WOW in Ilford
Hidden leak investigation in Ilford
WOW provides leak detection, plumbing & mechanical services in Ilford for residential blocks, houses, rental properties & businesses.
Reasons to contact WOW1 2 3 4 5
Common reasons customers contact WOW
High water bills or meter movement when outlets are closed
A damp ceiling below a bathroom
Foul smells from a waste, soil or drainage system
Recurring drainage problems requiring a CCTV survey
London coverage
Start with the affected water system
Where water passes between rooms, floors or occupancies, the visible damage may not identify the source. Accessible supply, heating, fixture & waste routes are considered separately & operated or isolated where possible.
Leakage from a waste, soil pipe or fixture connection normally appears while water is being discharged. The relevant fixture is operated & accessible joints are observed, with dye, flow testing or CCTV used where those methods suit the suspected route.
Specialist leak detection process1 2 3 4 5 6
What happens during a leak investigation in Ilford
Confirm the symptom
We establish where water has been noticed or whether the boiler or sealed heating circuit is losing pressure, when the problem occurs & which fixtures or systems are operating at the time.
Map the affected area
Accessible components are inspected & moisture meter readings are used to map the spread. A thermal camera may identify temperature patterns, but thermal imaging is not treated as proof on its own.
Separate possible sources
Cold water supplies, hot water services, sealed heating circuits, fixtures, wastes, drainage & condensate routes are considered separately. Pressure loss refers only to the sealed heating circuit; hot water services are checked for leakage or performance faults.
Test the relevant system
Depending on the evidence, checks may include meter monitoring, staged isolation, pressure testing of suitable supply pipework or a sealed heating circuit, controlled fixture use, dye testing or CCTV inspection. Ordinary drainage is tested during discharge, not as a pressurised service.
Narrow the source area
Acoustic listening equipment, tracer gas & boroscope inspection may be introduced where the pipework & conditions suit those methods. No single instrument reading is relied upon without supporting evidence.
Explain the findings
The results are compared & explained, including any limitations. Targeted access is recommended only where the evidence supports a particular route or source area, & repair or access work is quoted separately.
Relevant services
Services relevant to these symptoms
Specialist leak detectionThe investigation starts by recording how & when water damage between floors in a block develops. Moisture readings & thermal imaging are used to trace the pattern before nearby supply, heating, waste & fixture systems are isolated or operated separately. Suitable pressure, acoustic, tracer gas, dye, CCTV or boroscope checks then narrow the supported source area before targeted access is considered.Plumbing repairsFollowing diagnosis, repairs can be assessed for pipework, valves, wastes, toilets, taps & shower connections.Drainage investigationDye, flow or CCTV checks may be selected when leakage or odour occurs during discharge rather than under water pressure.
Other Ilford services available subject to scope: Heating & hot water, HVAC & air conditioning, Commercial mechanical.
Questions answered
Ilford leak detection FAQs
How would WOW investigate water damage between floors in a block in Ilford?
The accessible supply, heating, waste & fixture routes are considered separately. Isolation, controlled fixture use & moisture mapping are used where possible so water passing between rooms or occupancies is not attributed to the wrong service.
How long does a leak detection survey usually take?
Please allow approximately 2–3 hours on site for a complete leak detection survey, including up to 2 hours of pressure testing where appropriate. The time varies with the number of systems requiring checks, available isolation points & whether the fault occurs during the visit. Very slow or intermittent losses may require monitoring, staged isolation or a further agreed test before a reliable location can be confirmed.
How much does leak detection cost in Ilford?
A complete leak detection survey is £500 + VAT from 8am–5pm, £600 + VAT from 5pm–9pm & £700 + VAT after 9pm. Tracer gas is included where required. Repair or access work outside the survey is quoted separately.
What happens if WOW cannot find the leak?
WOW's No Find, No Fee policy applies where a genuine active leak is within the agreed investigation but its source cannot be identified during that investigation. Terms apply. Rising damp, condensation, building defects & other non leak causes are excluded because the specialist testing has still been completed. Where evidence is limited or the fault is intermittent, the findings & the most appropriate next step will be explained without claiming an unsupported location.
Will floors, walls or ceilings need to be opened?
Not automatically. The objective is to narrow the source before opening a surface. If the combined test results support a particular pipe route, fitting or source area, targeted access may be recommended for confirmation & repair. Excavation, access work, repairs, materials, waste removal & reinstatement are not included in the survey price & are quoted separately before work proceeds.
Does every hidden leak investigation require tracer gas?
No. Tracer gas is intended for suitable sealed pipework after the affected service has been identified & prepared for testing. A shower waste, soil pipe, condensate drain or intermittent fixture leak normally requires a different method, such as controlled operation, visual inspection, dye or flow testing, moisture mapping or CCTV where appropriate.
Arrange leak detection or plumbing assistance in Ilford
Call or email WOW with the symptoms so we can discuss the appropriate service, current availability & applicable price.
Other London coverage: Leyton, Leytonstone, Wanstead. See all service areas.