Your questions answered · VIC, NSW & QLD
Leak Detection FAQs
Answers to the questions people ask us most about finding water and gas leaks: what it costs, how we find leaks without digging or lifting tiles, what to check yourself, and what happens after we find it. Leak detection starts from $398 inc. GST for the first hour in metro areas, with a written report and Found or you don't pay*.
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*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.
Cost and booking
How much does leak detection cost?
Leak detection is $398 inc. GST for the first hour on site in metro Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, with the written report included. Extra time is $198 an hour in Victoria and $168 an hour in NSW and Queensland, and we check with you before going past the first hour. The Mornington Peninsula and Wollongong are $498, Geelong $598, the Surf Coast $898 and regional Victoria from $798 by town. See prices by area.
Is there a call-out fee?
No. There's no separate call-out fee. The first-hour price covers travel to your area, the inspection and testing, and your written report.
What happens if you can't find the leak?
Found or you don't pay: if we can't find the leak you booked us for, you don't pay for the inspection. Conditions apply; see our guarantee terms. See guarantee terms.
How quickly can you come?
We often have same-day or next-day appointments in metro areas, and our phone line is open 24/7 for emergencies on 1300 346 353.
Which areas do you cover?
Metro Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, Geelong, the Surf Coast and regional Victoria, plus Sydney, Wollongong, Brisbane (including Ipswich, Logan and the Redlands) and the Gold Coast and Tweed Coast. See service areas.
How we find leaks
What is leak detection?
Leak detection is finding the exact source of a hidden water or gas leak without opening walls, lifting tiles or digging on a guess. A specialist tests the plumbing, building or roof, pinpoints where the water or gas is escaping, and marks the spot so the repair can be targeted.
What methods are used for leak detection?
We use pressure testing to prove whether a line is leaking, acoustic listening to hear water escaping underground or in walls, tracer gas to find leaks on lines that are hard to hear, thermal imaging to show moisture and hot water leaks, moisture mapping, and dye, flood and water tests for showers, balconies and roofs. We choose the method to suit the leak. See thermal imaging, acoustic leak detection, tracer gas.
How accurate is leak detection?
Very accurate when the right tests are combined. We confirm what one method shows with another, for example a thermal image with moisture readings or an acoustic reading with a pressure test, before marking the leak. That's why we can offer Found or you don't pay on the leak you book us for.
Is leak detection disruptive to my property?
No. Our testing is non-invasive. We don't dig, drill or lift tiles to find the leak. Once it's found, any opening needed for the repair is limited to the marked spot.
What are the different types of leaks?
The most common are water supply pipe leaks (underground, in walls or under the slab), hot water leaks, shower and bathroom leaks, waste and drain leaks, roof, window and wall leaks after rain, balcony leaks, and gas leaks on natural gas or LPG lines.
Checking for a leak yourself
How do I check for a leak using my water meter?
Turn off every tap and water-using appliance, then look at the water meter. If the dials or the small leak indicator keep moving, or the reading changes after an hour with no water used, water is escaping somewhere on your property and it's time to book a leak detection.
How do I find a water leak in my home?
Look for a moving water meter, a higher water bill, damp or stained walls and ceilings, swollen skirting boards, lifting floors, mould or a musty smell, and wet patches in the yard. These signs show there's a leak, but a hidden leak usually needs testing to find the exact spot.
What should I do if water is leaking right now?
Turn off the water at the meter and switch off the hot water system, switch off the power to any area where water is near electrics, take photos for your insurer, then call 1300 346 353. Our line is open 24/7.
Showers and bathrooms
How do I know if my shower is leaking?
Common signs are damp or rotting skirting boards next to the bathroom, lifting or cracked tiles, mould on the wall behind the shower, water stains on the ceiling below, and a musty smell. A shower can leak for months before the damage shows. See shower leak detection.
Can a shower leak behind the tiles?
Yes. Grout is porous and silicone breaks down over time, so water can get behind the tiles. If the waterproofing membrane underneath has failed, or the floor waste, tap penetrations or screen fixings aren't sealed, that water escapes into the walls and floor.
How do you find shower leaks?
We test each part of the shower separately: the floor and floor waste, the walls, the tap and pipe connections and the screen. Flood tests, UV dye, moisture mapping and thermal imaging show which part is failing, so you can fix that part instead of rebuilding the whole bathroom.
What should I do if my shower is leaking?
Stop using it if water is getting into other rooms, take photos of any damage, and book a leak detection before paying for a full renovation. Often the fix is a targeted repair to one part of the shower.
Roofs and balconies
What are the signs of a leaking roof?
Water stains on ceilings or walls, dripping after rain, damp insulation, mould, and peeling paint near the ceiling. Some roof leaks only show in heavy or wind-driven rain, which makes them hard to trace. See roof leak detection.
Why is my roof leaking?
Common causes are cracked or slipped tiles, rusted or lifted roof sheets, failed flashings around chimneys, skylights and walls, blocked or overflowing box gutters, and leaks around windows or wall cladding that look like roof leaks.
How can I stop a roof leak temporarily?
Don't go on the roof, especially in wet weather. Put a bucket under the drip, move furniture and electronics away, and switch off power to any light fitting that water is coming through. Then book a leak detection so the real entry point is found before repairs.
Do you find balcony leaks?
Yes. Balcony leaks into rooms or units below usually come from a failed membrane, the balcony waste, the door sill or the edge of the balcony. We use flood and water testing with moisture readings to show which. See balcony leak detection.
Gas leaks
What should I do if I smell gas?
Energy Safe Victoria advises: turn off the gas at the meter or cylinder if it's safe to do so, put out all flames, don't use electrical switches, open doors and windows, and keep people away. If anyone is in danger call 000, and report a natural gas leak to your gas distributor's emergency number. See gas leak detection.
How do you find a gas leak?
We pressure test the gas line to prove whether it's leaking, then trace the leak to the exact pipe or fitting with electronic gas detectors and hydrogen tracer gas, without digging up floors or gardens. A licensed gasfitter then repairs it.
Damp, slab and building issues
What is rising damp and how can I identify it?
Rising damp is groundwater moving up through a masonry wall, usually because the damp proof course has failed or been bridged. Signs include a tide mark low on the wall, flaking paint and plaster, salt deposits and a musty smell. A plumbing leak can look like rising damp, so it pays to rule out a leak first. See moisture detection.
What causes rising damp and how is it treated?
It's caused by a failed or bridged damp proof course, high garden beds or paths against the wall, and poor drainage. Treatment depends on the cause, from lowering ground levels and improving drainage to installing a new damp proof course. Our report can confirm whether the moisture is from a leak or from the ground.
What is efflorescence?
Efflorescence is the white, powdery salt deposit left on brick, concrete or tiles when water moves through them and evaporates. It shows that water is getting into the material, from rain, rising damp or a leak, and it usually returns until that water source is stopped.
What is slab heave and what are the signs?
Slab heave is when a concrete slab lifts because the soil underneath swells, often from a leaking pipe or poor drainage. Signs include cracks in floors and walls, doors that stick, uneven floors and cracked tiles.
Can a leak cause slab heave?
Yes. A leaking water or waste pipe under or near a slab can wet reactive clay soil and make it swell. Finding and stopping the leak is the first step before any structural repairs. See water damage and mould.
Water bills, insurance, reports and repairs
Can I get a water bill reduction for a hidden leak?
Many water retailers offer a leak allowance or concealed leak assistance once the leak is repaired. You'll usually need evidence of where the leak was and that it's been fixed, and our written report covers the first part. See water bill leak guide.
Will my insurer accept your report?
Insurers and loss adjusters ask for the source and cause of the leak, which is what our report shows, with photos and test results. Whether a claim is approved depends on your policy. See insurance reports.
What's in your report and how long does it take?
Photos, thermal images, test results, the cause and location of the leak, and a recommended repair scope. We show you the leak on site, and formal written reports can take up to 14 days.
Do you repair the leak as well?
Our visit is about finding the leak. If you'd like us to fix it, we'll quote the repair and return at another time to complete it, often with trusted independent trades. Many plumbers, builders and property managers do their own repairs from our report.
Why find the leak before starting repairs?
Repairs started on a guess often open the wrong wall or replace the wrong part, and the leak continues. Finding and proving the source first means a smaller, targeted repair, less damage, a clear record for your insurer, and no repeat call-outs.
Still have a question? Call 1300 346 353.
Australian Home & Business Owners Choose Us
I'm Oliver Schulze, the director of 1300 FINDLEAK, 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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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 licence 105159 · QLD licence PD26669
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