Leak detection means finding the exact point where water is escaping from a pipe, fitting or appliance — without pulling up floors or knocking out walls to look. In Liverpool we use thermal imaging, moisture mapping, pressure testing, acoustic listening and tracer gas to pinpoint leaks on heating systems, water mains, showers and underfloor pipework, so the repair is small and targeted.
Signs you have a hidden leak
- Your boiler pressure keeps dropping and you have to top it up.
- A damp patch or stain that keeps growing on a ceiling, wall or floor.
- Your water meter moves when every tap is off, or your bill has jumped.
- Warm spots on a floor (often a leak on a heating pipe in a concrete floor).
- Low water pressure at taps, or the sound of running water when nothing is on.
- Tiles loosening, grout staining or a musty smell around a shower or bath.
How we find leaks
No single method suits every leak. We start with the least invasive checks and only move on when needed:
| Method | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture mapping | Meters measure moisture across walls and floors to show where water is spreading from. | Most leaks; shows the extent of damage |
| Thermal imaging | An infrared camera shows temperature differences, revealing hot-water and heating pipe leaks and wet areas. | Central heating and hot water pipes |
| Pressure testing | Sections of pipework are isolated and pressurised to see which one is losing pressure. | Confirming which circuit is leaking |
| Acoustic detection | Sensitive microphones pick up the sound of water escaping under pressure. | Supply pipes under floors and outside |
| Tracer gas | A safe gas mixture is introduced into the drained pipe and detected where it escapes. | Very small leaks and long underground runs |
| Dye and flood testing | Coloured dye or controlled water use shows whether showers, baths and wastes are leaking. | Shower trays, enclosures and seals |
Common leaks we trace
Central heating leaks
Heating systems run under pressure, so even a pinhole leak drops the boiler pressure. In many Liverpool homes, heating pipes run under suspended timber floors or are buried in solid floors and screed, which makes them hard to find by eye. Thermal imaging with the heating running is usually the quickest way to spot them.
Mains water supply leaks
The supply pipe that brings water from the boundary into the property can leak underground or under a floor. Older properties may still have lead or iron supply pipes. If you are on a meter, a leak here shows as a meter that never stops. Acoustic and tracer gas methods are used for these.
Shower and bathroom leaks
Failed silicone, cracked trays, loose wastes and leaking valves behind tiles are among the most common causes of water coming through the ceiling below a bathroom. We test each part separately so you only replace what has failed.
Leaks under floors and in walls
Pipes in walls and under floors can leak for weeks before you see anything. By the time a stain shows, the structure around it is often soaked and will need structural drying once the leak is repaired.
What happens after the leak is found?
- We mark the exact location and show you the evidence (thermal images, readings).
- We explain what the repair involves and the smallest sensible access point.
- The leak is repaired, and the pipework is re-tested to confirm it holds.
- Moisture readings are taken to see how far the water has spread, so drying can be planned.
Trace and access insurance cover
Many home insurance policies include “trace and access” cover, which pays for finding a leak and the work needed to get to it. Some insurers arrange this themselves; others ask you to arrange it and claim back. Check your policy before work starts. See our escape of water claims page for more.
What affects the cost of leak detection?
- How much information you already have — a known area is quicker than an unexplained pressure drop.
- Type of system — heating, mains supply, or bathroom fittings.
- Construction — leaks in solid floors and screed take longer than those under suspended timber floors.
- Methods needed — tracer gas and acoustic surveys take more time and equipment than a thermal scan.
We’ll explain what’s needed and the cost before we start. See our water damage cost guide for more on pricing.
Leak detection across Liverpool and Merseyside
We trace leaks in older terraces in Walton and Anfield, interwar semis in Allerton and Childwall, flats and conversions in Aigburth, and homes right across Sefton, Knowsley and Wirral. Leak detection is the first step of our wider water damage restoration service in Liverpool — find the leak, then dry the damage.
When to call a professional
Call us if you can’t see where water is coming from, if your boiler needs topping up more than occasionally, or if a damp patch keeps growing. Don’t open up a boiler or gas appliance yourself — that is a job for a Gas Safe registered engineer. For leak detection in Liverpool, call 07777 659786.