Leak Detection Falmouth

Leak Detection Specialists Falmouth

Falmouth's position as Cornwall's deepest natural harbour creates specific challenges when it comes to hidden leaks. The coastal conditions, salt exposure, and a mix of property types from Victorian terraces to modern marina developments mean water doesn't always behave predictably here. When you suspect a hidden leak in your Falmouth property, getting it found quickly prevents the kind of structural damage that becomes costly to repair.

DCI Leak Detection provides specialist leak detection and repair services throughout Falmouth and the surrounding areas. Our engineers use non-invasive technology to locate hidden leaks in water supply pipes, central heating systems, underfloor heating circuits, and underground pipework. We help homeowners, landlords, property managers and commercial premises across the TR11 postcode protect their buildings from ongoing water damage.

Whether you've noticed your water bill climbing without explanation, your boiler pressure dropping repeatedly, or damp patches appearing on walls and ceilings, we can track down the source. We work with homeowners, landlords, letting agents, holiday let managers and commercial property owners across the town and surrounding villages.

Our Leak Detection Services in Falmouth

We offer comprehensive leak detection services to locate leaks anywhere in your Falmouth property. Behind walls, beneath floors, underground in gardens or driveways, or within your heating system. Our approach combines multiple detection methods so we find the actual source of the problem, not just where the water ends up.

Leak Detection Technology We Use

Finding a hidden leak in Falmouth's coastal conditions takes more than guesswork. Our engineers use multiple specialist technologies and choose the most appropriate methods based on your property type, where we suspect the leak might be, and what kind of pipework is involved. This multi-method approach gives us the best chance of pinpointing the leak while keeping disruption to a minimum.

Thermal Imaging Leak Detection

Our thermal imaging leak surveys use infrared cameras to detect temperature differences caused by water escaping from pipes. This works particularly well for locating leaks behind walls, within ceiling voids and beneath floors without any need for exploratory damage. In Falmouth's older properties, thermal imaging is especially valuable for tracing leaks through solid walls and beneath suspended timber floors.

Acoustic Listening Equipment

Acoustic listening leak detection uses sensitive microphones to detect the sound of water escaping under pressure. This technology works well for tracing leaks in mains supply pipes, both inside your property and underground. Our equipment is calibrated to filter out background noise from harbour activity, helping us pinpoint where water is escaping even in Falmouth's busier areas.

Tracer Gas Detection

For central heating systems and underfloor heating circuits, tracer gas leak detection is often the most effective method. We introduce a safe, inert gas (typically a hydrogen-nitrogen mix) into the system. The gas escapes at the leak point and rises through flooring and wall materials, where our detectors locate it at the surface. For stubborn leaks that acoustic methods can't pinpoint, tracer gas finds escapes that water alone can't reveal.

Other Detection Methods

Depending on your situation, we may also use moisture mapping to track dampness through building materials, endoscopic cameras to inspect pipe interiors and cavities, or pressure testing to confirm whether a system is leaking. For water mains leak detection and slab leak detection beneath concrete floors, we combine multiple methods to get it right.

Leak Detection for Falmouth Property Types

Falmouth's property mix presents specific challenges for leak detection. The town includes everything from Victorian terraces to student housing, modern marina apartments, and commercial properties serving the harbour. Each construction type has different pipe materials, layouts and common leak points. Our engineers have worked across all of them.

Victorian and Period Properties

The older properties around Falmouth town centre often feature original lead or iron pipework, solid walls, and suspended timber floors. Leaks in these homes can be particularly challenging because water travels along joists and through voids before becoming visible. We use thermal imaging and moisture mapping to trace leaks accurately, identifying the actual source rather than just where dampness appears.

Coastal and Marina Properties

Properties closer to the harbour and marina can experience accelerated pipe wear from salt exposure and coastal humidity. Copper pipework in particular may show more corrosion than inland equivalents. Our detection equipment accounts for these conditions, and we understand how coastal factors can affect common failure points in plumbing systems and pipework.

Holiday Lets and Student Housing

Falmouth's university population and tourism industry means many properties operate as holiday lets, student accommodation or HMOs. A leak in these properties can mean lost bookings and rental income on top of repair costs. We understand the urgency and can often provide same-day or next-day appointments to minimise disruption to your letting schedule.

Commercial and Marine Properties

Falmouth has various commercial properties including hotels, restaurants, marine businesses and retail units. We provide professional leak detection for commercial premises with flexible scheduling to minimise business disruption. Our detailed reports are formatted for building managers, landlords and insurers as required.

Signs You Might Have a Leak

Many leaks stay hidden for weeks or months before becoming obvious. By the time you see visible damage, a lot of water may already have been lost and the structure affected. Here are warning signs that suggest you should get a professional leak detection survey:

• Water meter spinning when nothing is running
• Boiler pressure keeps dropping and needs topping up
• Damp patches, staining or bubbling paint on walls or ceilings
• Musty or mouldy smell, especially where there's no obvious moisture source
• Sound of running water when everything is switched off
• Warm or wet spots on floors (particularly with underfloor heating)
• Unexplained increase in water bills
• Water pressure has dropped throughout the property

If you've noticed any of these in your Falmouth property, it's worth investigating sooner rather than later. Catching a leak early typically means simpler repairs, lower costs and less damage overall.

How Our Leak Detection Process Works

When you contact us about a suspected leak in Falmouth, here's what happens:

Insurance Claims and Trace & Access

If you're claiming on your home insurance for water damage, your policy may include trace and access cover. This typically pays for the investigation to find where the leak is coming from, separate from the cost of repairing the damage itself.

We provide insurance-standard reports that include:

• Description of the investigation methods used
• Photographic and thermal imaging evidence
• Leak location with reference to property layout
• Technical findings and pipe identification
• Recommendations for repair

These reports are formatted to support your claim and give your insurer the information they need to process it. We can liaise directly with loss adjusters when required and provide additional documentation if requested. You can learn more about what trace and access covers on our dedicated guide.

Not sure whether your policy includes trace and access cover? Check the policy documents or contact your insurer before arranging your visit. We're happy to discuss the likely investigation scope so you can confirm cover in advance.

Why Falmouth Customers Choose Us

Here's why homeowners and businesses in Falmouth trust us to find their leaks:

• Leak detection is all we do – it's our specialist focus
• We use thermal cameras, tracer gas and acoustic equipment
• Local engineers who understand Cornish property types and coastal conditions
• Non-invasive methods mean less damage to your property
• Same-day and next-day appointments often available
• We explain what we're doing and what we find clearly
• Reports include photos and are accepted by insurers
• We cover Falmouth and all surrounding Cornwall areas

We're a locally operated company serving customers throughout Cornwall and Devon. Our focus is on accurate results, practical advice and reports that stand up to insurance scrutiny. We want to help you resolve your leak problem quickly so you can get back to normal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Leak Detection Areas Near Falmouth

If you're just outside Falmouth, we also cover the following areas in Cornwall:

Falmouth Service Area Map

Book Leak Detection in Falmouth

A hidden leak left undetected doesn't stay hidden forever. It continues to waste water, push up your bills, and cause damage to your property's structure. Timber joists can rot, plasterwork can fail, and damp conditions create the perfect environment for mould growth that affects air quality and health.

Professional leak detection removes the uncertainty. Instead of hoping a plumber might find the source by opening up walls and floors, our targeted approach means you know where the problem is before any repair work begins. That precision saves time, reduces costs, and gets your property back to normal faster.

For Falmouth property owners dealing with insurance claims, our reports provide the documented evidence insurers need. Clear photographs, thermal images, and technical findings that support your case and help the claims process move forward.