation checklist lists what to clear, find, note and leave alone.

On arrival: the walk-round

The visit starts with the person who knows the property. We ask to be shown where water appears, where the stop tap is and which parts of the building have been altered. Then we agree what will be switched off and for how long, so nobody is surprised when the water goes off.

The tests are then chosen from what was seen. The usual order, and why a visit often stops before the last test, is on non-invasive leak detection, and the kit is described on the equipment page.

During the testing: what you are asked to do

Stay reachable. Taps and appliances may need to be switched on and off at set moments, and some rooms may need to be kept quiet or clear. Furniture may need to be moved from the affected wall.

You are welcome to watch, and to ask what a reading means. Do not open, drain or cut into pipework while the visit is running, and leave any gas or electrical part to a qualified tradesperson. If nothing can be located on the day, the testing stops there and the report says what was tried.

Openings: when and how big

An opening is made only once the leak is marked, and it is kept as small as the instrument allows. The shower waste case study shows the end of a visit: the cause was confirmed through one ceiling opening before anything larger was cut. Making good is separate from detection. Damage to walls, ceilings and finishes is quoted by a partner team of builders and decorators, who give a price for each job; see leak damage repair and remediation.

What you are charged and when it is agreed

There are two ways to pay. The package is £580 for one property, however many methods the visit combines. Hourly work is charged at the rate for the method used, with standard detection at £180 an hour, a fixed hourly rate that cannot rise on the day. No VAT is charged.

Which applies is agreed before work starts. See what is included for the line-by-line scope, and the hourly rate against package page for where the two routes cross.

What happens at the end

The leak is marked on the surface and photographed, and the report records the symptom, the tests run, the readings, the finding and what follows from it. If it is going to an insurer, the report for insurers shows what a claims handler looks for. It states where the leak is and how that was shown, and it says plainly when a source was narrowed down but not proven. If nothing is located, the report says which systems were tested and held.

Locating the leak comes first. A small repair, such as tightening a fitting or replacing a small part on the pipe, can be done on the same visit once the leak is found. A larger repair is quoted before any work starts, and the leak is stopped in the meantime; see repair after detection. No find, no fee applies when a live leak inside your own property cannot be located. The no find no fee page states both limits in full.

Questions customers ask

Do I need to be at home for the whole visit?

Someone needs to give access to every area being tested and be available to answer questions about the symptom. Tests such as a pressure test need water supplies switched off and on, so the occupant is usually asked to be present.

Will the visit damage my floor or walls?

The tests run first are non-invasive. An opening is made only once the leak is marked, and it is kept as small as the instrument allows, because an endoscope needs only a small hole.

How long does a visit take?

No fixed time applies, because it depends on the leak. A pipe that can be isolated and pressure tested is quicker than a slow loss behind a finished floor. Work on a hidden leak is described in how long detection takes.

What if a second leak is found?

It is recorded in the report as a separate finding, with its position and the readings behind it. The case studies show this happening, including one where a second, slower loss was not located on the day.

Is there a fixed price for a leak detection visit?

Yes, for one property: the package is £580 however many methods the visit combines, provided the leak is inside the property. If the source is outside it, or no leak exists, hourly rates apply instead. No VAT is charged. The package page has the full scope.

Related guides