Leak Detection & Repair in Edinburgh

Vetted & insured engineers Clear pricing before work starts G3-qualified for unvented cylinders No gas work — plumbing only

Water travels. The stain on your Edinburgh ceiling is where the water ends up, not where it starts — sometimes metres away along a joist or pipe run. Proper detection separates the symptom from the source.

Edinburgh water notes: Edinburgh's Pentland- and Borders-fed supply is soft, so limescale is rarely the culprit here — but tenement plumbing, listed-building constraints and hard winters keep the city's plumbers well occupied. Edinburgh's tenements and Georgian conversions — Marchmont, Bruntsfield, Stockbridge, the New Town — mean shared stairs, communal stacks and conservation-sensitive pipework routing are everyday considerations. Mains supply here is managed by Scottish Water.

How non-invasive leak detection works

We combine methods until the location is proven, not guessed. Acoustic detection amplifies the sound of escaping water through floors and walls. Thermal imaging shows the temperature signature of a hot-water leak or the evaporative cooling of a cold one. Moisture mapping traces the wet path back to its highest concentration. On pressurised systems we can add tracer gas, which escapes at the leak point and is picked up by a sensor at the surface.

Signs you have a hidden leak

Watch for: unexplained increases on a metered water bill, the meter dial moving with every appliance and tap off, damp or musty smells with no visible source, warm spots on solid floors (hot feed or heating loop), lifting laminate or cupping floorboards, low boiler/system pressure that needs regular topping up, and paint or plaster blistering low on a wall. Any two of those together justify a detection survey in Edinburgh.

Detection to repair, one accountable job

Once located, the repair is quoted from evidence: what pipe, what failure, what access. We open the smallest area that allows a proper repair, replace the failed section rather than patching it, and re-test at pressure. Where flooring or tiling must come up, you approve the scope first, and everything is photographed for your records or your insurer.

Leak detection cost in Edinburgh

A detection survey in Edinburgh is a from-£135 fixed band depending on property size and methods needed, agreed before booking. The repair is quoted separately once the leak is proven — you're never committed to a repair price before anyone knows what's actually wrong. Trace-and-access is commonly covered by buildings insurance; our reports are written to support that claim.

Frequently asked questions

Can you find leaks in underfloor heating in Edinburgh?

Yes. Thermal imaging shows the loop layout and the anomaly at the leak point, and pressure testing confirms which circuit is losing water. UFH leak repairs are precise work — locating first is essential.

How accurate is leak detection?

With combined methods, location is typically proven to within a small area — close enough that access is a tile or two, or a short floorboard lift, rather than a room. The engineer will tell you the confidence level honestly before anything is opened.

Is a small hidden leak really urgent?

A pinhole leak can release dozens of litres a day into a floor void. The damage is cumulative — rot, damp, ruined finishes — and insurers look less kindly on long-neglected leaks. Confirmed leaks are worth acting on within days, not months.

Which areas of Edinburgh do you cover?

All of Edinburgh, including Portobello, Gorgie and Leith, plus surrounding villages and suburbs.