Signs you need leak detection
- A water meter that keeps turning when every tap is off
- A stain on a ceiling below a bathroom that grows slowly
- Warm patches on a floor, hinting at a hot water pipe leaking below
- A musty smell in one room or behind a cabinet
- Bubbling paint, lifting baseboard or loose floor tile
- A water bill well above your usual pattern
How we handle the job
We start by separating supply leaks from drain leaks. A supply leak runs all the time under pressure and moves the meter. A drain leak only appears when a fixture is used. That one test narrows the search.
From there we use the tools that suit the situation: a moisture meter to map wet areas, a thermal camera to trace hot lines and damp cavities, isolation valves to test sections of piping one at a time, and a drain camera when the suspect is a waste pipe. A shower or tub is tested by running water at the drain, then the valve, then the head, so we can tell which part fails.
When we have found it, we mark the spot and recommend the smallest opening that gives access. If a pipe repair follows, you get a quote first.
Pinhole leaks in older copper are a common find in 1970s and 1980s houses in Liverpool and Amberlea.
Pickering homes and this problem
Pinhole leaks in older copper are a common find in 1970s and 1980s houses in Liverpool and Amberlea. Newer homes in Seaton and Duffin Heights use PEX, where leaks tend to happen at fittings or where a trade has driven a screw through a line. Shower pans and tub surrounds in finished basements across the city are another frequent source. Slab leaks are less common here than in warmer regions, but buried supply lines entering the house through the foundation do fail.
What affects the cost
- How many systems need testing: supply, drain or both
- Access to the area: open basement ceiling versus finished rooms
- Whether a camera inspection of drains is part of the search
- Whether the repair is done the same visit
What you can do first
Turn off every fitting and watch the water meter for ten minutes. If the dial moves, close the main shut-off valve and see whether it stops. Photograph stains with a coin for scale and date each photo, which shows whether the mark is spreading. If insurance may be involved, call your insurer early.
After the leak is found
Locating the fault is half the visit. The other half is deciding how to repair it so it stays fixed. A single pinhole in copper is normally removed and a short new length spliced in. Several pinholes along one run suggest the pipe wall is thinning, and a longer replacement makes more sense; see our page on pipe repair. Wet insulation and drywall should dry fully before closing up, and we will tell you when a restoration company is worth calling.
Questions callers ask
Can you find a leak without cutting into the wall?
Often the location is found without any opening. Fixing it usually needs some access, but we keep that opening as small as the repair allows.
Is a small ceiling stain urgent?
It is worth looking at soon. Slow leaks cause rot and mould long before they cause a flood.
Will my insurance pay for leak detection?
It depends on your policy. Some insurers cover the cost of finding a leak when it causes covered damage. Ask your insurer directly.