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Leak detection, Northern Beaches
High water bill or a damp wall you can't explain? Licensed plumbers can find a hidden leak without ripping up your house.
Turn off every tap and check your water meter. If it still moves, you have a leak. A plumber then pins down where, using tools that need little or no digging.
Water spraying or coming through a ceiling? Do this first.
Signs of a hidden leak
Leaks inside walls and under floors can run for months.
| What you notice | What it can mean |
|---|---|
| Water bill jumps and you haven't changed how you use water | A leak on the supply side, before the taps. |
| Meter keeps moving with every tap off | Water is going somewhere. Do the test below. |
| Damp patch or mould on a wall or ceiling | A leaking pipe, or water from a shower or the unit above. |
| Warm spot on a slab floor | A hot water pipe leaking under the slab. |
The water meter test
It takes a few minutes. It tells you if there is a leak, not where.
- Turn off every tap and appliance. Flush no toilets.
- Find your meter and photo the numbers.
- Wait 30 minutes to an hour. Use no water.
- Read it again. If the numbers moved, or a small dial is still turning, water is leaking.
Meter moved? A licensed plumber can find the leak. Not sure where the meter is? See where to find it.
Meter still and the bill is high? It may be a toilet that leaks now and then. A plumber can check that too.
Why a licensed plumber
A hidden leak is hard to find with your eyes. A licensed plumber can narrow it down before cutting anything. That keeps the repair small and exact, not a torn-up floor.
| Method | What it does |
|---|---|
| Acoustic listening | Sensitive microphones pick up water escaping from a pipe. |
| Thermal imaging | A heat camera shows damp or warm patches behind walls and floors. |
| Pressure testing | The pipes are sealed and watched. A pressure drop confirms a leak and which line. |
Ask for a compliance certificate for the repair. Ask your insurer if they need a plumber's report and photos of the leak.
Living in a unit?
Who pays depends on where the leak is. It can be the strata scheme for shared pipes, and the owner for pipes that serve only your unit. See who fixes what in a unit.
What changes the price
Ask for the cost before work starts.
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| How hard it is to find | A leak you can hear is quick. One deep in a slab takes more methods. |
| Where the pipe runs | Under concrete, in a wall or under tiles. Repair work differs for each. |
| Repair needed | Finding the leak and fixing it are separate jobs. |
| Time of day | Nights, weekends and public holidays cost more. |
Asking is free. Damp from a drain problem? See blocked drains. Leak from a hot water unit? See hot water.
Leak detection by suburb
Pick your suburb for local advice, then ask for a callback.
- Leak detection in Dee Why NSW 2099
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- Leak detection in Narrabeen NSW 2101
- Leak detection in Warriewood NSW 2102
- Leak detection in Mona Vale NSW 2103
- Leak detection in Belrose NSW 2085
- Leak detection in Curl Curl NSW 2096
- Leak detection in Forestville NSW 2087
- Leak detection in Brookvale NSW 2100
- Leak detection in Cromer NSW 2099
- Leak detection in Frenchs Forest NSW 2086
- Leak detection in Freshwater NSW 2096
- Leak detection in Balgowlah NSW 2093
- Leak detection in Terrey Hills NSW 2084
- Leak detection in Newport NSW 2106
- Leak detection in Avalon Beach NSW 2107
Leak questions
Will they have to dig up my floor?
Usually not at first. They find the spot with listening gear, heat cameras or pressure tests, then open only that spot.
Will my insurance cover it?
Some cover a sudden leak but not slow wear. Ask your insurer if a plumber's report would help your claim.
My meter moves a little. Is that a leak?
If every tap and appliance is off and it keeps moving, yes. A running toilet or a leaking hot water valve is a common cause.
Still unsure where the water is going? Tell us what you've noticed and a licensed plumber can help you narrow it down.
Get a plumber to find it
A licensed plumber calls you to book a time that suits.