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Leak Detection Bow
Hidden water leaks in Bow pinpointed without opening floors or walls — acoustic, thermal imaging and tracer gas detection with no find, no fee, from engineers who know Bow buildings.
Local knowledge
Bow housing, from a leak engineer's side
Bow features a significant proportion of ex-local authority medium-rise apartment blocks from the 1960s-70s, alongside Victorian terraces and modern riverside apartments. The plumbing in the mid-century blocks is notable for original galvanised steel pipework, often partially replaced with copper, creating problematic mixed-material systems. Many properties also have concrete slab floors, concealing pipe runs.
Engineer's note
For Bow's concrete slab constructions and mixed-metal systems, tracer gas and acoustic correlation are critical for non-destructive location of embedded leaks.
Covered in Bow
- Hidden leaks under floors and in walls
- Underground supply pipe leaks
- Central heating and boiler pressure loss
- Underfloor heating loop leaks
- Flat-to-flat leak origin investigations
- Trace & access reports for insurance claims
What fails here
Common leak problems in Bow
01
Galvanised Steel to Copper Corrosion
Where copper pipe has been spliced into old galvanised steel systems, electrolytic corrosion rapidly degrades the steel at the junction. This causes pin-hole leaks that are intermittent and hard to locate. We use a combination of thermal imaging to find damp patches in walls and acoustic amplification to detect the high-frequency hiss of a pressurised pin-hole leak.
02
Concrete Floor Slab Leak Location
Supply and heating pipes embedded within concrete floor slabs in mid-century blocks are inaccessible. Leaks manifest as damp patches at joints or edges. Non-invasive location requires surface moisture mapping with capacitance meters to define the wet area, followed by tracer gas injection into the pipe system; gas detectors then identify the precise breakout point through the slab.
03
Balcony Slab Penetration Damp
Balconies on post-war blocks often have drainage outlets that penetrate the concrete slab. Failed seals allow water ingress along the reinforcement bars. Thermal imaging from inside the property below the balcony identifies cold spots corresponding to moisture evaporation, outlining the infiltration path.
04
Victorian Terrace Soil Stack Leaks
Cast iron soil stacks in Bow's terraces corrode at the back, hidden within the brickwork. Leaks saturate party walls. Internal inspection cameras assess stack condition, while correlating acoustic sensors placed at different floor levels pinpoint the vertical position of the leak in the concealed section.
Three methods, one marked point
Acoustic survey
Ground microphones and correlators follow the sound of escaping water through floors and ground.
Thermal imaging
Infrared cameras reveal wet patches and buried heating runs through the floor surface.
Tracer gas
A safe hydrogen mix escapes through the exact failure point and rises to our surface detector.
Leak detection in Bow — FAQs
How quickly can you attend a leak in Bow?
Same-day appointments are usually available in Bow and across Tower Hamlets, and next-day almost always. If water is actively escaping, say so when you book — live leaks are prioritised and we can talk you through isolating the supply while the engineer travels.
What does leak detection cost in Bow?
A fixed fee agreed at booking — typically £250–£450 for a domestic detection visit — covered by no find, no fee. That includes pressure testing per circuit, thermal imaging, acoustic survey and moisture mapping. Repairs are quoted separately before any work starts.
Do you know Bow properties?
Yes — Bow features a significant proportion of ex-local authority medium-rise apartment blocks from the 1960s-70s, alongside Victorian terraces and modern riverside apartments. The plumbing in the mid-century blocks is notable for original galvanised steel pipework, often partially replaced with copper, creating problematic mixed-material systems. Many properties also have concrete slab floors, concealing pipe runs.
Can you provide a report for my insurer?
Every Bow detection visit can produce an insurer-ready trace and access report — cause, precise origin, methods used, moisture map and photos — typically within 48 hours.
Read before you book
Leak detection guides
How to Choose a Leak Detection Company in London: A Guide to Technology & Precision
Selecting a leak detection company requires evaluating their technology, methodology, and commercial sector expertise. Here's what to prioritise.
ReadNo Find, No Fee Leak Detection Explained: How Advanced Technology Guarantees Precision
Our 'no find, no fee' policy is underpinned by advanced, non-invasive detection technology, providing landlords and commercial property managers with a precise, risk-free solution for locating hidden water leaks.
ReadA Step-by-Step Guide to Trace and Access Insurance Claims
A technical guide detailing the systematic process for trace and access insurance claims, from initial leak detection to final reinstatement, for property owners and managers.
ReadWhere we work
Bow & Tower Hamlets
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Losing water in Bow?
Tell us the symptoms and your postcode. Fixed detection fee, agreed arrival window, no find no fee — confirmed before you book.
Book a detection visit