HERTFORDSHIRE, BEDFORDSHIRE & CAMBRIDGESHIRE
Leak Detection in Stevenage
Finding hidden leaks across SG1 and SG2, without ripping the house apart
Most of the leak callouts we attend in Stevenage trace back to one of three patterns: pinhole leaks in the original 1950s and 60s copper pipework buried under concrete kitchen floors in the post-war estates, slow weeps from joint failures in microbore heating pipework laid under floorboards in Bedwell, Broadwater and Shephall, and underground mains leaks in the longer supply runs serving the older Old Town properties and the village fringes. The trick is finding the source quickly, and without taking up a perfectly good kitchen floor to do it.
Specialist non-invasive equipment, full insurance reports, and we work with all major insurers and loss adjusters.
Stevenage’s housing was built quickly. The New Town went up in waves between 1952 and the late 1960s, and a lot of the original heating and water pipework was laid in soft copper buried in floor screeds, under solid concrete extensions, or chased into block walls. Sixty or seventy years on, that pipework is corroding from the outside in. Combine that with the hard water from the chalk aquifers (which accelerates pinhole corrosion at copper joints), and we see far more hidden leaks per household here than in most parts of Hertfordshire.
By the time you see the damp patch or notice the water bill climb, the leak has usually been running for weeks. Speed of diagnosis matters.
How we find leaks without destroying the property
Thermal imaging cameras
An infrared camera shows temperature differences across walls, floors and ceilings. A warm patch on a cold concrete floor usually means a hot water pipe leaking underneath; a cold patch in a warm ceiling usually means cold mains escaping above. The camera narrows the search area within minutes.
Acoustic leak detection
Highly sensitive ground microphones pick up the sound of escaping water travelling through pipework. Particularly useful for underground mains leaks where there’s no visible damp at all, we can often pinpoint a leak to within 10, 15cm before any digging starts.
Tracer gas detection
A safe, non-toxic gas (typically a hydrogen-nitrogen mix) is introduced into the system at low pressure. It escapes at the leak point and is picked up by a surface sensor. Our go-to method for tricky underground heating leaks where thermal imaging hasn’t given a clear answer.
Endoscopic cameras
Compact high-resolution cameras let us inspect cavities and pipework internally without cutting open walls. Useful for confirming a leak source before committing to lifting flooring or breaking through.
Get a fixed price before we start
Call and talk to an engineer, or send us the details and we will come back to you with a price.
The properties where leaks are hardest to find
Post-war estate houses with concrete kitchen floors
Bedwell, Broadwater, Shephall, the original concrete kitchen extensions have copper pipes buried in the screed below. Thermal imaging first, then acoustic confirmation. Most leaks are located within an hour without breaking the floor.
Microbore heating leaks under floorboards
1960s and 70s estates often have 8mm or 10mm microbore feeds running under floorboards to each radiator. A pinhole here can run for months under a fitted carpet before showing on the ceiling below. An endoscopic camera through a small access hole usually finds the source without lifting the whole floor.
Underground supply leaks in village properties
Properties out toward Walkern, Aston and Little Wymondley often have long supply runs from the road – 20m or 30m of buried pipe under driveways and gardens. Acoustic detection along the run narrows the leak location to within centimetres.
Insurance work and reporting
We work routinely with all major UK insurers and loss adjusters. Full written reports with photographs, thermal images and findings provided as standard. Most home policies cover trace-and-access costs as a separate line item, typically £5,000 to £10,000 limits. Tell us the insurer name when you book and we handle the paperwork directly in most cases.
Found without the digging
Non-invasive first, every time. We locate the leak, show you the evidence and fix it properly.
★★★★★
Rated 4.9 on Google by the people we work for
Why choose Vantage
Rated 4.9 on Google from more than 700 reviews across Google, Checkatrade and Trustatrader. Qualified, accredited engineers, a fixed price before any work begins and a labour guarantee on every job, from an established local company with an office team you can actually reach. No job too small.
Gas Safe registered
Company registration 956889. Every gas engineer carries their own Gas Safe ID card, and you can ask to see it.
Refcom F-Gas certified
REF1024550. Legally required for air conditioning installation and servicing, and we hold it.
CHAS Elite accredited
Veriforce CHAS assessed for health and safety, which is why commercial clients and landlords use us.
City & Guilds and BPEC qualified
Qualified, insured engineers on every job. No subcontracted strangers.
700+ reviews, 4.9 on Google
Across Google, Checkatrade and Trustatrader. Read them before you book.
Labour guarantee on every job
12 months on repairs, installations and everything else. Two years on a full bathroom refit. If anything we did develops a fault, we come back and put it right.
Fixed price before we start
The price is agreed with you before any work begins. No hidden extras on the invoice.
24/7, answered by a person
The emergency line is answered every day of the year by someone who can send an engineer, not a call centre.
Fully stocked vans
Five vans carrying the parts that fail most often, so most jobs are fixed on the first visit.
An office team behind every job
An established local business with multiple engineers and a dedicated office team to keep you informed.
Vaillant myREWARDS and Ideal Max accredited
Accredited installer status means extended manufacturer warranties on the boilers we fit.
Emergency response within the hour
Our average response to an emergency call is under an hour across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
Trusted & Accredited Professionals
Frequently asked questions
How quickly can you get to a leak in Stevenage?
Active leaks where water is visible or the meter is spinning, same-day in most cases. Non-emergency investigations (a damp patch you’ve been watching), usually within 2 to 3 working days.
How long does leak detection usually take?
Most domestic leak surveys take 1 to 3 hours on site. Underground mains and complex multi-floor leaks can take 4 to 6 hours. Fixed price quoted before we start, written findings before we leave.
Will my insurance pay for the survey?
Most home policies cover trace-and-access costs as a separate line from the repair itself, typically £5,000 to £10,000 limits. Check your policy wording. We provide invoices and reports formatted for insurance claims.
Will you have to break into walls or floors to find the leak?
Almost never as a first step. Our equipment locates leaks non-invasively in the vast majority of cases. If breaking through is unavoidable to confirm or repair the leak, we tell you exactly where and why before doing anything.
My water bill has tripled but I can't see any leak, what now?
Classic underground supply leak. Turn your stopcock off, watch the meter for 30 minutes, if it’s still moving, you’ve got a leak after the meter on your property. Acoustic detection along the supply run usually finds it within an hour.
Do you fix the leak as well as find it?
Yes. We’re a full plumbing and heating company, not just a detection service. Once we’ve located the leak, you get a fixed price for the repair before any work starts. 12-month labour guarantee on every repair.
For general plumbing rather than a detection survey, see everyday plumbing in Stevenage.
Book a leak detection survey for your Stevenage home
Fixed-price survey, written report, and we handle the insurance side if you need us to.
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