Internal cold mains leak in Dore and Totley, Sheffield S17
The internal cold mains leak in Dore and Totley, Sheffield S17 was investigated in May 2024 by Brett Steele. ADI Leak Detection Sheffield finds hidden water leaks across Sheffield and South Yorkshire.
Non-invasive leak detection
Acoustic, thermal and tracer gas
Trace and access claim reports
- Leak type
- Internal Cold Mains Leak
- Postcode sector
- Sheffield S17
- Engineer
- Brett Steele
- Attended
- May 2024
- Methods
- Thermal imaging, Tracer gas, Endoscope camera, Pressure testing, Flow metering
- Proof
- Tracer gas pressure test at 6 bar, no loss and no further usage at the meter
- Job reference
- 112871
What was leaking in Dore and Totley, Sheffield S17?
An internal cold mains leak was suspected after water use and bills rose. Leak noise came from a 15mm copper pipe behind wall tiles, feeding the upper floor. The toilets had already been checked and were fine.
Floor coverings blocked the ground-floor void, and years of changes made the pipework hard to trace. With nothing running, the meter recorded an uncontrolled 1 litre in 1 minute 20 seconds.
How was the water leak found?
The internal cold mains leak was found by Brett Steele in six steps, using flow metering, step testing, acoustic profiling, tracer gas, thermal imaging and a camera.
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Check the water meter for uncontrolled usage
The water meter confirmed uncontrolled usage on arrival, proving the leak was live.
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Isolate the internal cold water leak with step testing
Step testing put the leak on the internal cold water supply.
-
Listen for leak noise around the cold water feed
Acoustic profiling compared leak noise in the utility room, downstairs toilet and cold feed to upstairs. The feed rising just off the kitchen was loudest.
Acoustic listening equipment on the tiled floor -
Detect tracer gas around the kitchen cold water pipe
Tracer gas testing covered the whole property once the tracer gas had entered the pipework. Readings were highest around the floor where the cold feed rises upstairs.
Tracer gas analyser at floor level by the tiled wall -
Map underfloor heating pipes before lifting tiles
Thermal imaging mapped the wet underfloor heating beneath the tiles while it ran hot, establishing where the tiles could come up.
Thermal image of the underfloor heating pipes -
Lift kitchen tiles and inspect the cold feed with a camera
The kitchen tiles were lifted where tracer gas readings were high, exposing the cold feed. A camera found the leak further along than the tracer gas readings alone suggested.
Floor tiles up and the pipework exposed
How was the leaking pipe repaired?
The pin hole in the old 15mm copper cold feed riser beneath the kitchen floor was repaired and the redundant feed capped.
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Expose the pin hole in the old copper pipe
The pin hole lay in an old copper section, still pressurised despite being capped further down the line. More tiles were lifted to reach it.
The leak, on pipework in the void under the tiles -
Repair the copper pipe and retest for water loss
The pin hole copper section was cut out and rejoined with a push-fit coupler. The redundant feed received a 15mm soldered cap end. A tracer gas pressure test at 6 bar showed no loss, with no further uncontrolled usage.
Pressure gauge on the pipework during the tracer gas retest
Before the excavated floor is made good, the engineer advises letting the foundations dry out, because of the water the leak left behind.
Who located the water leak?
Brett Steele attended.
Brett Steele
Brett Steele attended for ADI Leak Detection Sheffield, from his base in Halifax.
- City & Guilds Plumbing & Heating Level 3
10 years’ leak detection experience
1,167 jobs completed
Trustpilot review: Absolutely recommended
The Trustpilot review rates Brett Steele’s work 5 out of 5.
Absolutely recommended. After a thorough survey of the whole of our premises Brett found a leaking copper pipe under the tiled kitchen floor underneath our breakfast bar 😱. Other plumbers and water pump specialists had tried and failed to detect the leak so hats off to ADI. Now we have to go through the trials of claiming through our insurance but full marks to ADI and especially Brett. Thank you so very much.
- Rating
- 5 out of 5
- Date
- 16 April 2025
- Engineer
- Brett Steele
Need water mains leak detection?
A meter turning with nothing running can indicate a leak beneath a solid floor. 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.
Underground Water Mains Leak in Gleadless Valley, Sheffield S8
The lead supply leaks beneath the concrete pathway outside the property received a temporary repair.
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.
