Rydalmere, NSW 2116 — Servicing all Sydney suburbs
Mon–Fri 7am–5pm · Sat 7am–12pm info@southernstarplumbing.com.au
Leak detection · Non-invasive

Hidden leak detection without tearing up your house.

Water bill doubled? Tile feels warm? Mysterious damp patch on the ceiling? We find hidden leaks with acoustic, thermal and pressure testing — so the only hole we make is the one we need to fix it.

Acoustic locators Thermal imaging Slab leak specialists

HomeServices › Leak detection

Find, don’t guess

We use ground microphones, thermal cameras, pressure tests and tracer gas. Most hidden leaks are located within an hour — within centimetres.

Minimum damage

Because we pinpoint the leak first, we only open the exact spot we need to — one tile, not a wall.

Insurance-ready report

You get a written report with photos, thermal images and the repair invoice — everything your insurer asks for.

Water meter reading

Signs you’ve got a hidden leak

A Sydney Water bill that’s 40%+ higher for no reason is the most common trigger. Before that: the sound of running water when nothing’s on, an unexplained damp patch, a hot floor tile (slab leak on the hot water line), or mould appearing where there’s no obvious moisture source.

  • Water meter dial moves with everything off inside the house
  • A sudden spike in Sydney Water bill
  • Damp, peeling paint or mould on a wall with no obvious cause
  • Hot spot on a tiled floor — classic slab leak
  • Ceiling stain that slowly gets bigger
  • Whistling or hissing noise in the wall
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Leak detection equipment

How we find it without wrecking your home

First we confirm a leak actually exists using a Sydney Water meter test — all water off, watch the meter for 15 minutes. If it’s moving, we have a leak. We then isolate different sections (hot, cold, irrigation) to narrow it down, and use acoustic and thermal equipment to pinpoint. For slab leaks on the hot line, thermal imaging often shows the hot spot on the floor within minutes.

  • Ground microphone — hears water escaping through the slab/soil
  • Thermal camera — shows temperature plumes behind walls
  • Line pressure test — confirms which line is leaking
  • Tracer gas — harmless detection through pipework for tough jobs
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1 hr
Typical pinpoint time on a domestic leak
~40%
Average bill drop after we fix it
No demo
Required on most wall-cavity finds
Report
Sent to you & your insurer
FAQs

Common questions about leak detection

If you can’t see your question here, call us — we’re happy to talk it through.

How much does leak detection cost?
Typical residential pinpoint investigations are $395–$550 including equipment and written report. That’s almost always less than one inflated water bill, and it saves you thousands in unnecessary demolition and guess-fixes.
Will you damage my walls or tiles?
Detection is non-invasive — no cuts needed to find the leak. We only open up once we’ve pinpointed the spot, and we open the smallest possible area. We’ll always show you where we plan to cut before we do.
Do you do slab leaks?
Yes — slab leaks (hot or cold line running under the concrete) are common in Sydney homes from the 70s–90s. We have specific acoustic and thermal kit for them and can usually re-route or spot-repair without jackhammering the whole slab.
Will my insurance cover the leak repair?
Most home building policies cover the damage caused by the leak (wet carpet, ceiling, paint) but not the plumbing repair itself. We provide a full report including photos and thermal images that insurers accept for the damage claim.
I’ve got a high water bill — is it definitely a leak?
Not always. Running toilets, faulty irrigation controllers and dripping taps add up fast. We do a full audit of the visible fixtures first — sometimes the "hidden leak" turns out to be a $60 cistern valve.
Do you work with Sydney Water concessions?
Yes — if the leak turns out to be on a concealed pipe and is fixed by a licensed plumber, Sydney Water can rebate a portion of the high bill. We provide the paperwork they require.
Further reading

From our blog

Ready for a straight answer on your leak detection job?

Call us on 0432 304 609 or send through a quick note — we service every suburb of Sydney from our Rydalmere base.