Leak under the floor? Find it without lifting the whole floor

Signs of a leak under your floor

• Damp, dark or stained patches on floorboards, carpet or grout.
• Tiles that are lifting, cracking or sound hollow.
• Laminate or wooden flooring that is swelling or cupping.
• A warm spot on the floor (often a heating or hot-water pipe).
• A musty smell, or mould along the skirting boards.
• Your boiler losing pressure, or your water bill rising for no reason.

Kitchens and bathrooms

Most under-floor leaks we see are in kitchens and bathrooms, where supply pipes, waste pipes and heating pipes all run together under the floor. A slow leak from a shower tray, a bath waste or a pipe joint behind a kitchen unit can soak into the floor for months before you notice.

Sometimes it isn't a pipe at all. A failed seal or grout can let water in from above, and damp can also come from condensation or from outside. That's why we test properly before anyone starts digging. You shouldn't pay to fix the wrong problem.

How we find it

We use thermal imaging to spot escaping warm water, moisture mapping to show where the floor is wettest and how far it has spread, pressure testing to confirm which pipe is leaking, and tracer gas to pinpoint the exact location, even under tiles or concrete.

Once we've found the source, you get clear findings, and we can carry out the repair where it's within our scope. Only the area directly over the leak is opened.

Will you need to lift my floor?

Not to find the leak. Our detection is non-invasive. To repair it, a small area directly over the leak usually needs opening, and we'll always discuss that with you first and explain why.

Is a leak under the floor covered by insurance?

Many buildings insurance policies include 'trace and access' cover, which can pay for finding the leak. Policies vary, so check with your insurer. We can provide a detailed report to support your claim. See our guide to insurance and trace and access below.