Tracer gas leak detection
For complex piping systems, micro leaks, large properties and communal areas, our tracer gas system gives the accuracy other methods cannot.
Price guidefrom £650ex VAT
What we do
Tell us about the job so we can check the scope and the next step.
- Micro leaks and complex pipework
- Large properties and communal systems
- Safe, inert gas mix
- Pinpoint accuracy
Tracer gas leak detection in London
A safe hydrogen and nitrogen mix is introduced into the drained pipework. The gas escapes through the leak and rises to the surface, where a sensitive detector picks it up. This works through floors, screed and walls and is ideal for very small leaks.
A test for a defined pipe circuit
Tracer-gas testing introduces a detectable gas mixture into a suitable, isolated pipe section after the test arrangement has been assessed. A detector is then used at accessible surfaces and likely escape points to look for a signal. It can be useful when a small fault gives little thermal or acoustic evidence, but the first task is to establish which circuit is actually being tested.
The method is not a general scan of a building and does not identify every moisture source. It requires appropriate access, isolation and a pipe system that can be prepared for the test. We confirm the proposed circuit and test scope before work; communal services or complex layouts may need coordination and separate permission for isolation.
When tracer gas may be worth considering
A suspected leak in an underfloor pipe, a buried supply or a complicated run may merit tracer gas when other checks have not narrowed it sufficiently. Gas escaping from a fault can migrate towards an accessible surface, where a detector may register it. The reading helps guide further investigation rather than showing a photograph of the damaged pipe.
The route gas takes depends on screed, membranes, voids, soil and the nearest openings. It may emerge away from the pipe fault or not reach a point we can sample. We compare any signal with the pipe route and other evidence before suggesting access. A lack of signal does not by itself prove the circuit has no leak.
Test preparation and access
We ask which water or heating circuit loses pressure, where it can be isolated and whether other properties share it. Testing may require the affected section to be taken out of service and prepared by a suitable specialist. We will explain what this means for water or heating use before arranging the test, rather than assume every system can simply be drained and filled.
Finished floors, sealed layers and inaccessible pipe branches can limit detector coverage. We plan sampling around accessible joints, edges and likely routes while protecting the property's normal use as far as practicable. Any opening-up or repair following the test is a separately agreed step.
Interpreting and acting on the findings
A positive reading can support a likely leak area, especially where it matches pressure loss and the known circuit. We record the area tested and explain any limitations such as untested branches, uncertain pipe routing or a signal emerging through a nearby void. This is more useful than claiming pinpoint accuracy without verifying what lies beneath the surface.
If the results remain inconclusive, we explain whether further isolation, another method or carefully targeted access would be justified. Send any drawings, previous survey notes and a history of pressure loss with your enquiry. Scope and price depend on the system and preparation needed, so we confirm them after assessment.
Tracer gas leak detection prices
Prices exclude VAT.
Domestic Leak Detection Survey
£650
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Frequently asked questions
Is tracer gas safe?
Yes. The mix is non-toxic, non-flammable at the concentration used, and is vented after the test.
Is tracer gas used in my drinking water?
The test is planned for a suitable isolated circuit under a defined procedure. We confirm the pipe type, isolation and preparation before saying whether this method is appropriate.
Can you test a communal pipe?
It depends on access, isolation rights and which properties the circuit serves. Tell us who manages the system so the scope and permissions can be assessed first.
Does a detector signal show the exact break?
Not always. Gas can travel through voids or layers before emerging. We compare the signal with pipe routes and other findings before recommending access.
What if no gas signal appears?
No signal can reflect test conditions, inaccessible surfaces or an unaffected circuit. It does not automatically rule out a leak; we explain what was tested and the next sensible check.
Will the water or heating be off during testing?
The selected circuit may need to be isolated and prepared. We confirm the likely interruption and method after reviewing the system, before arranging the work.
Areas we cover
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