Water Leak Detection in Clyde

Signs of a hidden leak

Your South East Water bill is the first clue for many households. If usage jumps by a large amount compared with the same quarter last year and nothing has changed at home, something is leaking. Other signs include a patch of lawn that is greener or softer than the rest, a damp smell in a cupboard, bubbling paint or skirting, warm spots on a tiled floor, the sound of running water when everything is off, or low water pressure that came on gradually.

The meter test you can do yourself

Turn off every tap, the washing machine and the dishwasher, and make sure no toilet is refilling. Find the water meter in the front boundary box and note the reading, or watch the small red dial or star wheel. Wait thirty minutes without using water. If the reading has changed, there is a leak. Then turn off the main stop tap beside the meter and check again: if the meter still moves, the leak is between the meter and the stop tap.

How we find it

We start by isolating parts of the system to narrow down where the water is going: hot or cold, inside or outside, house or garden. Then we use the right tool for the location. Thermal imaging shows hot water leaks in walls and slabs as warm patches. Acoustic ground microphones pick up the hiss of water escaping from a pressurised pipe underground or under concrete. Moisture meters map damp areas in walls and floors. For irrigation and yard pipes, tracer gas can be used where the pipe runs under paving.

Once we have the spot, we mark it and give you a price for the repair before cutting into anything.

Common leak spots in Clyde homes

In new homes, we often find leaking push-fit joints inside walls, shower mixers with poor seals behind the tiles, and garden irrigation pipes nicked by landscapers. Under slabs, hot water pipes can rub against concrete or reinforcing and slowly wear through. On older properties, galvanised steel pipes rust from the inside, and the service pipe between the meter and the house can crack as the clay moves.

Repair and insurance

Many leaks can be fixed through a small opening or by rerouting the pipe. Our report notes where the leak was and what caused it, which helps with insurance claims for resulting damage. If your bill was high because of a concealed leak, South East Water may offer an allowance once the leak is repaired; ask them about their concealed leak policy and keep our invoice.

Leaks on the recycled water line

Homes with a purple-pipe recycled water supply have two meters, and a leak can be on either side. A rising recycled water charge with a steady drinking water reading points to a leak in the toilet cisterns, the garden irrigation or the recycled pipe itself. Running cisterns are the most common cause and are cheap to fix. We test both systems separately so we do not chase a leak in the wrong place.

Why small leaks matter in clay soil

Clyde's reactive clay changes volume as it gets wetter or drier. A slow leak under or beside a house can soak the clay on one side of the slab, causing it to swell and lift while the rest stays put. Cracks in internal walls, sticking doors and gaps at cornices can follow. Finding and fixing leaks early protects the structure as well as your water bill.

Clyde ground

Clyde homes sit on heavy basalt clay that swells after rain and shrinks hard over summer. Drains laid in that clay move with it, so joints open up and roots find their way in. On the new estates the ground has been cut and filled for house pads, which can leave sewer lines with a slight belly that holds water and collects waste. When we clear a drain or chase a leak in Clyde, we keep that soil in mind and use a camera to check the line rather than guessing.

From your call to the finished job