Water Mains Leak Detection in Bewbush

Symptoms

A property in RH12 was showing clear signs of water damage across multiple ground floor areas. Pooling of water was visible on the concrete floor of the entrance foyer once carpet had been pulled back, flaking paintwork was present on the walls of the entrance foyer, downstairs toilet, and kitchen area, and the wooden flooring of the office area had begun to discolour — all consistent with a sustained leak somewhere within the building fabric.

The property runs a vented system with an oil-fired boiler at the rear, a hot water cylinder in the airing cupboard, and water storage tanks in the loft. Given the spread of moisture damage across the ground floor, an internal leak detection survey was required to establish which part of the pipework was responsible and precisely where the fault lay.

Without pinpointing the exact source, any repair or reinstatement work risked missing the underlying problem. The extent of the visible damage made it likely that the leak had been ongoing for some time, with water tracking across and beneath the concrete floor before surfacing.

Methods Used

The investigation began with moisture mapping across the walls and floors of the ground floor, which returned elevated readings throughout. Thermal imaging of the entrance foyer and kitchen identified the internal cold water pipe and flagged an anomaly at the kitchen floor level.

A pressure test on the cold water pipe confirmed a drop in pressure, indicating a live leak was present.

With the leak localised to the cold water pipework, a tracer gas survey was conducted. Gas was introduced through the cold water pipe in the kitchen and brought to 2 bar pressure.

The property was then monitored using an electronic gas sensor, which detected large concentrations of escaping gas at the entrance foyer and kitchen threshold. This combination of methods — standard practice in internal leak detection — allowed the team to identify the precise access point before any excavation took place.

Access was then made to the concrete floor and tile work of the kitchen, where the leak source was confirmed.

Investigation Process

1. 1
   Visual inspection and symptom recording

   The engineer observed pooling water on the entrance foyer concrete floor, flaking paintwork in the foyer, downstairs toilet, and kitchen, and discolouration to the office wooden flooring. The boiler system configuration was also noted.

2. 2
   Moisture mapping

   A damp meter survey was carried out across the ground floor walls and floors, returning elevated moisture readings throughout, confirming widespread water ingress at ground level.

3. 3
   Thermal imaging survey

   Thermal imaging was conducted in the entrance foyer and kitchen, identifying the route of the internal cold water pipe and flagging a thermal anomaly at the kitchen floor.

4. 4
   Pressure test on cold water pipe

   A pressure test was applied to the cold water pipe and recorded a pressure drop, confirming an active leak was present within that pipework.

5. 5
   Tracer gas survey

   Gas was introduced into the cold water pipe through the kitchen and pressurised to 2 bar. An electronic gas sensor was used to monitor the property, detecting large concentrations of gas at the entrance foyer and kitchen threshold.

6. 6
   Access and leak source confirmed

   Access was made to the concrete floor and tile work of the kitchen, where the leak source was located and confirmed.

Result & Outcome

The leak source was located beneath the kitchen floor, at the threshold between the kitchen and entrance foyer. The convergence of thermal imaging evidence, a confirmed pressure drop, and high tracer gas readings at that junction allowed the position to be identified with sufficient precision to target excavation accurately, minimising unnecessary disruption to the surrounding floor area.

Once access was made to the concrete floor and kitchen tile work, the fault in the cold water pipework was exposed. The repair was carried out using a 15mm plastic straight connector and 15mm plastic pipe, with a cold water repair completing the reinstatement of the pipework.

As a result of this internal leak detection work, the full scope of what is needed going forward is now clear. Water-damaged rooms require strip-out, a drying programme needs to be installed across the property, and once all areas have dried sufficiently, reinstatement and redecorating can proceed. The precise location of the leak means those works can now be planned with confidence.