Signs of a hidden leak
A hidden leak rarely announces itself, because the water stays out of sight. Water can run for weeks inside a wall, under a floor or beneath a garden before anyone notices. By then the damage is often worse than the leak itself.
Look out for these common signs:
- Damp patches, stains or bubbling paint on walls and ceilings
- A musty smell, or mould that keeps coming back
- A water meter that keeps moving when every tap is off
- A water bill that rises with no change in how you use water
- The sound of running water when nothing is on
- Low water pressure, or a patch of wet or unusually green ground outside
If water is escaping right now, turn off the stop tap and see our emergency plumber page for what to do first.
How non-invasive leak detection works
Good leak detection starts with the least disruptive checks, because the aim is to find the exact spot before anyone lifts a floor or breaks into a wall. That saves mess, time and repair costs.
Depending on the job, the checks can include:
- A meter test, to confirm that water really is being lost
- Isolating sections of pipework to narrow down the area
- Pressure testing the pipes to see if they hold
- Listening for the sound of escaping water with acoustic equipment
- Thermal imaging, to spot cold or damp areas behind surfaces
- Tracer gas or dye testing for harder cases
Which of these suit your property depends on the pipework, the building and the symptoms. We explain the approach we recommend before we start. Instead of guessing and opening up several areas, we aim to open up only one.
Is it a pipe leak or a drain fault?
Not every leak comes from a water supply pipe. A cracked waste pipe or a damaged drain can also cause damp, smells and soggy ground. For example, a drain that has lost a joint can leak into the soil without any blockage.
When a drain is the suspect, a CCTV drain survey shows the inside of the pipe on camera. If it finds damage, our drain repairs service can fix it. Our guide on why a drain survey matters when buying a home shows what a survey reveals, and the same camera work helps with leaks.
Repair once we find the leak
Finding the leak is only half the job, since the repair matters too. Once we know where it is, we explain the repair options and what each one involves. Then we carry out the repair you choose.
A tidy repair also matters. Where we have to open up a small area, we keep it as limited as we can. However, some leaks sit in awkward places, so we tell you honestly what to expect.
We do not repair boilers, gas appliances or central heating. If your leak comes from a heating system, a Gas Safe registered engineer is the right person to call.
Bournemouth first, with Poole and Wimborne close by
Bournemouth is our main area for this service. For example, many of its Victorian villas have been split into flats, so pipes serve several kitchens and bathrooms. A leak in one flat can show up as damp in another, which makes tracing it harder. See our leak detection and repair in Bournemouth page for local detail.
Bournemouth also sits on sandy cliff ground that moves slowly over time, and that movement can strain buried pipes. Meanwhile, homes in Poole stand beside a large harbour where the water table stays high. Near Sandbanks, salt in the ground speeds up corrosion in pipework.
We also take enquiries from Wimborne Minster, where the buildings range from medieval and Georgian town-centre properties to Victorian terraces. Older pipework of mixed age is common there, and the Rivers Allen and Stour meet near the town. Use the enquiry form, because we confirm whether we can help job by job. Our guide on what to do before the engineer arrives is useful if water is escaping now.
How to request a quote
Tell us what you have noticed through the online enquiry form. Include where the damp or noise is, how long it has been going on and what your water meter is doing. We explain the price before any work begins.
If the leak is causing damage right now, use the form and mark it as urgent. We prioritise urgent requests. Our emergency plumber page also lists the steps to take while you wait.
Leak Detection & Repair — frequently asked questions
How do you find a hidden leak without digging up the floor?
We start with non-invasive checks because they cause the least damage. These include a meter test, isolating sections of pipe, pressure testing and listening for escaping water. Thermal imaging can also show damp behind surfaces. The mix depends on your property, and we explain what we recommend before starting.
How do I know if I have a leak?
Common signs are damp patches, mould, a musty smell, the sound of running water and a higher water bill. You can also check your water meter. If it keeps moving while every tap and appliance is off, water is probably escaping somewhere.
Is the leak in a pipe or in a drain?
It can be either. Supply pipes carry clean water in, while waste pipes and drains carry it away. A CCTV drain survey can show whether a drain is leaking. We take a look at the symptoms first and then decide which checks make sense.
Do you cover Wimborne as well as Bournemouth and Poole?
Yes, we take enquiries from Wimborne Minster as well as Bournemouth and Poole, although we confirm each job first. Send the details through the online enquiry form and we will confirm whether we can help with your job.
Will home insurance cover a leak?
Many policies include escape of water cover, although terms differ. Some pay for repairing the damage and not for finding the leak. Check your policy wording or ask your insurer, and keep photos and notes of what you find.
Do you repair heating or boiler leaks?
No. We do not work on boilers, gas appliances or central heating systems, since gas work needs specialist registration. A Gas Safe registered engineer should handle those. We can help with leaks on water supply pipes, waste pipes and drains.
Helpful articles
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When drains fail, quick action limits the damage, since standing water and sewage cause problems the longer they sit. Here's how to protect your property while waiting for help.
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