Leak Detection

Professional Leak Investigation

Every successful leak investigation starts with understanding the problem. Before deciding how to investigate, we assess the symptoms, examine the available evidence and identify the systems most likely to be involved.

Although many leaks appear similar, the underlying cause can be very different. Water coming through a ceiling, a damp wall, a leaking shower or a boiler losing pressure may all indicate a leak, but each can have several possible causes requiring completely different investigations. Choosing the wrong repair before identifying the cause can lead to unnecessary disruption, repeated visits and replacing the wrong components.

Our investigations are led by experience, not guesswork. Once we’ve established the most likely cause, we select the most appropriate non-invasive methods to confirm whether a leak is present, identify the system responsible and accurately locate the source.

Only after we’ve confirmed exactly what’s happening do we recommend the most appropriate repair. We explain our findings in plain English and, where possible, carry out the repair ourselves, giving you one company from investigation through to resolution.

Every Leak Is Different

Although the signs of a leak are often similar, the underlying cause can be very different. Water coming through a ceiling, a leaking shower, damp patches, mould, boiler pressure loss or an unusually high water bill may all indicate a leak, but they don’t reveal exactly where the problem is or which system is responsible.

For example, water appearing on a ceiling doesn’t necessarily mean the leak is directly above it. Water can travel considerable distances through walls, ceilings and floor structures before becoming visible, making the original source difficult to identify without a structured investigation. Likewise, a boiler losing pressure may be caused by a concealed heating leak, but it could also be the result of another fault within the heating system.

Leaks can originate from internal plumbing, central heating systems, incoming mains water supplies, underground pipework, concrete floor pipework, defective waterproofing or other concealed sources. Although the symptoms may appear similar, the investigation required to identify the cause is often very different.

That’s why every investigation begins by understanding the symptoms before deciding how to investigate. Rather than making assumptions, we establish which system is responsible, accurately locate the source and recommend the most appropriate repair.

What Are You Seeing?

Every leak starts with a symptom, but the same symptom can have several different causes. If you’ve recognised one of the situations below, we’ve created dedicated guides to help you understand what may be happening and explain how we investigate it.

If you’re unsure which applies to your property, don’t worry. Our leak investigation is designed to establish exactly what’s happening before any repair work begins.

• Water Coming Through a Ceiling – Water doesn’t always appear directly beneath the leak. Learn about the common causes and how we investigate them.
• Leaking Shower or Wet Room – Investigating leaks from showers, wet rooms, concealed plumbing and waterproofing.
• Boiler Losing Pressure – Understand the common causes of pressure loss and when a hidden heating leak may be responsible.
• Damp Patches or Mould – When damp or mould may indicate a concealed leak rather than condensation.
• Unexpectedly High Water Bills – Hidden plumbing, underground and mains water leaks can all increase water usage.
• Wet Garden or Driveway – Common signs of underground and incoming mains water supply leaks.
• Low Water Pressure – Reduced pressure can sometimes indicate a concealed plumbing or supply pipe leak.
• Can Hear Water Running? – Investigating unexplained sounds from concealed pipework when no taps are in use.
• Leak Beneath a Concrete Floor – Symptoms commonly associated with hidden slab and screed leaks.
• Not Sure Where the Leak Is? – Start with a professional leak investigation and we’ll identify the system responsible before recommending the correct repair.

Our Specialist Leak Detection Services

Every leak investigation is different. Once we’ve identified the system responsible, we can carry out the most appropriate specialist investigation to accurately locate the source and recommend the correct repair.

Our engineers regularly investigate leaks affecting internal plumbing, central heating systems, incoming mains water supplies, underground pipework, concrete floor construction and gas installations. Each type of leak presents different challenges and requires a different approach, which is why identifying the correct system is such an important part of every investigation.

If you already know the type of leak affecting your property, or our investigation identifies the system involved, you can find more information about each of our specialist leak detection services below.

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Water Leak Detection

Internal plumbing leaks affecting bathrooms, kitchens, walls, ceilings and concealed domestic pipework.

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Central Heating Leak Detection

Specialist investigation of boiler pressure loss, concealed heating pipework and central heating system leaks.

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Mains Water Leak Detection

Investigation of leaking incoming water supply pipes between the property boundary and the building.

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Underground Leak Detection

Locating leaks affecting buried external pipework beneath gardens, driveways, patios and landscaped areas.

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Concrete Floor Leak Detection

Investigation of leaks beneath solid floors, screed and concrete slab construction.

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Gas Leak Detection

Specialist investigation of confirmed gas leaks requiring accurate tracing before repair.

How We Investigate Leaks

Every property and every leak is different, so no two investigations are exactly the same. Rather than following a fixed routine, we begin by understanding the symptoms, assessing the available evidence and deciding which approach is most likely to identify the source accurately.

Our investigations are tailored to the property, the construction of the building and the systems involved. In many cases, several non-invasive methods are used together to build a clear picture before the source of the leak is confirmed.

Choosing the right investigation is just as important as the equipment itself. Our engineers use experience and judgement to decide which methods are appropriate, helping to avoid unnecessary disruption while providing clear, reliable results.

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Methods We Commonly Use

• Acoustic Leak Detection – Listening for the sound of escaping water or gas within concealed pipework.
• Tracer Gas Detection – Introducing a safe tracer gas into the pipe system to accurately identify where it escapes.
• Thermal Imaging – Identifying temperature differences caused by leaking pipework or moisture within walls, floors and ceilings.
• Moisture Mapping – Measuring moisture levels to help trace water back towards its source.
• Camera Inspection – Examining concealed spaces where access points are available.

Not every investigation requires every method. Selecting the right combination is part of the investigation itself and helps us locate leaks accurately while keeping disruption to your property to a minimum.

Our Approach to Leak Investigation

When you’re dealing with a suspected leak, accuracy matters. Identifying the true cause before repairs begin helps avoid unnecessary disruption, repeated visits and replacing components that weren’t causing the problem.

At The Leak Hunter, every investigation is carried out by experienced engineers using a structured, evidence-led approach. We don’t rely on guesswork or unnecessary exploratory work. Our objective is to establish exactly what’s happening, explain our findings clearly and recommend the most appropriate solution.

Where possible, we also carry out the repair ourselves, giving you one company from investigation through to resolution. If your insurer requires a Trace and Access report, we can provide clear documentation to support your claim.

Whether you’re dealing with an obvious leak or a problem that’s been difficult to diagnose, our focus is always the same: identify the cause accurately, minimise disruption and help you move forward with confidence.

Areas We Cover

We provide professional leak investigations across London, Surrey, Kent Sussex & Hampshire. Our Service Area Directory includes dedicated county and town pages, making it easy to find information about leak detection in your local area.

Browse Our Service Area Directory