07852 780113
ChilternWater Services

Leak detection

Underground leak detection, so we dig one hole instead of ten.

Most supply pipe leaks never show on the surface. The water soaks away into the ground under a drive or a lawn and the first anybody knows about it is a bill that has doubled, or a letter from the water company saying the meter is running with everything turned off.

We trace the pipe, pin the leak down with tracer gas and listening equipment, and mark it on the ground. Then we dig one small hole in the right place rather than a trench the length of the garden looking for it.

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A hand-dug hole in dark clay with a short length of new blue pipe and couplings jointed into the old supply

How we find it

Find it first, then dig

Every hour spent locating a leak properly saves a day of digging and a load of reinstatement. We confirm there is a leak, trace where the pipe actually runs, and only then pick up a spade.

  • Meter test to confirm there is a leak at all
  • Pipe route traced, not guessed
  • Tracer gas for leaks that will not make a sound
  • Ground listening to pinpoint the spot
  • Leak marked so you can see where we will dig
  • Repair usually the same visit

Leak detection

The signs you have a leak

A water bill that has jumped for no reason. The meter dial still turning with every tap in the house off. A patch of lawn that stays green and soft in a dry spell, a damp line across a drive, or water pressure that has dropped off over a few months.

Or the most common one of all: a letter from the water company saying their data shows a leak on your side. They will usually give you a deadline to get it fixed, and that is where we come in.

A tracer gas cylinder with a yellow hose running into a pavement chamber holding a row of blue water meters

Leak detection

Tracer gas and acoustic location

The pipe is drained down and filled with a harmless hydrogen and nitrogen mix. The gas finds its way out through the leak and up through the ground, where a detector picks it up at the surface. It works on plastic pipe and on slow leaks that make no noise at all.

Where the leak is louder, a ground microphone does the job faster. Between the two we can usually put a mark on the ground to within a spade’s width.

A square of block paving lifted from a drive and a pit dug below it to reach a leaking supply pipe

Leak detection

Then we fix it

Once the leak is found the repair is normally done the same visit: a small excavation, a new section of pipe and fittings, a pressure test, and the ground put back. If the pipe turns out to be old lead or perished alkathene, we will tell you straight whether a patch is worth doing or whether replacement is the better money.

In full

Leak detection covers

Homes and commercial properties across South Bucks and the Chilterns.

  • Supply pipe leak location
  • Tracer gas leak detection
  • Acoustic and ground microphone surveys
  • Meter and stop tap tests
  • Pipe route tracing
  • Leaks under drives, patios and lawns
  • Water company leak notices dealt with
  • Written findings for insurers
  • Repair the same visit where possible

Reviews

What customers said

“Craig did a fabulous job. Truly professional and lovely person. Set my mind at ease. Arrived early and worked without stopping. Everything neat and tidy when finished. Dont hesitate to contact him for any water/leak problems. He really knows his stuff and can be trusted to deliver.”
Val D.Google review
“Craig came and fixed a water leak in my front garden. He was professional, friendly and left everything as he found it, no mess to clear up after he’d gone! I’d highly recommend this company, no nonsense, reasonable pricing and super knowledgable!”
Charlotte N.Google review
“Amazing service — they literally went miles to track down the leak. Fair price, no messing about or trying to rip me off. I’d definitely recommend them. Big thanks to Craig and John for the great job!”
Stella C.Google review

On site

Photographed on the job

A tracer gas cylinder with a yellow hose running into a pavement chamber holding a row of blue water meters
A square of block paving lifted from a drive and a pit dug below it to reach a leaking supply pipe
A hand-dug hole in dark clay with a short length of new blue pipe and couplings jointed into the old supply
A narrow side passage with water pooled on the path and broken concrete stacked against the wall
A pit dug through paving at the front step of a house, with a new blue supply pipe running into the wall
Looking down into a concrete meter chamber at new white fittings on a blue supply pipe

Questions

Leak detection: common questions

How do I check whether I have a leak?

Turn off every tap and appliance in the house, then look at your water meter. If the dial or the red star is still turning, water is going somewhere it should not. Note the reading, leave it an hour without using any water, and check again. Any change means a leak.

The water company says I have a leak. Is it my problem?

If the leak is on the supply pipe between the boundary (usually the meter or the outside stop tap) and your house, that pipe belongs to you and so does the repair. Most water companies will give you a period to get it fixed, and some offer a free first repair or a leak allowance on the bill once it is done. Ask them, and keep the paperwork we give you.

Will you have to dig up my garden to find it?

No. That is the whole point of locating it first. In most cases the hole we dig to repair the leak is about a metre square, and it goes back the way it came out.

Leak detection near you

We also do

Water main repairsLeaking supply pipes dug out, repaired, pressure tested and put back. Most done in a day.Water main replacementOld, leaking or undersized supply pipes replaced with new MDPE, often in a single day.Lead pipe replacementOld lead supply pipes taken out of service and replaced with new MDPE pipe.MolingNew pipe pushed under drives, lawns and paths with no trench. Two small pits, no mess.Emergency repairsBurst supply pipes and flooding leaks. Ring, and we will get to you as fast as we can.New supplies & reroutingNew water supplies, shared supplies split, and pipes moved for extensions and new builds.Low pressure & upgradesWeak flow fixed at the source, with supply pipes upsized for bigger houses and new bathrooms.

Next step

Get a price for leak detection

Tell us what you are seeing and roughly where you are. Craig will come and look, and give you a clear price before anything is dug.

Send us the details

Tell us what you are seeing and roughly where you are. A photo of the meter or the wet patch can follow by email.

Or ring 07852 780113. Craig answers it himself.