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Melbourne VIC · Homes, strata & commercial · 24/7

Water Leak Detection Melbourne

1300 FINDLEAK finds hidden water leaks in walls, floors, concrete slabs and underground pipes across Melbourne without digging or breaking tiles on a guess. Our licensed technicians pressure test the pipes, then pinpoint the leak with acoustic listening, tracer gas, thermal imaging and moisture mapping, mark the exact spot and give you a photo report for your plumber, insurer or water retailer. Water leak detection in Melbourne is $398 inc. GST for the first hour, with a 24/7 phone line.

Call 1300 346 353Free phone quote, often same day Book onlinePick a time that suits you

1300 FINDLEAK technician finding a hidden water leak in Melbourne, VIC

From $398inc. GST, first hour (Melbourne)

1 hourMost leaks are found in the first hour

24/7Emergency phone line

Found or you don't pay*Insurance-ready photo report

Water leaking right now?

Turn off the water at the meter (usually at the front boundary). Turn it clockwise until it stops.
If water is near light fittings, power points or a ceiling, switch off that circuit at the switchboard if it's safe to do so, and keep clear of a sagging ceiling.
Turn off the hot water system: the gas or power supply first, then the cold water inlet valve.
Move furniture, rugs and electronics away from the water, and mop or towel up what you can.
Take photos of the damage and the meter reading for your insurer and water retailer.

Then call 1300 346 353, 24/7. We'll book the inspection and tell you what to expect.

How to tell if you have a hidden water leak

Most leaks we find aren't dripping where you can see them. They're in a wall cavity, under a slab or tiled floor, or in the pipe between the meter and the house. The quickest check is the meter test: turn off every tap, appliance and toilet, note the reading, wait 15 to 30 minutes and look again. If it has moved, water is escaping somewhere.

A water bill much higher than the same time last year
The meter or smart meter moving with everything turned off
Damp, warm or stained patches on floors, walls or ceilings
Mould, a musty smell or peeling paint near a bathroom or kitchen
Cracked or drummy tiles, or skirting boards swelling
Soggy lawn, sinking paving or water in the meter box
Low water pressure or the hot water running more than usual
The sound of running water when nothing is on

Leaks are rarely as simple as they look. In a review of 245 of our completed leak reports, 58% found more than one cause, which is why we test every likely source instead of stopping at the first defect.

Water leaks we find across Melbourne

Split copper water pipe exposed after the leak point was pinpointed

Hidden pipe leaks in walls, floors and slabs

Supply and hot water pipes leaking inside wall cavities, under tiled floors and through concrete slabs. We pressure test each line to prove which one is failing, then pinpoint it so only one small area is opened up.

1300 FINDLEAK technician using an acoustic ground microphone to listen for an underground water leak outside a Melbourne townhouse

Underground leaks and high water bills

A leak between the meter and the house can waste thousands of litres before it shows. Acoustic ground microphones and tracer gas find it under lawns, gardens, driveways and paving without trenching the yard.

Technician listening for a burst water main on a wet commercial car park in Melbourne

Strata, commercial and fire services

Burst mains under car parks, leaking risers in apartment buildings, and fire service and hydrant lines. We work with strata managers and facility managers, and can arrange access across several units.

Watch: finding an underground water leak in Wheelers Hill

Our technician Daniel finds a burst mains water pipe at a home in Wheelers Hill. He isolates the toilets, appliances, hot water, evaporative cooler, grey water and solar systems, runs a 10-minute pressure test that shows the cold mains is failing, maps the pipe with a line locator, then uses tracer gas and acoustic listening to pinpoint the leak.

Play video: finding an underground water leak in Wheelers Hill

Watch on YouTube (2:37)

Water leak detection cost in Melbourne

Melbourne metro

Water leak detection

$398

inc. GST, first hour on site

Pressure testing to confirm which line is leaking
Acoustic listening, tracer gas, thermal imaging and moisture mapping
Leak located and marked on the day
Written photo report for your plumber, insurer or water retailer

Extra time

Additional hour

$198

inc. GST per hour

Only if the job needs longer, for example several leaks, large properties or long underground runs. We tell you before we go over.

Guarantee

Found or you don't pay*

if we can't find it

*If we can't find the leak, you don't pay for the inspection. Ask for details when you book or read our guarantee terms.

Prices are for metropolitan Melbourne. The Mornington Peninsula, Geelong and regional Victoria have their own prices. See the water leak detection price, the high water bill investigation price and all our leak detection prices.

How it works

Step 1

Call or book online

Tell us what you're seeing: a high bill, a damp patch, a meter that won't stop, or water where it shouldn't be. We'll give you a free phone quote and book a time.

Step 2

Isolate and pressure test

We turn off fixtures and appliances one at a time and pressure test the hot and cold lines, so we know which pipe is leaking before we look for it.

Step 3

Pinpoint without digging

Acoustic ground microphones, tracer gas, thermal imaging and moisture meters narrow it down to one spot, which we mark on the floor, wall or ground.

Step 4

Report and next steps

We explain the cause and email a photo report. Your plumber can fix the right spot, or ask us to quote the repair and we'll book a return visit.

Signs of a water leak and what usually causes them

Sign	Likely cause	How we find it
Water bill jumped, nothing visible	Underground leak between the meter and the house, a running toilet or a leaking hot water relief valve	Meter test, isolation and pressure testing, then acoustic listening or tracer gas
Warm patch on a tiled or concrete floor	Hot water pipe leaking in or under the slab	Thermal imaging, pressure test of the hot line and acoustic listening
Damp wall or swollen skirting beside a bathroom or kitchen	Leaking pipe or fitting in the wall cavity, or a failed shower	Moisture mapping, thermal imaging and pressure testing; water and dye tests for wet areas
Stain or drip on a ceiling	Pipe, shower or toilet leak above, or a roof leak in rain	Thermal and moisture survey, then isolating each source above
Soggy lawn, sinking paving or water in the meter box	Burst or cracked underground water service	Acoustic ground microphones, line locating and tracer gas
Low water pressure	A large leak on the supply line, or a partly closed or failing valve	Pressure and flow checks, then acoustic listening along the line
Water in a basement or car park	Leaking risers, stormwater, a slab penetration or a balcony or planter above	Zone-by-zone testing with moisture readings and dye

From our recent Melbourne jobs

Two 1300 FINDLEAK technicians testing a fire hydrant booster on a Melbourne commercial building — Testing a fire hydrant booster assembly on a commercial building.

PVC stack pipes under the slab of an apartment building car park — Checking stack pipes through a car park slab in an apartment block.

Hand-held acoustic leak detector reading on a garden bed over an underground water pipe — Acoustic detector reading over an underground water pipe in a garden.

High water bill? Your water retailer may help

Melbourne has three water retailers: South East Water (south-east and bayside suburbs and the Mornington Peninsula), Yarra Valley Water (northern and eastern suburbs) and Greater Western Water (the CBD, inner suburbs and the west). Each has a policy for concealed leaks, meaning leaks you couldn't reasonably have seen, and may reduce part of a bill once the leak is found and repaired. They usually ask for evidence of where the leak was and that it has been fixed.

Our report records the leak location, the cause and photos, which is the evidence retailers normally ask for. Each retailer sets its own rules and amounts, so check with yours before you apply. Our 1300 FINDLEAK guide explains the steps.

Who we help

Homeowners with a high bill, a damp patch or a meter that won't stop
Landlords and property managers who need a clear report and photos for the owner
Strata managers and owners corporations, with pre-approved 30-day accounts (see how we work with them)
Plumbers and builders who need a leak found before they open anything up
Insurers, assessors and loss adjusters who need the cause documented
Commercial sites, including car parks, fire services and plant rooms

We're a family-run business, not a franchise, and hold Victorian plumbing licence 105159.

Other leak detection services in Melbourne

Shower leaks · Balcony leaks · Roof leaks · Burst pipes · 24/7 emergency leak detection · · Gas leaks · Fire service leaks · Water damage and mould · CCTV drain camera inspection · Pre-purchase plumbing inspection · VCAT expert leak reports

Melbourne suburbs we cover

Our vans cover all of metropolitan Melbourne, from the CBD and inner suburbs to the bayside, eastern, northern, western and south-eastern growth areas. Browse by region: bayside, eastern, northern, southern and western suburbs, or the Mornington Peninsula and Geelong.

Water leak detection Melbourne FAQs

How much does water leak detection cost in Melbourne?

$398 inc. GST for the first hour on site in metropolitan Melbourne, then $198 inc. GST per extra hour if the job needs longer. Most leaks are found within the first hour. That includes thermal imaging, acoustic listening, tracer gas, pressure and moisture testing, and a written photo report. If we can't find the leak, you don't pay for the inspection.

How do I know if I have a hidden water leak?

Turn off every tap, appliance and toilet, then watch the water meter for 15 to 30 minutes. If the dial or digital reading still moves, water is escaping somewhere. Other signs are a water bill that jumps without a reason, damp or warm patches on floors, mould or a musty smell, cracked tiles, sinking paving, or the hot water system running more than usual.

Can you find a leak under a concrete slab without digging?

Yes. We pressure test each line to confirm which one is leaking, then use acoustic ground microphones and tracer gas to pinpoint the spot through the slab, tiles or paving. We mark the exact point so any opening up is limited to one small area instead of trenching or breaking up a whole floor.

Will my water retailer reduce a high water bill caused by a leak?

South East Water, Yarra Valley Water and Greater Western Water each have a policy for concealed leaks that you couldn't reasonably have seen, usually needing proof of the leak and of the repair. Each retailer sets its own rules and amounts, so check with yours. Our report records where the leak was and what caused it, which is the evidence they normally ask for.

Will insurance cover leak detection?

Many Australian home and building policies cover the cost of finding a hidden leak when it has caused water damage, often called trace and access cover. It depends on your policy, so check with your insurer. Our photo report is written so your insurer, assessor or loss adjuster can act on it.

Do you repair the leak as well?

Yes, if you'd like us to. Our first visit is about finding the leak: we mark it, explain the cause and give you a report. Many plumbers, builders and property managers then do their own repairs. If you want us to fix it, we'll quote the repair and return at another time to complete it, often with trusted independent trades.

Stop paying for water you can't see.

From $398 inc. GST across metropolitan Melbourne. Found or you don't pay*. 24/7 phone line.

Call 1300 346 353 Book Online

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Call 1300 346 353 - 24/7 for emergencies, office hours 7am–11pm, 7 days

Email admin@1300findleak.com.au — work orders and purchase orders welcome

Book online or submit a work order through our portal

We're a mobile service and come to your property. Our teams are based in Parkdale and Moorooduc in Victoria, Seaforth in Sydney, and Hope Island on the Gold Coast, covering Melbourne, Geelong, the Mornington Peninsula, regional Victoria, Sydney, Wollongong, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Tweed Heads, Casuarina, Kingscliff and Byron Bay.

1300 FINDLEAK Pty Ltd · ABN 83 640 078 397 · VIC plumbing licence 105159 · QLD licence PD26669

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Oliver Schulze, the director of 1300FINDLEAK, a family-run company committed to solving all gas and water leak problems.

I'm Oliver Schulze, the director of 1300FINDLEAK, a family-run company committed to solving all your gas and water leak problems. We pride ourselves on delivering the highest standards in customer outcomes and satisfaction, ensuring reliable and professional service every time.

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