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Central Heating Leak Detection and Repairs

If you suspect a leak in your central heating system, it’s essential to have it fixed promptly. Concealed leaks behind walls and ceilings can cause water damage and aid mould growth.

Our central heating leak detection services are provided by Gas Safe registered experts. Equipped with non-invasive detection methods, they can reliably find leaks anywhere on a heating system. They can usually fix the leak immediately and estimate all necessary reinstatement work.

Our central heating leak detection service is available 24/7. We don’t charge extra for emergency attendance when we aim to be on-site within an hour.

WATCH: How we find central heating system leaks

This video demonstrates non-invasive techniques used in central heating leak detection.

Our experts follow a systematic “trace and access” approach. They decide on the tests to use based on the evidence and the results they get.

Despite no visible signs of a leak, we demonstrate how a central heating pipe that was leaking under a floor was found.

Leaks In Central Heating Systems

The location of a leak can usually be pinpointed within a few centimetres without exposing concealed or underfloor heating pipes.

Commonly, there are no visible signs of a water leak when investigating central heating leaks. Three specific tests are usually vital to an investigation.

Thermal Imaging

Cameras are used to highlight the locations of hot water pipes that are hidden behind walls and under floors. Temperature gradients between the hot water pipes and the surrounding space are clearly visible.

Tracer Gas

The heating system is drained and filled with a harmless, odourless gas. A sensitive probe is used to detect the gas as it escapes from a leak in the system. The gas can penetrate floor coverings, including wood, tiles, and laminate. It can even penetrate concrete slab floors.

Acoustic Test

When water that’s under pressure escapes from a pipe, it causes tiny vibrations. Our central heating leak detectors are equipped with highly sensitive acoustic tests that amplify these vibrations into sound. The position of a leak can be pinpointed by assessing changes in sound along the pipe.

Frequently asked questions

Is central heating leak sealant any good?

Sealant that fills leaks from the inside of a central heating system can be a practical short-term solution in certain situations. Our experts recommend using them only when a leak can not be accessed for immediate repairs, there are no compatibility concerns, and there are no other options to prevent water damage.

There are several reasons why the use of leak sealers is not recommended:

  1. Risk of Blockages: Sealant can cause blockages in the narrowest parts of a boiler and heating system, such as heat exchangers, valves, and pumps. Power flushing may be needed to clear a blockage, and parts might need to be replaced.
  2. Invalid Boiler Warranty: Due to the risk of damage that sealers can cause to a gas boiler, their use can invalidate the warranty provided by some boiler manufacturers.
  3. Not Compatible: The use of some sealers is incompatible with some heating systems. Microbore systems, featuring narrow-gauge pipework, are susceptible to blockage with certain sealers. There are also risks associated with the way some sealers react with chemical inhibitors added to a heating system to reduce internal corrosion.

Are central heating leaks covered by my insurance?

Most home insurance policies contain a clause for “trace and access”. Sudden and accidental damage from radiators, pipework and boilers is usually covered. However, if a leak occurs due to a lack of maintenance, corrosion, or wear and tear, the repair cost is unlikely to be covered. Incorrect installation and damage resulting from negligence can also be reasons for a claim to be refused.

Insurance policies cover different aspects of a leak’s investigation, access, repair, and reinstatement phases. Therefore, it is recommended that you read your policy or contact your insurer for further details. If your policy includes an “escape of water” clause, but not “trace and access”, the investigation to find a hidden leak might not be covered.

Read more on making a successful “trace and access” claim in our comprehensive guide.

How can I find a leak in my central heating system?

If a leak in a central heating system is suspected, but not visible, there are some checks you can make before booking a Gas Safe-registered heating engineer:

  1. Look for water leaking from the boiler. You can use a paper towel to check for water tracking along pipes. Blue towels are good because any trace of water on them is immediately apparent.
  2. Check the exposed parts of the heating system, such as radiators, valves and pipework.
  3. Check the pressure gauge on your boiler; it will drop if there’s a leak. However, don’t assume that a drop in pressure means there is a leak.

A heating engineer can check the boiler to establish if there’s a fault causing the pressure to drop. If checks on the boiler and the exposed parts of the system do not reveal a leak, a non-invasive investigation will be necessary to locate a leak in the concealed parts of the system.

How to find which radiator is leaking?

Pinhole leaks in a radiator can be complicated to find visually. They might be out of sight, and water could be tracking slowly along the back of a pipe. The nature of pinhole leaks means that water might not be dripping from the radiator. If it’s on, the water might even evaporate before enough collects for a droplet to form.

The best way to check for radiator leaks is to wipe the radiator panel, the bottom of it, the valves, and the connecting pipework with a paper towel. Blue paper hand towels are the best to use because any amount of water shows up immediately as a dark patch on them.

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Boiler pressure loss and leaks

A pressurised central heating system is sealed. If there are no issues, it should maintain pressure. However, the pressure within the system will increase and decrease slightly as it heats up and cools down again. If the system pressure drops regularly and needs to be topped up with water, this is a clear sign of a problem.

If a boiler is regularly losing pressure, a leak in the central heating system shouldn’t be assumed automatically. Our Gas Safe registered experts can first check for boiler faults, such as a damaged expansion vessel or pressure release valve.

A pressure drop may not be noticeable for several weeks if the leak is tiny. Pinhole leaks in pipes might release only a few drops of water daily.

Other leak detection services

We can find concealed water leaks anywhere in a property. If you have a leak that is not from a central heating system, we can investigate all other potential sources.

Trade-accredited experts

Our central heating leak detection experts have years of experience in both domestic and commercial properties and are Gas Safe registered. They can safely work on plumbing and heating systems. Their years of knowledge and experience add to their ability to detect leaks.

When a central heating leak is exposed, further water damage can be prevented immediately. They are skilled at repairing leaks and checking the central heating system for other issues. For your peace of mind, their workmanship comes with our 12-month guarantee.

Commercial properties

We have a dedicated team of account handlers to support multi-site customers and commercial properties: Restaurants, Bars, Offices, Retail, Landlords, Letting Agencies, Hotels, Schools, Embassies, Care Homes and more

Insurance claim reinstatement

When a central heating system leak has been detected, exposed, and repaired, reinstatement work is typically required to restore the system to its original state. Reinstatement work generally is covered under an insurance policy; however, you should check your policy or contact your insurer for confirmation.

Our trade experts can provide a comprehensive scope of work and a fixed-price estimate for damage reinstatement. Whether it’s replacing laminate or wood flooring, or painting and decorating water-damaged walls or ceilings, we can help. We’ll return the damaged area to its original condition.

We’re always happy to help answer any questions your insurance provider might have. This could relate to any part of the investigation, repair or refurbishment work.

Need more info on central heating leak detection? Someone from our team can call you.  Request a callback

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