Leaks beneath concrete and tiled floors
Damp grout, lifting flooring or an unexplained warm patch can lead to a pipe buried in screed. Moisture mapping and thermal imaging help identify areas to test; acoustic listening or tracer gas can then help narrow the position. The wettest tile may be some distance from the actual defect.
Read about investigating leaks beneath tiles and concrete.
Leaks behind walls and ceilings
A stain below a bathroom may come from a supply pipe, waste pipe, seal or fitting. The engineer checks how the damp changes when particular fixtures are used, follows moisture readings and inspects accessible spaces. A camera can help inside a void where there is a suitable opening, but it cannot inspect through solid masonry.
Follow the guides to wall and boxing leaks or ceiling leaks below bathrooms for access considerations and actual examples.
Buried supply pipes under drives and gardens
A meter that moves while no water is being used can indicate a supply pipe leak, once automatic refilling and other uses have been ruled out. Listening and tracer gas can help follow the buried run. Surface conditions, pipe material and access influence which tests are practical.
Concealed central heating leaks
Repeated pressure loss may come from hidden pipework, but boiler components, radiator valves and visible connections also need checking. An engineer can test sections and investigate the concealed run if those checks point towards it. Pressure loss alone does not establish where the fault is.
Underfloor heating loops
Plastic loops buried in screed can be difficult to distinguish when they lie close together. Testing individual loops helps identify the affected circuit. Thermal imaging may help trace its route, while tracer gas and listening can provide further evidence of the leak position.
When a different investigation is needed
Rain penetration, condensation and drainage faults can look like a concealed supply leak. Drains and waste pipes may need controlled water tests, dye or a camera inspection. Tell the office if damp follows rainfall or only appears after using a particular shower or appliance so the visit can be planned accordingly.
