A kitchen wall leak found near the ceiling

Signs of the leak in Southampton

The water supply had been turned off following flooding. Water ingress affected the basin area and kitchen, with visible staining on the kitchen wall.

How the hidden leak was located

After restoring the supply for testing, ADI inspected the cold water pipework. A damp meter and endoscope guided access to the 15mm copper pipe within the kitchen wall near the ceiling. A separate poorly installed fitting was found beneath the bathroom basin.

Why this area was opened

Moisture readings and an endoscope guided the opening near the kitchen ceiling. The basin fitting was a separate fault requiring its own repair.

The investigation, step by step

1. 01Inspected the damp kitchen and bathroom with the supply initially off.
2. 02Restored water for the investigation and checked the cold supply.
3. 03Found a leaking basin fitting and located a second fault in the kitchen wall.
4. 04Repaired both leaks with copper pipe, press fittings and isolation valves.
5. 05Retested the system; no further leaks were found.

What was found

Found

Two leaks: a poorly installed fitting beneath the bathroom basin and a fault on 15mm copper pipe within the kitchen wall near the ceiling.

Repair

Both leaks were repaired using 15mm copper pipe, press fittings and isolation valves. Retesting found no further leaks.

Recommended afterwards

Fit a pressure reducing valve and monitor the newly installed fittings. The recorded system pressure was approximately 6 bar.

Worth knowing

The recommended pressure reducing valve is not recorded as installed. The investigation also noted unprotected wall pipes, tile adhesive on copper and a short cistern connector.

What this investigation shows

One property can contain more than one leak. Finding the wall defect did not account for the faulty basin connection; both were repaired and retested.

Read about agreeing access and repair work and understanding the recorded outcome.