--- title: "Leak Detection & Repair in Corby & Northants | Reactive" description: "Hidden water leak under floors, in walls or in your heating system? We trace it with thermal imaging and acoustic kit — minimal disruption, fixed-price repair." lang: en-GB json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Will my insurance pay for the detection?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Most UK home insurance policies include 'trace and access' cover specifically for finding a hidden leak. We provide an itemised report you can submit with your claim. Always check your specific policy first." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Will you damage my floor?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Around 92% of leaks we attend are located without lifting flooring. Where access is needed, you'll see and approve the proposed cut location and size before any work — and the repair is quoted in writing first." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How long does a leak trace take?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Most domestic traces take 1–3 hours on site. Buried mains and underfloor heating leaks can take longer, especially if tracer gas is needed and the system has to be drained first." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "My boiler keeps losing pressure — is that always a leak?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Almost always, yes. Combi boilers should hold pressure between 1 and 1.5 bar for months. Topping up weekly is a leak. Topping up daily is a serious leak. Either way, get it traced before damage compounds." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can you find a leak under a concrete slab?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes — typically with acoustic microphones, then tracer gas to pinpoint. Slab leaks are tougher than suspended-floor leaks but still routinely traced without breaking out the entire slab." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do you fix the leak as well, or just find it?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Both. Detection is priced separately from repair so you only pay for what's actually needed, but We'll repair the leak there-and-then where possible — copper, push-fit, MDPE, plastic radiator pipe, all in van stock." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is there a guarantee on the repair?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "12-month workmanship guarantee on every leak repair we carry out. The detection itself is covered by a 'leak located or money back' clause — if we can't pinpoint within agreed scope, you don't pay for the trace." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do you do leak detection for landlords and managing agents?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes — regular work for letting agents across Corby, Kettering and the wider East Midlands. Reports come in a format suitable for tenant communication and insurance claims." } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Service", "@id": "https://reactiveplumbing.co.uk/leak-detection-repair#service", "name": "Leak Detection & Repair in Corby & Northants", "serviceType": "Leak Detection & Repair in Corby & Northants", "description": "Hidden water leak under floors, in walls or in your heating system? We trace it with thermal imaging and acoustic kit — minimal disruption, fixed-price repair.", "url": "https://reactiveplumbing.co.uk/leak-detection-repair", "provider": { "@id": "https://reactiveplumbing.co.uk/#localbusiness" }, "areaServed": [ { "@type": "City", "name": "Corby" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Kettering" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Desborough" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Rothwell" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Oundle" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Market Harborough" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Wellingborough" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Oakham" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Stamford" }, { "@type": "City", "name": "Peterborough" } ], "offers": [ { "@type": "Offer", "name": "Confirmation test only", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "priceSpecification": { "@type": "PriceSpecification", "price": "Fixed price", "priceCurrency": "GBP" }, "description": "Pressure-decay or mains-meter test to confirm whether there's actually a leak. Often resolves the question without further work." }, { "@type": "Offer", "name": "Full trace (thermal + acoustic)", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "priceSpecification": { "@type": "PriceSpecification", "price": "Fixed price", "priceCurrency": "GBP" }, "description": "Multi-method trace using the right kit for the leak type. Pinpoint result and written report." }, { "@type": "Offer", "name": "Trace + tracer-gas", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "priceSpecification": { "@type": "PriceSpecification", "price": "Fixed price", "priceCurrency": "GBP" }, "description": "Includes hydrogen-nitrogen tracer gas for buried leaks. Used for slab and external mains where other methods can't isolate." } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://reactiveplumbing.co.uk" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Plumbing Services", "item": "https://reactiveplumbing.co.uk/plumbing-services" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Leak Detection & Repair in Corby & Northants", "item": "https://reactiveplumbing.co.uk/leak-detection-repair" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Carl Eddershaw", "jobTitle": "Director & Lead Engineer", "worksFor": { "@id": "https://reactiveplumbing.co.uk/#localbusiness" }, "knowsAbout": [ "Gas Safe Registered", "OFTEC Registered", "Thermal imaging trained", "Acoustic detection equipped", "Insurance-report ready" ] } ] --- Gas Safe Registered · OFTEC Registered · Checkatrade Verified 9 Rutherford Court, Corby NN17 4SJ [info@reactiveph.co.uk](mailto:info@reactiveph.co.uk) [![Reactive Gas Heating & Plumbing logo](/__l5e/assets-v1/51d713a4-18a4-4b5f-96fb-2fcce169e56c/reactive-logo.png)](/) ServicesAreasGuides[About](/about)[Our Work](/our-work)[Plans](/maintenance-plans)[Reviews](/reviews)[Contact](/contact) [24/7 Call 07915 906262 ](tel:+447915906262)[Fixed Boiler Quote](/boiler-quote) 1. [Home](/) 2. [Plumbing Services](/plumbing-services) 3. Hidden Leak Detection Plumbing Services # Hidden Leak Detection in Corbyfound without ripping up your floor & fixed-price repair after If your water bill has crept up, your boiler keeps losing pressure, or there's an unexplained damp patch — we trace the leak using thermal imaging, acoustic listening kit and tracer gas. Then we agree the repair price before any flooring comes up. [Enquire Now](/contact) [Call 07915 906262](tel:+447915906262) - Non-invasive tracing first - Thermal imaging & acoustic kit - Insurance-grade reports available - Repair quoted before lifting floors 92% Leaks located non-invasively Same week Most jobs trace + fix Insurer-ready Reports for claims 12 mo Workmanship guarantee Leak detection — water mains, heating, hot water ## Find the leak first. Lift the floor only if we have to. The mistake we get called in to fix is people pulling up the wrong floor. A guess-and-dig approach destroys flooring you didn't need to lose, and often misses the actual leak by a metre or two. Proper detection comes first; repair comes second. We use four detection methods depending on the leak type: thermal imaging cameras (visible heat differential where hot pipes are leaking), acoustic ground microphones (audible signature of pressurised water escaping), tracer gas (hydrogen-nitrogen mix injected into the system, sniffed at the surface), and pressure-decay testing to confirm the system is actually losing water in the first place. Around 92% of leaks we attend are located without lifting flooring. The remaining 8% need targeted access — but always at the right point, with the smallest possible cut, and a written quote before we touch the floor. What happens if you wait ## Hidden leaks don't stay hidden — they take your floor with them A heating-circuit leak under engineered oak flooring usually shows up first as a boiler that keeps needing topping up. By the time you can see the damage, you've often lost the floor and a section of subfloor with it. Acting at the 'pressure keeps dropping' stage is a fraction of the cost of acting once the floor's gone spongy. Combi boilers losing pressure once a month is normal. Once a fortnight is borderline. Once a week is a leak — find it. - Combi pressure dropping weekly — almost always a system leak, often radiator or pipework - Damp patch on a downstairs ceiling — usually upstairs bathroom soil or supply - Engineered floor cupping or lifting — pressurised water under the floor - Unexplained spike on water bill — possibly a mains-side leak before the meter reaches the house - Persistent musty smell in one room — slow leak inside a wall cavity - Boiler inhibitor disappearing — system leak slowly washing it out Our process ## From first call to job done — exactly what to expect 1. 01 ### Confirm the leak Pressure-decay test on heating, mains-meter test on supply. We confirm there is a leak before we start hunting one. 2. 02 ### Non-invasive trace Thermal imaging, acoustic listening, tracer gas — chosen by leak type. No floors lifted yet. 3. 03 ### Pinpoint Down to a 30cm window in most cases. We mark the spot before any cuts are made. 4. 04 ### Quote the repair Written, fixed price for the access + repair before we lift a single board. 5. 05 ### Repair & report Repair, refill, retest, and a written report — insurer-grade if you need it for a trace-and-access claim. Why customers choose Reactive ## No guesswork. No upsell. Just the work, done right. - ### Trace-and-access reports Most home insurance policies cover trace-and-access. We supply documentation that lets you claim back the cost. - ### Right tool per leak type Thermal for hot, acoustic for pressurised mains, tracer gas for buried — we don't force one tool on every job. - ### Fixed price before we cut You see the repair price before any floor or plaster is touched. No hidden time-and-materials creep. - ### Same-week trace + fix Most jobs scoped, traced and repaired within the same working week. - ### Heating + plumbing under one roof If the leak is on the heating side, we repair it ourselves — no second contractor. - ### Honest 'no leak found' if true If pressure-decay shows no leak, we'll tell you and stop the meter. You don't pay for a hunt that wasn't needed. ![Thermal imaging camera screen showing heat signature of a hidden hot water leak in a UK property wall](/__l5e/assets-v1/8991e77e-4ca1-43c1-8460-8aeae3e2aed7/img-008.jpeg) In detail ## How we trace each leak type — methodology, not magic Thermal imaging works on heating pipes because escaping hot water heats the surrounding floor or wall material visibly more than the dry sections. It's our first tool on suspected heating leaks. It's not useful on cold mains leaks, where the temperature differential is too small. Acoustic ground microphones pick up the high-frequency hiss of pressurised water escaping a hairline split. They work best on mains-pressure cold supply, especially in concrete-floored properties common across the Corby new-build estates. We sweep the suspected zone in a grid, marking peak signal points. Tracer gas (a non-flammable hydrogen-nitrogen blend) is our last resort for genuinely buried leaks. The system is drained, sealed, the gas injected, and a sniffer probe used at the surface. The gas escapes only at the leak point — pinpoint accuracy down to a few centimetres. - ### Heating-circuit leaks Thermal imaging first, often confirmed with a controlled pressure test. - ### Cold mains leaks Acoustic ground mic + meter check. Common at the rising main entry and stop tap. - ### Hot supply / cylinder leaks Thermal + acoustic. Often the cylinder itself or the immersion boss. - ### Buried garden mains Tracer gas after isolation. We work with Anglian Water mapping where available. - ### Underfloor heating leaks Thermal imaging across the slab + manifold pressure test by zone. - ### Slab leaks (concrete floors) Acoustic microphone, tracer gas, then targeted core access. Honest pricing ## How much does leak detection cost in Northants? Detection is priced separately from repair so you only pay for what's actually needed. Most household insurance policies cover the detection cost as 'trace and access'. Confirmation test only Fixed price Pressure-decay or mains-meter test to confirm whether there's actually a leak. Often resolves the question without further work. Full trace (thermal + acoustic) Fixed price Multi-method trace using the right kit for the leak type. Pinpoint result and written report. Trace + tracer-gas Fixed price Includes hydrogen-nitrogen tracer gas for buried leaks. Used for slab and external mains where other methods can't isolate. ### What changes the price - Leak type (hot, cold, heating, buried, underfloor) - Access — concrete slab, suspended timber, engineered flooring - Whether tracer gas is needed - Size of the area to be swept - Whether a written insurance-grade report is required - Whether repair is included or quoted separately Free, fixed-price quote — no obligation, no callout fee. [Get my fixed price](/contact) Areas covered ## Local cover across Northants & Rutland Leak detection is one of our most-requested services across the older Northants villages and the newer Corby and Kettering estates alike. Different builds, different leak patterns — we adapt the trace method to the property type. - [Leak detection in Corby ](/areas/corby) - [Leak tracing in Kettering ](/areas/kettering) - [Leak detection Market Harborough ](/areas/market-harborough) - [Hidden leak finding in Oakham ](/areas/oakham) Who'll be doing the work ## The Reactive engineering team We've traced everything from a 12mm pinhole under a Kettering kitchen island to a buried garden main feeding a Rutland farmhouse. The kit matters — but knowing which method to reach for first matters more. - Gas Safe Registered - OFTEC Registered - Thermal imaging trained - Acoustic detection equipped - Insurance-report ready FAQs ## Questions we actually get asked Anything not covered here? Pick up the phone — straight talk, no salesperson in the middle. [Call 07915 906262](tel:+447915906262) ### ### Will my insurance pay for the detection? ### ### Will you damage my floor? ### ### How long does a leak trace take? ### ### My boiler keeps losing pressure — is that always a leak? ### ### Can you find a leak under a concrete slab? ### ### Do you fix the leak as well, or just find it? ### ### Is there a guarantee on the repair? ### ### Do you do leak detection for landlords and managing agents? Related services [ In this category 24/7 emergency plumber ](/emergency-plumbing)[ In this category Blocked drain clearance ](/drain-unblocking)[ In this category Central heating power flush ](/power-flushing)[ You may also need Boiler losing pressure? Same-day repair ](/boiler-repair)[ Back to hub All Plumbing Services ](/plumbing-services) Ready when you are ## Find the leak. Save the floor. Book a trace. Non-invasive detection first, fixed-price repair second, insurance-grade report on request. [Enquire Now](/contact) [07915 906262](tel:+447915906262) Last updated May 2026 · Reactive Gas Heating and Plumbing Services Limited · 9 Rutherford Court, Corby NN17 4SJ · Gas Safe Registered · OFTEC Registered · Checkatrade Verified [![Reactive Gas Heating & Plumbing logo](/__l5e/assets-v1/51d713a4-18a4-4b5f-96fb-2fcce169e56c/reactive-logo.png)](/) Reactive Gas Heating and Plumbing Services Limited. Plumbing, heating and gas engineers based in Corby — covering Northamptonshire, Rutland, Leicestershire and the East Midlands. [07915 906262 ](tel:+447915906262) [0800 861 1593 (freephone)](tel:+448008611593) [07488 883576](tel:+447488883576) [07342 043953](tel:+447342043953) [info@reactiveph.co.uk](mailto:info@reactiveph.co.uk) 9 Rutherford Court Corby, Northamptonshire NN17 4SJ [](https://www.facebook.com/Reactiveservices/)[](https://www.instagram.com/reactivegasheatingplumbing/) ### [Plumbing](/plumbing-services) - [Emergency Plumbing](/emergency-plumbing) - [Drain Unblocking & Drainage](/drain-unblocking) - [Leak Detection & Repair](/leak-detection-repair) - [Power Flushing](/power-flushing) ### [Heating & Gas](/heating-gas-services) - [Boiler Installation](/boiler-installation) - [Boiler Repair & Breakdown](/boiler-repair) - [Boiler Servicing](/boiler-servicing) - [LPG Installation & Servicing](/lpg-engineer) - [Oil Boiler Installation & Servicing](/oil-boiler-engineer) ### [Areas Covered](/areas) - [Corby](/areas/corby) - [Kettering](/areas/kettering) - [Desborough](/areas/desborough) - [Rothwell](/areas/rothwell) - [Oundle](/areas/oundle) - [Market Harborough](/areas/market-harborough) - [Wellingborough](/areas/wellingborough) - [Oakham](/areas/oakham) - [Stamford](/areas/stamford) - [Peterborough](/areas/peterborough) ### Company - [About our team](/about) - [Customer Reviews](/reviews) - [Recent Work](/our-work) - [Maintenance Plans](/maintenance-plans) - [Current Offers](/specials) - [Contact](/contact) - [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy) - [Terms & Conditions](/terms-conditions) ### Opening Hours - Monday: 08:00–18:00 - Tuesday: 08:00–18:00 - Wednesday: 08:00–18:00 - Thursday: 08:00–18:00 - Friday: 08:00–18:00 - Saturday: 08:00–13:00 - Sunday: Closed - 24/7 emergency cover — call any time outside working hours ### Guides & Blog - [Combi vs System vs Regular Boilers: Which Is Right for You?](/guides/combi-vs-system-vs-regular-boilers) - [How Much Does a New Boiler Cost in 2026?](/guides/how-much-does-a-new-boiler-cost) - [8 Signs You Need a New Boiler (Not Just a Repair)](/guides/signs-you-need-a-new-boiler) - [Common Boiler Fault Codes Explained](/guides/common-boiler-fault-codes-explained) - [What to Do in a Plumbing Emergency](/guides/what-to-do-in-a-plumbing-emergency) - [How to Turn Off Your Water at the Mains](/guides/how-to-turn-off-water-at-the-mains) © 2026 Reactive Gas Heating and Plumbing Services Limited. 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