Internal cold water leak in Wath upon Dearne, S63 7

The internal cold water leak at a large care home in Wath upon Dearne, S63 7 was investigated in March 2025 by Robert Gires. ADI Leak Detection Sheffield finds hidden water leaks across Sheffield and South Yorkshire.

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Leak located at heavily corroded copper pipe beneath kitchen floor with water and foam present

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Leak type: Internal Cold Water Leak
Postcode sector: S63 7, Rotherham
Engineer: Robert Gires
Attended: March 2025
Methods: Thermal imaging, Damp meter, Pressure testing
Proof: The whole run retested after the second repair and holding pressure
Job reference: 118008

What was leaking in Wath upon Dearne, S63 7?

The internal cold water supply at a large care home was leaking badly. The meter never stopped spinning, and the kitchen floor was wet through.

How was the water leak found?

The first kitchen cold water leak was located by Robert Gires in four steps, using thermal imaging and acoustic listening because the loss was too large for a pressure test to help.

Check the water meter and wet kitchen floor
The water meter kept spinning and the kitchen floor was visibly wet, confirming an active cold supply leak.
Map kitchen cold water pipes with thermal imaging
A thermal survey of the kitchen floor mapped the cold pipework and picked out two cold pipes, one in front of the dishwasher and one beside the fridge freezer.

Thermal image showing a cold patch in the kitchen floor
Attempt to pressure test the leaking cold water supply
Pressure testing could not build or hold pressure because the cold water leak was too large to isolate that way.

Pressure testing rig on the kitchen cold mains
Listen for leak noise in front of the dishwasher
Acoustic listening over the two suspect kitchen areas gave a clear signal in front of the dishwasher.

Acoustic listening equipment and ground microphone on the kitchen floor

How was the leaking pipe repaired?

The two kitchen floor leaks were repaired: the copper pipe in front of the dishwasher and the faulty fitting beside the fridge freezer.

Lift the kitchen floor and repair the first copper pipe leak
The kitchen vinyl was lifted, exposing a soaked subfloor and a leaking copper pipe in front of the dishwasher. The pipe was repaired.

The soaked subfloor under the kitchen vinyl
Find a second leaking fitting beside the fridge freezer
Pressure testing after the first repair still showed a loss, confirming a second leak at the suspect fitting beside the fridge freezer.

The failed push-fit fitting under the kitchen floor
Replace the faulty fitting and retest the cold water system
The faulty fitting beside the fridge freezer and its pipe section were replaced. The whole cold water system held pressure on retesting.

The repaired pipework under the kitchen sink, reinstalled
Disconnect the dishwasher with damaged pipework
The dishwasher's own pipework showed damage consistent with mice or rats, so it was disconnected.

The kitchen floor needs replacing, because the water has damaged it. The engineer recommends a new internal stopcock and a pressure reducing valve on the cold supply, because the incoming pressure is very high.

Thermal imaging camera screen showing cold pipe trace beneath kitchen floor during leak detection — Thermal image tracing the cold pipe under the kitchen floor

Pressure gauge showing high water pressure on cold mains supply during leak detection — Pressure gauge showing high pressure on the cold mains supply

Fault identified at corroded copper pipe with push-fit connector removed showing pinhole damage — The pin hole in the corroded copper, with the push-fit connector off

Leak exposed beneath kitchen floor showing saturated rotted subfloor timbers and standing water — Rotted subfloor timbers and standing water

Who located the water leak?

Robert Gires attended.

Robert Gires

Robert Gires attended for ADI Leak Detection Sheffield, from his base in Barnsley.

5 years’ leak detection experience

1,135 jobs completed

Need water mains leak detection?

Standing water under a kitchen floor or a meter that never stops can indicate a cold water leak. ADI Leak Detection Sheffield provides water mains leak detection. Check the areas we cover for your postcode.