Structural and cosmetic damage
Water tracking through joists, ceilings and floors causes damage that is often far more expensive to put right than the plumbing fault that caused it.
Leak Detection & Repair in Reigate, Epsom & Surrey Found Fast, Fixed Properly
A leak you cannot see is often worse than one you can. I trace hidden leaks back to source using a methodical process, then fix the actual cause rather than just patching the symptom.
Free quote, no call-out fee ever, and same-day attendance for genuine emergencies.
What it costs
- No call-out fee, ever. You never pay simply for me turning up.
- £90 + VAT for the first hour, then £45 + VAT per additional 30 minutes on reactive work.
- Jobs likely to run past 3–4 hours get a fixed price upfront.
- Quotes are always free.
- Gas Safe registered 627292Leaks near boilers, gas pipework or appliances are dealt with by an engineer qualified to work on both the water and the gas side.
- Emergency responseGenuine leak emergencies are attended same day, often within a couple of hours, with safety advice given by video call while I am on my way.
- No call-out feeYou are never charged simply for having a suspected leak investigated.
- 1 year workmanship guaranteeRepairs are guaranteed for 1 year on workmanship and 1 year on materials and parts supplied.
What leak detection and repair involves
Not every leak announces itself with a puddle. Many of the leaks I am called to have been running for weeks, a damp patch on a ceiling, a musty smell from under a floor, an unexplained rise in the water meter reading, or a boiler that keeps losing pressure without any visible cause. Finding the source without unnecessarily opening up floors, walls or ceilings is the real skill in leak detection.
I work through a logical process: isolating sections of the system to narrow down where the loss is happening, checking pressure behaviour on sealed heating systems, inspecting likely failure points, joints, valves, pipe runs behind fittings, and using moisture readings and visual inspection to confirm a source before opening anything up. Only once I am confident where the leak is do I recommend cutting into plaster, floor or tiling, and I explain why before doing it.
Once found, the repair itself might be a straightforward joint remake, a section of pipe replacement, a valve or fitting swap, or in the case of a central heating system, resealing a radiator connection or replacing a failed component. The point of proper detection is that the repair actually stops the problem rather than treating a symptom that returns in a different spot a few months later.
Who it is for
Homeowners and landlords across Reigate, Epsom, Banstead, Cobham and South West London with a suspected leak: visible damp, an unexplained pressure drop on a heating system, a rising water bill, or a leak that is obvious but the source is not.
When it is needed
Damp patches on walls or ceilings, a musty smell, a boiler or heating system that repeatedly loses pressure, water pooling near appliances, or a water meter that keeps ticking over when everything in the house is off.
Why a professional matters
Cutting open a wall or floor in the wrong place is expensive and disruptive for nothing. Proper detection narrows the search before any damage is done to the fabric of the building, and a correctly diagnosed repair means the leak does not simply resurface elsewhere.
What happens when a leak is left undetected
A slow leak rarely stays slow. What starts as a barely noticeable damp patch can, over months, undermine plaster, rot timber, damage flooring and encourage mould growth that affects air quality in the home.
Mould and damp
Persistent moisture behind walls or under floors creates conditions for mould, which affects both the building and the health of anyone living in it.
Wasted water and rising bills
A hidden leak on the mains supply can run continuously, showing up as an unexplained increase on the water bill long before any visible sign appears.
Heating system damage
A central heating leak that goes unnoticed causes the system to repeatedly lose pressure, which can lead to air ingress, corrosion and premature pump or boiler component failure.
Common mistakes I get called out to fix
- Repeatedly topping up a heating system's pressure without investigating why it keeps dropping.
- Painting over a damp patch instead of finding the source, which lets the underlying leak continue unnoticed.
- Assuming a leak has stopped because a patch has dried out, when it may simply be leaking intermittently.
- Opening up large sections of wall or floor without narrowing down the likely source first.
- Ignoring a musty smell because there is no visible water, when it is often the earliest sign of a hidden leak.
My leak detection and repair process
- Step 1
Initial call
Describe what you have noticed, a damp patch, a smell, a pressure drop, and I will advise on any immediate steps to take before I arrive, including turning off water where appropriate.
- Step 2
On-site investigation
I isolate sections of the system, check pressure behaviour, inspect likely failure points and use moisture readings to narrow down the source without unnecessary disruption.
- Step 3
Explain findings before opening anything up
Once I have a strong indication of the source, I explain what I have found and what opening up (if needed) will involve, along with the cost, before doing it.
- Step 4
Repair the actual cause
The failed joint, pipe section, valve or component is repaired or replaced properly, not just patched, so the same leak does not reappear elsewhere on the same run.
- Step 5
Pressure test and sign-off
The repair is tested under pressure before I leave, and the work carries a 1 year workmanship guarantee and 1 year on parts supplied.
Why proper detection matters before repair
Less disruption
Narrowing down the source before cutting into plaster, floor or tiling means only the necessary area is opened up.
The actual cause gets fixed
A correctly diagnosed leak is repaired at its source, rather than patched at the point it happens to be visible.
Protection for the building
Catching a leak early limits damage to plaster, timber, flooring and decoration, and reduces the risk of mould developing.
Fast emergency response
Genuine leak emergencies are attended same day, often within a couple of hours, with guidance given over video call on immediate steps like turning off the water while I am on my way.
No call-out fee
You can get a suspected leak looked at without committing to repair costs before you know what you are dealing with.
Guaranteed repair
1 year on workmanship and 1 year on materials and parts supplied gives confidence the fix will hold.
Leak detection detail: common sources and situations
Leaks show up in different ways depending on where they originate. Here is how I approach the situations I see most often across Reigate, Epsom, Banstead and the wider Surrey and South West London area.
Central heating system leaks
A heating system that repeatedly loses pressure is leaking somewhere, even if there is no visible sign. Common sources include weeping radiator valves, failed pipe joints under floors, and pinhole corrosion in old pipework.
I check the rate of pressure loss, inspect accessible joints and valves first, and use process of elimination on sealed sections before considering more invasive investigation.
- Radiator valve and connection leaks
- Pipe joint failures under floors or behind walls
- Pinhole leaks from pipework corrosion
- Expansion vessel and pressure relief valve related losses
Mains water and supply pipe leaks
Leaks on the mains supply, whether inside the property or on the pipe run in, tend to show up as a rising water bill, damp near external walls, or a wet patch in the garden or under a driveway.
These are traced using pressure and flow checks along the supply route, isolating sections where possible before any digging or opening up is considered.
Bathroom and kitchen leaks
Leaks around baths, showers, toilets and kitchen sinks are often due to failed seals, worn washers, or pipework behind units that is hard to see without removing panels.
I check waste and supply connections together, since a leak that looks like it is coming from a tap can sometimes actually be a waste pipe issue further along.
- Shower tray and bath seal failures
- Toilet cistern and connection leaks
- Under-sink supply and waste pipe leaks
- Boxed-in pipework leaks behind bathroom units
Domestic and small commercial premises
Most leak detection work is residential, across houses and flats in Epsom, Reigate, Banstead, Cobham, Walton-on-Thames, Dorking, Worcester Park and South West London.
Small commercial premises, such as shops and offices, are also covered, leaks in these settings often need a fast response given the potential impact on stock and premises.
Leak Detection & Repair — your questions answered
How much does leak detection cost?
Leak detection is charged at the standard reactive rate of £90 + VAT for the first hour and £45 + VAT per additional 30 minutes, with no call-out fee. If a leak turns out to need extensive investigation or repair, I agree a fixed price before proceeding with anything beyond the initial diagnosis.
How quickly can you attend a suspected leak?
Standard call-outs are attended within 24 hours where possible. If it is a genuine emergency, water you cannot stop, or a leak causing active damage, I aim to attend same day, often within a couple of hours, and can talk you through turning off the water by video call while I am on my way.
Do you use specialist leak detection equipment?
I use a methodical process of isolation, pressure testing and moisture inspection to narrow down leak sources before any invasive work, minimising unnecessary disruption to walls and floors.
Will you need to cut into my walls or floors?
Only where necessary, and only after I have narrowed down the likely source and explained what is involved. I do not open up more of the property than needed to confirm and fix the leak.
My boiler keeps losing pressure, is that a leak?
It usually is. A heating system should hold pressure once correctly filled. Repeated pressure loss almost always points to a leak somewhere on the system, even if there is no visible water, and it is worth investigating rather than repeatedly topping up.
What guarantee do you offer on leak repairs?
Repairs carry a 1 year guarantee on workmanship and 1 year on the materials and parts supplied.
Can a leak affect my boiler's warranty?
An undetected system leak can lead to repeated pressure loss and air ingress, which over time can affect boiler components. Fixing the source properly protects both the system and any manufacturer warranty that depends on it being maintained correctly.
I have a damp patch but no obvious water, could it still be a leak?
Yes, this is one of the most common signs of a hidden leak. A musty smell or damp patch with no visible water is often an early indication and worth investigating before it develops further.
Which areas do you cover for leak detection?
Epsom, Reigate, Banstead, Cobham, Walton-on-Thames, Dorking, Worcester Park, the surrounding Surrey towns and South West London. I am based in Reigate.
Do you also fix the leak once you find it, or just diagnose it?
Both. Once the source is confirmed I explain what the repair involves and the cost, then carry out the repair itself, whether that is a joint remake, pipe section replacement, or valve swap, as part of the same visit wherever possible.
Related services
- Boiler RepairFault-found and fixed by a Gas Safe registered engineer, no call-out fee before the diagnosis.
- Central Heating RepairsCold radiators, noisy pipework, pressure loss and thermostat faults traced back to the real cause.
- General PlumbingThe everyday jobs done properly: pipework, waste, pressure problems and bathroom plumbing.
- Emergency Call-OutsGenuine emergencies attended same day, often within a couple of hours, and never a call-out fee.
Where I cover this work
Leak Detection & Repair is carried out across Epsom, Reigate, Banstead, Cobham, Walton-on-Thames, Dorking, Worcester Park, Surrey, South West London and the surrounding towns. See the full areas covered or request a free quote.
Get a suspected leak found and fixed
Do not wait for a damp patch to spread or a water bill to climb further. Call and I will advise on immediate steps, then trace and fix the actual source. No call-out fee, and same-day attendance for genuine emergencies.