Professional Leak Detection in Newcastle
Hidden water leaks are one of the most damaging and expensive plumbing problems a Newcastle homeowner can face. A pinhole leak in a pipe under your concrete slab can go undetected for months, causing significant structural damage, mould growth and water waste — running up water bills while silently destroying your home's fabric.
Finding a hidden leak used to mean breaking open walls, lifting floors or digging trenches until the leak was found by process of elimination. Modern non-invasive leak detection technology has transformed this — we can pinpoint leaks accurately in most cases without any unnecessary damage.
Signs You Have a Hidden Water Leak
- Unexplained water bill increase — a sudden or gradual increase in your Hunter Water bill without a corresponding change in usage is the most common sign of a hidden leak
- Water meter running when nothing is on — turn off all taps and appliances, then check your water meter. If it's still ticking, water is escaping somewhere
- Damp or discoloured patches on walls, ceilings or floors — particularly if the damp isn't near a visible source of water
- Soft or sunken patches in the lawn — a lush, green section of otherwise dry lawn, or a soft patch that stays wet, suggests an underground leak
- Cracked or lifting floor tiles — moisture under a slab can cause floor tiles to crack, pop or lift
- Musty smell in rooms — hidden moisture causes mould which produces a musty odour even before visible mould appears
- Sound of running water — if you can hear water running when everything is off, there's likely a leak in the pressurised supply line
Our Leak Detection Methods
Acoustic Leak Detection
We use electronic acoustic equipment that amplifies the sound of water escaping from a pressurised pipe. Water leaking under pressure produces a distinctive sound signature that varies with pipe material, depth and flow rate. Our equipment filters background noise and allows us to pinpoint the leak location on the surface above the pipe, typically to within 300–500mm.
Thermal Imaging
Infrared thermal cameras detect temperature differences on surfaces caused by moisture. A cold water leak behind a wall or under a floor creates a cooler zone that appears distinctly on a thermal image. Most effective for slab leaks and wall leaks in newer homes with accessible pipe runs.
Tracer Gas Detection
For very difficult-to-locate leaks, we introduce a non-toxic tracer gas mixture (hydrogen and nitrogen) into the pipe system under low pressure. The gas escapes through the leak point and rises to the surface, where an electronic detector identifies the exact location. Particularly effective for leaks under concrete slabs and in buried pipe runs.
CCTV Camera Inspection
For drainage leaks — pipes carrying waste water rather than pressurised supply water — a CCTV camera inspection locates cracks, joint failures and other defects causing ground contamination or moisture issues.
Pool Leak Detection in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
Newcastle and Lake Macquarie have a high density of residential pools, and pool leaks are a specific leak detection service we provide. A pool losing more than the normal evaporation amount (typically 2–5mm per day in warm weather) has a leak somewhere in the shell, fittings, or underground plumbing. We use pressure testing, dye testing and acoustic detection to locate pool leaks without unnecessary excavation.
What Happens After the Leak Is Found
Once the leak location is confirmed, we provide a repair quote before any repair work begins. In many cases, the repair is straightforward — a pipe joint repair, a section replacement, or a shower regrouting. Where the leak requires concrete cutting (slab leak) or significant access work, we'll explain the full scope and cost so you can make an informed decision.