Do I need a plumber or a leak detection specialist to find a hidden leak?

What does a plumber actually do?

A plumber repairs pipework, fittings, boilers and heating systems. Most plumbers carry basic leak-finding tools, but locating a leak with no visible trace, hidden behind tiling, under a concrete slab, or along a heating pipe buried in a screed floor, usually needs specialist equipment a general plumber does not carry as standard: thermal imaging cameras, acoustic listening devices and tracer gas kits. Some plumbers will tell you honestly when a job is beyond what they can locate without guesswork, and that is the point at which a specialist visit is worth calling.

What does a leak detection specialist do that a plumber does not?

A leak detection specialist’s job is to find the leak without needing to open up the property first. That is done using a combination of methods depending on the situation: thermal imaging to spot temperature differences that suggest water movement, acoustic listening to pick up the sound of escaping water through concrete, tracer gas pushed through empty pipework to find the exact escape point, pressure testing to confirm which pipe run is affected, and moisture mapping to define the extent of a wet area. The result is a marked location and a written report, which a plumber or builder can then use to carry out the smallest possible repair.

What happens if I call a plumber for a leak I cannot see?

Many plumbers, faced with a leak they cannot pinpoint, will suggest lifting floorboards or opening a wall to investigate by eye. That sometimes finds the leak quickly. It can also mean opening up several areas before the actual source is found, particularly with water travelling along a pipe run or a slab before it surfaces somewhere else entirely. That is the scenario specialist leak detection is built to avoid: finding the exact point first, so only one area needs to be opened, if any does at all.

Can I call both, or should I choose one first?

You do not need to choose blind. If the leak is visible, reachable and clearly the cause, a plumber can usually fix it directly with no detection visit needed. If you have signs of a leak, a damp patch, a musty smell, a moving water meter, a rising water bill, but no visible source, a detection visit first will tell you exactly where to send the plumber or builder afterwards, rather than paying either trade to search by trial and error.

Does it cost more to use both a specialist and a plumber?

It can look that way at first glance, two invoices instead of one, but it is usually cheaper overall. A detection visit that finds the leak in one visit avoids paying a plumber’s time to search, and avoids paying to open up and make good areas that turn out not to be the problem. The detection report also shows the plumber or builder the exact location, so their time on site is spent repairing rather than investigating.

Which one should I call first for a leak I can’t see or reach?

If the leak is hidden and you cannot point to it, call a specialist first. We confirm the price on a written quote once we understand the problem. We will agree a date with you, and the visit produces a written report with the exact location, which you can then hand to a plumber or builder to complete the repair. If it is urgent, call us on 020 3051 8478.

Related: how to find a hidden water leak in your home and how hidden central heating leaks are traced.

If you've got damp, mould, or a leak, you already know it needs sorting.

The longer it sits, the worse it gets. Get in touch and we will agree a date with you. If it is urgent, say so when you call.