Central Heating Leak Detection in Bath

Symptoms

With nothing to see and no obvious starting point, this was a case for central heating leak detection using specialist equipment. The absence of visible water or surface damage suggested the leak was concealed — most likely beneath a floor finish or within a pipe channel — and would require a systematic, multi-method approach to locate.

Methods Used

Tracer gas was reintroduced and produced a clear reading in the same area, narrowing the location to beneath the bathroom floor. The carpet was removed first, exposing the pipe channel, but the actual leak sat beneath the ceramic tiles.

One tile was lifted to access the pipe, confirming the fault and enabling a targeted repair.

Investigation Process

1. 1
   Initial thermal imaging survey

   The thermal camera was used to scan the heating system but found no significant issues to indicate the leak location.

2. 2
   First compressor test

   A compressor was connected to pressurise the system, but no pressure loss was detected at this stage.

3. 3
   Tracer gas — first attempt

   Tracer gas was introduced, but no gas readings could be located anywhere in the property.

4. 4
   Acoustic detection — first attempt

   The acoustic device was deployed but returned no indication of a leak at this point.

5. 5
   System refilled and boiler fired

   The system was reconnected and refilled, and when the boiler was turned on the heating system began losing pressure within two minutes, confirming an active leak.

6. 6
   Compressor reconnected from opposite side

   The system was drained and the compressor was connected from the opposite end of the property; after around ten minutes, pressure began dropping rapidly.

7. 7
   Acoustic device detects noise near ensuite

   With the pressure loss confirmed and active, the acoustic device detected a strong noise signal in the area of the ensuite bathroom.

8. 8
   Tracer gas confirms ensuite location

   Tracer gas was reintroduced and produced a clear, positive reading in the same ensuite bathroom area, corroborating the acoustic signal.

9. 9
   Carpet removed, pipe channel exposed

   The carpet was lifted to expose the heating pipe channel beneath, but the leak itself was found to be under the ceramic bathroom tiles.

10. 10
    Tile removed, pipe repaired

    One ceramic tile was removed to access the leaking pipe, which was replaced with a new 15mm Hep2O and copper section using pressing elbows and inserts as required.

11. 11
    System tested and reinstated

    The system was pressure tested with no further leaks detected, then refilled, reconnected, and the heating was tested and confirmed fully operational. The site was left clean, safe, and tidy.

Result & Outcome

For a central heating leak detection job of this nature — where there are no visible signs and the leak is hidden beneath hard floor finishes — the investigation required multiple rounds of testing before the right conditions were established to detect it. The outcome was a precisely located, minimally invasive repair with the heating system returned to full working order.