1300 FINDLEAK & The Mould Doctor · Strategic Alliance
Water Damage & Mould Detection
Mould keeps coming back when the water feeding it is never found. 1300 FINDLEAK and The Mould Doctor have formed a strategic alliance to fix both: we find and confirm the hidden leak or moisture source behind the damage, and The Mould Doctor removes the mould and treats the building once the water is stopped. Leak and moisture detection is from $398 inc. GST for the first hour, and The Mould Doctor's inspection is free.
Found water damage or mould?
- If water is still coming in or a pipe has burst, turn off the water at the meter. If water is near lights or power points, turn off that circuit at the switchboard if it's safe to do so.
- Don't scrub or dry-brush large patches of mould. It releases spores into the air.
- Open windows and run exhaust fans to lower the humidity while you wait.
- Take photos of the damage and note when it gets worse, for example after rain or after showers.
Call 1300 FINDLEAK on 1300 346 353, 24/7, to find the source. Call The Mould Doctor on 1300 944 595 for a free mould inspection.
The challenge: modern buildings and hidden moisture
Modern Australian homes are built to be energy efficient. More insulation and double glazing also keep damp air inside. Where kitchens, laundries and bathrooms aren't well ventilated, condensation builds up and mould can grow out of sight, inside wall cavities and under floors.
Water damage is rarely a one-off. A burst pipe or a slow leak is often the start of a mould problem, and in our reports more than one cause is common: in a review of 245 of our leak reports, 58% found more than one cause. Finding the obvious leak is only half the job. Working out why the building stays damp needs both a leak detection specialist and a mould specialist.
How we find the moisture behind the damage
Hidden leaks in walls and floors
Pipes, wastes and fittings leaking inside wall cavities and under floors. We pressure test and use acoustic listening and tracer gas to confirm which one is leaking.
Moisture mapping and thermal imaging
Moisture meter readings and thermal images show how far the water has spread behind plaster, tiles and floors, so the mould treatment covers the whole affected area.
Rain getting in
Cracked render, failed window and door seals, balconies and roofs. We water test each likely path one at a time until the leak is reproduced.
The 1300 FINDLEAK & The Mould Doctor 5-step process
The alliance combines 1300 FINDLEAK's leak detection with The Mould Doctor's mould remediation, so you deal with one coordinated team from the first call to a dry, treated home.
Free consultation
The Mould Doctor starts with a free consultation. Whether you've noticed a musty smell or black spots, they gather the history and moisture patterns so our technicians arrive with the context they need.
Non-invasive leak detection
1300 FINDLEAK finds the moisture source without opening walls on a guess, using FLIR thermal imaging, acoustic listening, hydrogen/nitrogen tracer gas and Trotec moisture mapping.
Cause and report
We confirm the root cause, from a leaking pipe or failed waterproofing to roof flashing, poor sub-floor ventilation or condensation, and give you a photo report for your insurer and trades.
Repair the source
Your plumber, roofer or waterproofer fixes the defect, or we quote the repair and return at another time, often with trusted independent trades. We can check the scope of works matches what we found.
Step 5: mould remediation by The Mould Doctor
With the water source fixed, The Mould Doctor removes the mould and treats the building, following IICRC guidelines:
- Mould removal: removing visible mould from affected surfaces.
- Whole-premises fogging: a treatment that targets airborne spores throughout the building.
- HEPA air filtration: scrubbing the air to bring spore counts back to normal levels.
- 12-month guarantee: The Mould Doctor provides a one-year service guarantee on treated areas, provided their preventive recommendations, such as ventilation upgrades, are carried out.
Call The Mould Doctor on 1300 944 595 for a free mould inspection and a detailed report and quote before any treatment begins.
Leak, rising damp or condensation?
All three cause damp walls and mould, but they're fixed in different ways. This is how we tell them apart.
| Type | What it usually looks like | How we confirm it |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing leak | Wettest near a pipe, waste or fixture. Worse when that fixture is used, or constant if it's a pressure pipe. | Pressure testing, fixture-by-fixture water testing, acoustic listening or tracer gas |
| Rain getting in | Worse after rain, often near a window, door, balcony, roof or crack in the render. | Water testing each area one at a time, with thermal imaging |
| Rising damp | Damp along the bottom of walls, often with a tide mark and white salt deposits. Doesn't change with rain or water use. | Moisture readings that fall away up the wall, and a check of the damp-proof course and outside ground levels |
| Condensation | Surface mould on cold walls, ceilings and window frames, worse in winter and in poorly ventilated rooms. | Surface-only moisture readings and a check of humidity and ventilation |
More on slab heave and rising damp.
Why mould matters for your health
Mould occurs naturally, but indoors it can become a health problem. It spreads by releasing microscopic spores into the air. For people with asthma or allergies, children, older people and anyone with a weakened immune system, exposure can lead to:
- Coughing, wheezing and worsening asthma
- A blocked or runny nose and sinus congestion
- Itchy eyes and skin irritation
- Headaches and a persistent musty smell indoors
The Mould Doctor doesn't just clean the visible mould; they treat the building so it's safe to live in again. If you're worried about symptoms, talk to your doctor.
Pricing
Leak and moisture source detection
- Moisture mapping and thermal imaging
- Pressure, acoustic, tracer gas and water testing as needed
- Source located and marked
- Written photo report for your insurer and trades
Additional hour
$168 per hour in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Only if the job needs longer. We tell you before we go over.
Mould inspection
You get a full quote for the mould treatment before any work begins. Call 1300 944 595.
Leak detection prices are for metropolitan areas. See all our leak detection prices.
Areas we serve
- Victoria: Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Gippsland and Shepparton
- New South Wales: Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle and the Central Coast
- Queensland: Brisbane and the Gold Coast
- ACT: Canberra and surrounding suburbs
We're a family-run business, not a franchise, with Victorian licence 105159 and Queensland licence PD26669.
Related pages
Water leak detection · Shower leak detection · Roof leak detection · Balcony leak detection · Building and apartment leaks · Thermal imaging inspection · Slab heave and rising damp · Insurance and reports
Water damage and mould FAQs
Why does mould keep coming back after it's cleaned?
Because the moisture feeding it is still there. Mould needs ongoing moisture: a hidden leak, rain getting in, rising damp or condensation. If the source isn't found and fixed first, cleaning only removes what you can see. That's why 1300 FINDLEAK finds and confirms the moisture source before The Mould Doctor treats the mould.
How do you find the moisture behind the mould?
We map moisture readings across the walls, floors and ceilings, use thermal imaging to show damp areas behind plaster and tiles, then test the likely sources one at a time with pressure testing, acoustic listening, tracer gas and water or dye testing until the cause is confirmed.
How much does it cost?
Water damage and leak detection by 1300 FINDLEAK is from $398 inc. GST for the first hour on site in metropolitan Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, then $198 per extra hour in Victoria and $168 in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast if needed. The Mould Doctor provides a free inspection and a detailed report and quote for the mould treatment before any work starts.
Is it a leak, rising damp or condensation?
Each leaves a different pattern. A leak is wettest near a pipe, fixture, window or roof and gets worse when that source is used or when it rains. Rising damp sits low on walls, often with a tide mark and salt deposits. Condensation shows as surface mould on cold walls and ceilings, worse in winter and in rooms with poor ventilation. Our moisture and thermal survey tells them apart.
Will my insurance cover it?
Many home and building policies cover finding a hidden leak that has caused water damage, often called trace and access cover. Mould itself is often treated differently, so check your policy. Our photo report records where the water came from and why, which is what insurers and assessors normally ask for.
Do you repair the leak as well?
Our visit is about finding and confirming the source, with a written photo report. Many plumbers, builders and waterproofers then do their own repairs. If you'd like us to, we'll quote the repair and return at another time to complete it, often with trusted independent trades. Once the water is stopped, The Mould Doctor treats the mould.
Choose the team that fixes the cause, not just the mould.
Call 1300 FINDLEAK on 1300 346 353 for leak and moisture detection, 24/7. Call The Mould Doctor on 1300 944 595 for a free mould inspection.
Trusted by builders, real estate agencies and strata managers across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast
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.
We’re here to help!
Not sure which service you need?
Use the enquiry button below and we will be in touch shortly or call us on 1300 346 353, and our friendly team will gladly help schedule an appointment at your convenience. We're here to make the process easy and stress-free for you!
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 licence 105159 · QLD licence PD26669
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