What is a Supply Pipe Leak?
The supply pipe is the water pipe that connects the water main stop tap — normally found on the pavement — to the internal stopcock within your property. Depending on your home's age, the pipe may be made of plastic, lead, copper, or cast iron.
As the property owner, you are legally responsible for maintaining this pipe. The local water authority has the power to insist on investigation and repair — or carry out the work themselves and send you the bill. A supply pipe leak can go undetected for months, causing significant structural damage and inflated water bills.
From the boundary of your property to your internal stopcock
Responsible for the main in the road up to the stop tap
Have You Been Served a Notice?
If you've received a notice informing you of a potential leak, it's important to act immediately. Failing to do so can result in significant property damage and escalating costs.
If left unresolved, the water authority can carry out the work themselves and charge you directly. Costs can run into thousands of pounds, so acting quickly is essential.
Unexpectedly High Water Bill
A sudden spike in your water usage or bill is one of the earliest indicators of an underground leak on your supply pipe.
Low Water Pressure
If you've noticed a persistent drop in water pressure throughout your property, this is a strong sign that water is escaping from the supply pipe.
Unusually Green Patches
Lush, unusually green areas in your garden or driveway — especially in dry conditions — may indicate a supply pipe leaking underground.
Damp or Wet Areas Indoors
Unexplained dampness near walls, floors, or skirting boards — particularly near the entry point of the supply pipe — should not be ignored.
Sinkholes or Soft Ground
Soft, sinking, or cracking ground near your driveway or garden path may indicate that water is washing away soil beneath the surface.
Sounds of Running Water
Hearing water running when all taps and appliances are off is a clear warning sign that you may have an active supply pipe leak.
Precision Leak Detection Technology
Our engineers are trained and equipped with the latest acoustic and tracer gas detection technology on the market. This allows us to pinpoint the exact location of an underground supply pipe leak — often to within centimetres — without unnecessary digging.
Using highly sensitive listening devices, we detect the sound frequency produced by a pipe leak to locate the precise point of escape underground.
Where acoustic methods may not yield results, we use a safe tracer gas that permeates through soil to the surface, allowing us to pinpoint even the smallest of leaks.
In some cases, a CCTV camera survey may be used to inspect the interior condition of the pipe and identify cracks, fractures, or joint failures.
Our kit is clean, safe, eco-friendly, and extremely accurate. We always aim to cause minimal disruption to your property and garden.
Why Use Vanguardo for Leak Detection?
We pride ourselves on our professionalism, quality of service, and position at the forefront of the market — with safe, reliable technology at the core of everything we do.
Pinpoint Accuracy
We locate leaks to within centimetres — dramatically reducing the area that needs to be excavated.
Eco-Friendly Methods
Our equipment is clean and safe, with minimal environmental impact and disruption to your garden or driveway.
Insurer Reports
We provide detailed reports that can be submitted directly to your insurer to support your escape of water insurance claim.
Fast Response
We understand the urgency. Our team responds quickly to minimise further damage to your property and comply with water authority deadlines.