Leak detection & repair in South West London
Damp patches, recurring boiler pressure loss or an unexplained water bill can indicate a hidden leak, but the cause needs checking. We use thermal imaging, acoustic listening, moisture mapping, tracer gas to help locate it with targeted access where needed. £120 fixed to locate, repair quoted separately before work, and a written report you can send to your insurer.
How we find hidden leaks
The appropriate technique depends on the pipe, system and access. Surface tracing helps narrow the search, but opening a floor or wall may still be necessary to confirm or repair the leak.
Thermal imaging camera
Shows the heat trail of hot-water and central heating pipes through walls, floors and screed, so leaks on heating circuits and underfloor heating show up without lifting anything.
Acoustic listening & tracer gas
Acoustic kit picks up the sound of water escaping from pressurised pipes under floors and in walls. For cold mains and buried supply pipes, we fill the line with a safe tracer gas and detect exactly where it surfaces.
Moisture mapping & written report
A moisture meter maps how far damp has spread through walls and ceilings. You get a written report of where the leak was and what we found — useful for your home insurance 'trace and access' claim.
What does leak detection cost?
Finding the leak is £120 fixed, with a written report included. Repair work is not included: we explain the findings and quote it before work starts. Insurer reimbursement depends on your policy. For an active leak, call our 24/7 line; arrival time and any out-of-hours charge are confirmed by phone before attendance.
For a useful quote, tell us your postcode, what you want changed, the current fittings or heating setup and any access restrictions.
Leak detection across our areas
What we tend to find in homes in each area we cover, and what to mention when you ask for a quote.
Richmond (TW9, TW10)
Period conversions around Richmond Green often have pipes running between flats, so a leak can show in the flat below first. Older homes may still have lead or galvanised supply pipes that are prone to pinhole leaks.
East Sheen (SW14)
Extended SW14 houses often have heating pipes buried in kitchen extension screed — a common source of pressure loss that thermal imaging finds without digging up the floor.
Barnes (SW13)
Older riverside cottages often have original supply pipes under suspended floors, where acoustic listening finds leaks without lifting every board.
Putney (SW15)
In converted terraces and mansion blocks a single leak can quickly reach neighbours, so tracing it fast matters. Tell us if the flat below has a damp patch.
Twickenham (TW1, TW2)
Victorian terraces around St Margarets often have mixed old and new pipework from past renovations — joints between the two are a frequent leak point.
Teddington (TW11)
Larger houses with several bathrooms and long heating runs can hide slow leaks for months; a boiler that keeps losing pressure is often the first sign.
Wimbledon (SW19, SW20)
Big Victorian houses and modern underfloor heating installations both benefit from thermal imaging, which traces heating leaks through floors and walls.
Kingston (KT1, KT2)
Newer riverside flats often have pipes boxed into walls and ceilings; we trace the leak from the surface so only a small access panel needs opening.
Wandsworth (SW18)
Plumbers, boiler repair and heating engineers across Wandsworth Town, Southfields and Earlsfield.
Clapham (SW4)
Boiler repair, emergency plumbing and heating across Clapham Common, Clapham Old Town and Clapham North.
Battersea (SW11)
Plumbing, boiler repair and boiler servicing around Battersea Park, Northcote Road and Nine Elms.
Balham (SW12)
Local plumber and boiler repairs across Balham High Road, the Heaver Estate and Nightingale Triangle.
Tooting (SW17)
Plumbers and heating engineers for Tooting Bec, Tooting Broadway and the Totterdown Fields estate.
Fulham (SW6)
Emergency plumbing, boiler repair and servicing across Parsons Green, Fulham Broadway and Sands End.
Chelsea (SW3, SW10)
Discreet plumbing and heating for Chelsea homes and mansion flats around King's Road and Chelsea Harbour.
Streatham (SW16)
Plumbing and heating for Streatham homes, from Streatham Hill and the High Road to Streatham Common.
Earlsfield (SW18)
Local plumbing and boiler help for Earlsfield, around Garratt Lane and the streets off Earlsfield station.
Southfields (SW18, SW19)
Plumbing and heating for Southfields homes in the Grid and around Wimbledon Park.
Kew (TW9)
Careful plumbing and heating for Kew homes near Kew Gardens, Kew Green and the riverside.
Questions about this work
Can you find a leak without lifting floorboards?
Surface tracing can help narrow down the source before opening floors or walls. The technique and access needed depend on the installation; we cannot promise that every leak can be located without opening anything.
Will my insurance cover leak detection?
Many home insurance policies include 'trace and access' cover for finding a hidden leak. Check your policy — we provide a written report of what we found to support your claim.
My boiler keeps losing pressure — is that a leak?
Often. A slow leak on the heating circuit, under a floor or at a radiator valve is a common cause. Thermal imaging is especially good at finding these. A faulty pressure relief valve can also be the culprit, which we check at the same time.
How do I check whether I have a leak on my water supply?
With all taps and water-using appliances off, check whether the meter still moves. Movement can indicate water use or a leak, including a toilet cistern filling; it does not establish where the problem is. If you share a supply or are unsure, ask your water supplier or call to discuss tracing.
What should I do while I wait for you?
If water is coming through a ceiling, turn off the stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink), switch off electrics near the leak if it's safe to, and put a bucket under the drip. Then call 07534 868419.