When water escapes from hidden pipes in your property, trace and access leak detection becomes your first line of defence against costly structural damage. This specialist service combines advanced leak detection technology – including thermal imaging cameras, acoustic listening devices, and tracer gas equipment – to pinpoint the source of water leak without unnecessary damage to your walls, floors, or ceilings. Most UK buildings insurance policies include £5,000 to £10,000 of trace and access cover, meaning the costs of locating your leak (trace) and gaining access to repair it (access) are typically recoverable through your insurer.
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Here's the truth: that hidden leak won't fix itself. Every hour it runs, it's damaging timber, weakening structures, and feeding mould you can't see yet. But tearing apart walls hoping to find it? That's yesterday's approach.
Simply put, it's finding your leak (trace) and getting to it (access) using specialist equipment. No guesswork, no unnecessary holes. We use thermal cameras, acoustic sensors, and tracer gas to pinpoint leaks through walls, under floors, even underground - then provide the minimal access point needed for repair. Whether it's a burst pipe in your plumbing system or hidden mains water leak, we'll find it.
97% of UK buildings insurance policies include trace and access cover, typically £5,000-£10,000. This covers our detection work and any access damage. The leak repair itself? Usually just the cost of a washer or joint - pennies compared to the detection. We provide itemised invoices to maximise your claim.
A pinhole leak loses 2,700 litres monthly. That's not just water waste - it's rot spreading through joists, plaster bubbling behind paint, and insurance complications if you delay. Quick detection saves thousands in structural repairs and keeps your claim straightforward. This is especially critical for underfloor heating systems where delays can damage the entire floor structure.
Free phone consultation to understand your symptoms - high bills, damp patches, pressure loss. We'll advise if it's trace and access territory.
Deploy our detection arsenal - thermal imaging first, then acoustic or tracer gas as needed. Most residential leaks found within 2-4 hours.
Mark leak location. Create minimal access point - often just 30cm square. No exploratory damage, no hoping for the best.
Comprehensive report with photos, moisture readings, and method statement. Everything your insurer needs for approval.
Each leak speaks differently. We listen with the right equipment.
FLIR thermal cameras detect temperature variations through walls and floors. Cold spots indicate water presence, hot spots show heating leaks. Completely non-invasive, results in minutes.
Ground microphones and listening devices amplify the sound of escaping water. Works through concrete, tarmac, and soil. Pinpoints leaks to within 30cm accuracy. Our specialist acoustic detection equipment can hear what you can't.
Safe, non-toxic gas mixture (5% hydrogen, 95% nitrogen) injected into pipes. Escapes through leak points and rises to surface. Our sensitive detectors track it to millimetre precision. Learn more about our advanced tracer gas leak detection service.
Flexible fibre-optic cameras access voids through existing openings. Real-time video feed shows pipe condition and leak points. Perfect for cavity walls and floor voids.
Professional moisture meters map water spread patterns. Tracks leak path from source to visible damage. Essential for insurance documentation.
Isolate pipe sections and monitor pressure drop. Confirms leak presence and severity. Helps eliminate sections to narrow search area.
Here's what most people don't realise: by the time you see that damp patch, water's been travelling for weeks. It follows the path of least resistance - along joists, down cables, through insulation. The visible damage? That's just the tip of the iceberg.
Our thermal imaging cuts through the guesswork. Temperature variations show water's journey from source to symptom. Cold signatures trace fresh leaks, moisture mapping reveals the spread pattern, and we pinpoint the origin without a single exploratory hole. This technology is particularly effective for comprehensive water leak detection in complex properties.
Every trace and access investigation includes moisture readings throughout your property. We document water's path, quantify the damage, and provide the evidence insurers need. No arguments, no delays, just approval. For properties with concrete slab foundations or underground pipe networks, early detection is even more critical.
Thermal imaging reveals water travel path behind walls - found without any damage to property
Most homeowners don't realise they already have trace and access protection. Here's what's typically covered:
Detection costs, access damage, investigation work, moisture surveys, professional reports
The actual pipe repair (usually under £50), poor maintenance, gradual damage, external water ingress
£5,000-£10,000 standard, some policies unlimited, check your 'escape of water' section
Our reports accepted by all major insurers, 48-hour turnaround, itemised invoices provided
Every trace and access investigation includes:
"Charlie found our leak in just over 2 hours after two plumbers had failed over three weeks. The thermal camera showed it immediately - under the kitchen floor, nowhere near where we thought. Insurance covered everything with his report."
"Professional from start to finish. Explained the tracer gas process, found our underground leak without digging up the entire drive, and the insurance paperwork was spot on. Saved us thousands."
"Boiler kept losing pressure for months. AHB traced it to a small leak in the concrete floor heating pipes. Highly recommend!."
Every day you wait costs money - in water bills, spreading damage, and complicated insurance claims. Our trace and access service finds leaks fast, documents everything properly, and gets your claim approved. One call sorts it all.
Our Happy Customers 😊
Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire, Cheshire
