What the method does
For suitable pipework, a controlled tracer test can provide evidence where visible clues or leak noise are limited. The system must first be assessed, isolated and prepared appropriately. A detector then checks for tracer emerging at relevant surfaces.
Interpret where gas emerges with care
Tracer may follow a void or take a route through the building before reaching the surface. The strongest reading is therefore not automatically directly above the damaged pipe. The engineer compares readings, construction details and other test results to establish a sensible access area.
Where it may be useful
- Suitable concealed water supplies
- Quiet leaks beneath solid floors
- Selected heating circuits with appropriate isolation
What it cannot establish on its own
This method is not suitable for every system. Preparation, isolation and the way tracer moves through materials affect the result.
Before the visit
Provide access to relevant isolation points and explain connected equipment or known pipework defects. Do not introduce any gas or improvised pressure into a domestic water system yourself.
An investigation, not an equipment checklist
The most useful method is the one that answers the next question about your plumbing. A visit may combine observations and tests, or find that another specialist is needed. We explain the findings and proposed access before the agreed repair. Our package is defined by its scope, not by using every instrument.
Read how the investigation works and the £1,345 residential package, including exclusions.