Underground water mains leak in Gleadless Valley, Sheffield S8
The underground water mains leak in Gleadless Valley, Sheffield S8 was investigated in January 2026 by Matthew Barron. ADI Leak Detection Sheffield finds hidden water leaks across Sheffield and South Yorkshire.
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- Leak type
- Underground Water Mains Leak
- Postcode sector
- Sheffield S8
- Engineer
- Matthew Barron
- Attended
- January 2026
- Methods
- Tracer gas, Damp meter, Pressure testing, Flow metering
- Proof
- None recorded: a temporary repair, with a full water mains replacement recommended
- Job reference
- 122986
What was leaking in Gleadless Valley, Sheffield S8?
The water supplier had written to say there was a leak on the property. Water damage showed on the basement walls, and a previous plumber had checked the internal pipework and put the leak on the external supply.
The boiler had not lost pressure, which fitted a fault on the cold mains rather than the heating. With the internal stopcock isolated, the external meter kept moving at 1 litre every 1 minute 24 seconds.
How was the water leak found?
The external mains leak was confirmed and located by Matthew Barron in four steps, using flow metering, pressure testing, tracer gas and acoustic listening before digging.
-
Check the water meter with the internal stopcock closed
The external water meter kept moving with the internal stopcock isolated, confirming the leak was outside.
The external water meter still moving -
Pressure test the external mains pipe
Pressure testing confirmed water loss from the external mains pipe.
Pressure gauge on the external mains pipe -
Detect tracer gas from the external mains pipe
Tracer gas testing found the tracer gas escaping at two places after it entered the external mains pipe and the property and surrounding ground were checked.
Tracer gas cylinder connected to the mains pipework in the basement -
Listen for escaping water beside the pathway
Acoustic listening along the pipe route detected water movement beside the pathway just outside the property, agreeing with the tracer gas readings.
Listening where the pathway meets the wall
How was the leaking pipe repaired?
The lead supply leaks beneath the concrete pathway outside the property received a temporary repair.
-
Excavate the pathway to expose the leaking lead pipe
The concrete pathway was excavated with the customer's permission, exposing a lead pipe leaking in more than one place.
The leak, on the lead main under the concrete pathway -
Temporarily repair the leaking lead supply pipe
The temporary lead pipe repair used two universal transition couplers, two 25mm inserts and a length of 25mm blue MDPE. Four bags of building sand protected it during backfilling because the surrounding lead pipe is in poor condition.
Blue MDPE and transition couplers fitted as the temporary repair
The repair is temporary. The engineer advises a full water mains replacement, and a drying and restoration programme for the damp basement.
Who located the water leak?
Matthew Barron attended.
Matthew Barron
Matthew Barron attended for ADI Leak Detection Sheffield, from his base in Wakefield.
- Water Regulations Certificate
- CAA Drone Pilot
4 years’ leak detection experience
642 jobs completed
Sylvia Waller
The Trustpilot review rates Matthew Barron’s work 5 out of 5.
Matthew Barron came and was very pleasant, polite and efficient. He was very thorough explaining what he was doing and when he had to move and inspect different areas of the house, he made sure everything was returned to its original place/state. He did a first class job and I would highly recommend him
- Rating
- 5 out of 5
- Date
- 13 March 2025
- Engineer
- Matthew Barron
Need water mains leak detection?
Damp on a basement wall with no plumbing above it is often a mains leak outside. ADI Leak Detection Sheffield provides water mains leak detection. Check the areas we cover for your postcode.
Which other leaks has ADI Leak Detection Sheffield found?
Four other leak investigations are recorded in the engineers’ job records and photographs.
Internal Cold Mains Leak in Dore and Totley, Sheffield S17
The pin hole in the old 15mm copper cold feed riser beneath the kitchen floor was repaired and the redundant feed capped.
Underground Water Mains Leak in Shiregreen and Brightside, Sheffield S9
The two supply faults were repaired by re-seating the front garden fitting and replacing cracked pipe under the driveway.
Internal Cold Water Leak in Wath upon Dearne, S63 7
The two kitchen floor leaks were repaired: the copper pipe in front of the dishwasher and the faulty fitting beside the fridge freezer.
Underground Water Mains Leak in Chesterfield, S41 8
The damaged lead supply under the courtyard tarmac, apparently on a dead leg, was capped off.
