If you’ve received a letter from your water company, confirmed a leak on your incoming water supply or watched your water meter continue moving when everything inside the property is turned off, it’s natural to wonder whether you can simply repair the pipe yourself.
In many situations, you can. The bigger question is whether it’s actually the best option.
For some homeowners, a straightforward repair may be perfectly achievable. For others, the biggest challenge isn’t repairing the pipe at all—it’s accurately locating the leak before any digging starts.
At The Leak Hunter, we regularly investigate supply pipe leaks for homeowners who simply want to understand what they’re dealing with before deciding whether to carry out the repair themselves or ask us to complete it. Knowing exactly where the leak is can often save considerable time, money and unnecessary excavation.
Before You Start Digging, Ask Yourself These Questions
Before deciding whether to repair the leak yourself, it’s worth considering a few practical questions:
- Do you know exactly where the leak is?
- Do you know where the supply pipe actually runs?
- Is the leak on pipework you own?
- Could other buried services be nearby?
- Would digging in the wrong place cost more than the repair itself?
The answers often determine whether a DIY repair is realistic or whether a professional investigation first is likely to be the better investment.
Have You Actually Found the Leak?
Many homeowners know they have a leak because of a high water bill, a moving water meter or a notification from their water company.
That doesn’t necessarily mean the leak has been located.
It’s surprisingly common for the actual leak to be several metres away from the area where the ground appears wet or where people expect the pipe to run.
Starting to excavate without accurately locating the leak can quickly become more expensive than expected, particularly beneath driveways, patios or landscaped gardens.
Professional mains water leak detection is designed to establish the location of the leak before repair decisions are made.
Do You Know Where Your Supply Pipe Runs?
Another common problem is simply not knowing where the supply pipe has been installed.
Over the years, extensions, new driveways, landscaping and previous repairs can make the route difficult to predict. Digging where you think the pipe runs isn’t always successful.
If you’re unsure of the route, specialist water supply pipe tracing can often identify where the pipe runs before excavation begins.
Are You Digging Safely?
Even on your own property, excavation should always be approached carefully.
Buried electricity cables, gas pipes, drainage systems, telecommunications cables and other underground services may all be present. If the leak is beneath a driveway or other hard surface, unnecessary excavation can also add significantly to reinstatement costs.
Before digging, it’s worth considering whether the leak has been located accurately enough to keep excavation to a minimum.
Can You Legally Carry Out the Repair?
In many cases, homeowners can repair their own private supply pipe. However, responsibility depends on which section of pipe has failed, and work on water company assets is not normally the homeowner’s responsibility.
If you’re unsure where responsibility changes, our guide explaining who is responsible for a mains water leak explains the different sections of pipework.
Is Repairing It Yourself Always the Cheapest Option?
Not necessarily.
Doing the repair yourself may save labour costs, but digging in the wrong place, damaging other buried services or discovering the leak isn’t where you expected can quickly outweigh any initial saving.
For many homeowners, the biggest saving comes from accurately locating the leak first, allowing the repair—whether carried out by themselves or a professional—to be completed with as little disruption as possible.
When Is It Worth Calling a Specialist?
A professional investigation is often worth considering if:
- you don’t know exactly where the leak is
- you’re unsure where the supply pipe runs
- the pipe passes beneath a driveway, patio or extension
- the supply may be shared with another property
- there are signs of more than one leak
- you simply want to avoid unnecessary excavation before deciding what to do next
Even if you intend to carry out the repair yourself, having the leak professionally located first can often make the job quicker, easier and less disruptive.
Could the Leak Be Better Repaired Than Replaced?
Many homeowners assume that once a supply pipe starts leaking, the entire pipe will need replacing. In reality, that’s often not the case.
Modern supply pipes can frequently be repaired if the leak is isolated and the remainder of the pipe is in good condition. Older pipework, repeated leaks or significant deterioration may make complete replacement the better long-term solution.
The important point is not to assume either option before the leak has been properly investigated. An accurate diagnosis allows you to choose the most appropriate solution based on the condition of the pipe rather than guesswork.
What If You Decide Not to Repair It Yourself?
If you decide the repair is more than you want to tackle yourself, the first step doesn’t have to be digging up your driveway or replacing the whole supply pipe.
Many homeowners choose to have the leak professionally located before deciding who carries out the repair. Once the leak has been accurately located and the condition of the pipe assessed, it’s much easier to decide whether a targeted repair or complete replacement offers the best long-term solution.
Even if you eventually decide to carry out the repair yourself, having the leak accurately located first can often save time, reduce unnecessary excavation and give you confidence that you’re repairing the correct section of pipe.
How The Leak Hunter Can Help
At The Leak Hunter, our role is to help homeowners understand exactly what they’re dealing with before repair work begins.
As a WaterSafe Register registered business, we use specialist equipment to accurately locate concealed supply pipe leaks while keeping disruption to a minimum wherever possible.
Where a targeted repair is likely to provide many years of reliable service, we’ll explain why. If complete replacement genuinely offers the better long-term solution, we’ll explain that too. Our aim is to recommend the solution that’s right for your property rather than automatically suggesting the biggest job.
You can find out more about our Mains Water Leak Detection service, or contact us if you’d like professional help locating a concealed supply pipe leak before deciding what to do next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim a leak allowance if I repair the leak myself?
Many water companies will consider a leak allowance after a supply pipe leak has been repaired, but their requirements vary. Some may ask for evidence that the repair has been completed before assessing your application.
Will my water company repair my supply pipe?
Usually not. In most cases, homeowners are responsible for the private supply pipe running from the property boundary to their home, while the water company is responsible for the public water main and their own equipment. If you’re unsure, our guide on responsibility explains the difference.
Do I always need to replace the whole supply pipe?
No. Many supply pipe leaks are isolated and can often be repaired successfully. Whether repair or replacement is the better option depends on the location of the leak, the condition of the pipe and its overall reliability.
Should I locate the leak before I start digging?
Yes. Accurately locating the leak before excavation often reduces unnecessary digging, particularly beneath driveways, patios and landscaped gardens, and helps ensure any repair is carried out in the correct location.
Can The Leak Hunter locate the leak even if I haven’t decided who will carry out the repair?
Yes. Many homeowners ask us to investigate and locate the leak first so they can understand exactly what has failed before deciding how they would like the repair to be completed.