Thermal Imaging Leak Detection
Thermal imaging lets us see a leak under a floor or behind a wall without lifting a single tile. A thermal camera shows the temperature difference of escaping water, tracing it to its exact source — ideal for underfloor heating, buried pipework, and central-heating pressure loss. Find it precisely, then repair it with minimal disruption.
TRANSPARENT PRICING
Investigation call-out
£150
Attendance + first hour on site
Thermal imaging survey
Included
Carried out during the investigation
Additional labour
£75/hr
Per hour or part hour thereafter
What's included
Thermal imaging is most effective when the leak is warm (heating circuit or hot water). For cold pipework, we combine it with pressure testing and moisture meters to confirm the source.
WHEN THERMAL IMAGING IS THE RIGHT TOOL
Underfloor heating leaks
A leak in a buried underfloor heating loop shows as a warm patch on the camera — pinpointed without lifting the whole floor.
Boiler pressure loss
A slow leak on the heating circuit under a floor is invisible to the eye but clear on a thermal camera when the heating is on.
Hot-water pipe leaks
A hot pipe leaking behind a wall or under a floor radiates heat the camera can trace back to the source.
Cold spots on warm floors
If one area of your underfloor heating stays cold, imaging shows exactly where the flow is interrupted or leaking.
Damp with no visible source
When water appears on a ceiling or wall but the source is above or behind, thermal imaging tracks the warm-water path.
Pre-repair pinpointing
Before lifting a floor or chasing a wall, imaging confirms the exact spot — so the repair is one tile, not the whole room.
HOW THERMAL IMAGING LEAK DETECTION WORKS
A thermal camera doesn't see water — it sees temperature. Warm water leaking from a heating pipe or hot-water pipe creates a temperature pattern on the surface above it, which the camera displays as a colour map. We read that map to trace the leak to its source.
We run the heating
To find a heating leak, we get the system warm so the escaping water is hotter than its surroundings and shows clearly on the camera.
We survey the area
We scan floors, walls, and ceilings with the thermal camera, looking for the warm streaks and patches that indicate water tracking from a leak.
We confirm with pressure
Thermal imaging points to the area; pressure testing confirms which section is losing water, so we're certain before any repair.
We pinpoint, not guess
The result is a precise location — 'the leak is under this tile' — so the repair is small and targeted, not a destructive search.
Cold-pipe combination
For cold water or waste leaks, thermal imaging is less definitive, so we combine it with moisture meters and pressure testing to confirm.
You get a fixed repair quote
Once we've located the leak, we quote the repair before any work starts — you decide whether to go ahead in the same visit or later.
WHY THERMAL IMAGING BEATS 'LIFT AND LOOK'
The old way to find an underfloor leak was to lift tiles or boards and hunt — expensive, dusty, and often in the wrong place. Thermal imaging finds the leak first, so you only open the floor directly above it. If you have underfloor heating or a boiler losing pressure with no visible water, thermal imaging is the fastest, least disruptive way to find it.
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Fast response
24/7 across Surrey, Berkshire, Bucks & West London
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can thermal imaging find a leak under a tiled floor?
Yes. If the leak is on a warm pipe (heating or hot water), the thermal camera shows the temperature difference through the tile, pinpointing the leak so only that one tile needs lifting.
Does thermal imaging work on cold-water leaks?
Less reliably — cold water doesn't create a strong temperature contrast. For cold leaks we combine thermal imaging with moisture meters and pressure testing to confirm the source.
How much does thermal imaging leak detection cost?
It's part of the £150 investigation call-out, which includes the first hour on site, the thermal survey, and pressure testing. The repair is quoted separately before any work starts.
Can you find an underfloor heating leak?
Yes — underfloor heating is one of the best uses for thermal imaging. A leaking loop shows as a warm patch, so we can isolate the loop and pinpoint the leak without lifting the whole floor.
Will you repair the leak too?
Yes. We locate the leak, quote the repair, and can usually carry it out the same visit once you've agreed the price. For leaks under solid floors we'll tell you exactly what's needed before proceeding.
BOOK YOUR THERMAL IMAGING INVESTIGATION
Underfloor leak? Boiler losing pressure? Our Gas Safe Registered (594547) engineers use thermal imaging to find leaks without lifting floors across Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and West London. Book online in 60 seconds.
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