Leak detection in Melbourne, without digging up the house.
Water bill climbing, damp patch spreading, meter ticking with every tap off. We locate the leak with acoustic and thermal equipment before anyone lifts a tile.
- No-dig leak location
- Licensed & insured
- Rated 4.9 on Google
Snapshot
How we find hidden leaks
Hidden leak detection
Acoustic, thermal and pressure testing to pinpoint the leak before opening up.
Typically 1–2 hours
Slab & underground leaks
Line traced, leak located and depth marked before any excavation.
Typically 2–4 hours
Shower & bathroom leaks
Shower, waste and waterproofing tested separately to find the real cause.
Typically 1–2 hours
Pipe repairs
Burst sections, failed joints and ageing galvanised runs replaced and retested.
Typically Half day
Insurance reports
Detailed reports with cause, location and imaging, written for assessors.
Typically Same visit
How it works
From your call to the leak located
We find it before we fix it. No exploratory demolition, no guessing where to start.
Call (03) 9077 9114
- 01
Call or send photos
Tell us what you are seeing. Photos of the damp patch or the meter reading help us prepare.
- 02
Test and locate
Acoustic, thermal and pressure testing narrows the leak to a point, not a room.
- 03
Show you the cause
You see where it is and what failed before we talk about repairing it.
- 04
Repair and report
Section repaired, line retested, and a detailed report issued if you need one for insurance.
Hidden leaks
Hidden water leak detection
A hidden leak rarely announces itself. The first sign is usually a water bill that jumps for no reason, a patch of wall that stays damp, or a meter that keeps ticking over after everything in the house is turned off.
We use acoustic listening equipment, thermal imaging and pressure testing to narrow the leak down to a point rather than a room. That means the repair is a small opening in one place, not a series of holes while we look.
- Acoustic leak detection
- Thermal imaging
- Pressure and isolation testing
- Meter and supply line testing
- Leak pinpointed before opening up
- Repair quoted at the same visit
Slab & underground
Slab and underground leaks
Leaks under a concrete slab or in the yard are where guesswork gets expensive. A wrongly placed excavation costs more than the repair, and in a slab it can mean cutting the floor of a room that was never the problem.
We trace the line, locate the leak point and mark it with depth before anything is opened. Where it makes sense we will bypass or reroute the affected section rather than cut the slab at all.
- Slab leak location and depth marking
- Underground supply line tracing
- Yard and driveway leaks
- Reroute and bypass options
- Minimal excavation approach
- Reinstatement after repair
Bathrooms
Shower and bathroom leaks
Most bathroom leaks are not burst pipes. They are failed waterproofing, perished shower bases and grout that has stopped doing its job, letting water track into the wall cavity or the room next door.
We test the shower, the waste and the supply separately so you know whether you need a plumbing repair, a regrout, or the waterproofing redone. That distinction is the difference between a small job and a rebuild.
- Shower base and waste testing
- Waterproofing failure diagnosis
- Wall cavity moisture testing
- Leaks into adjoining rooms
- Regrout versus rebuild advice
- Coordinated with our tile works
Repairs
Burst and failing pipe repairs
Once the leak is located, most repairs are straightforward: replace the failed section, test the line and reinstate. Older Bayside homes with galvanised or early copper pipework often have more than one weak point on the same run.
Where a line has failed repeatedly we will tell you honestly whether patching it again is worth it or whether replacing the run will cost less over the next few years.
- Burst and split pipe repairs
- Failed joint replacement
- Galvanised pipe replacement
- Full run replacement where needed
- Line retested after repair
- Emergency response available
Insurance
Insurance reports and evidence
Most home insurers will cover the resulting damage from a sudden leak, but only when there is documentation of what failed and when. Without a report, a legitimate claim can stall on a technicality.
We provide full detailed reports with the cause, location and imaging, written for the insurer rather than for a plumber, so your claim has what it needs the first time.
- Detailed leak reports
- Cause and location documented
- Thermal and moisture imaging
- Written for insurance assessors
- Make-safe work documented
- Fast turnaround on reports
Reviews
What locals say
I cannot speak highly enough of the wonderful service I received from Canny Plumbing. Tom and Connor attended the property where I live to investigate water ingress affecting two units. They were exceptional, professional, gracious, attentive and an absolute pleasure to deal with.
Canny Plumbing delivered outstanding service. On time, professional, and high-quality workmanship. Honest pricing and great communication throughout. Highly recommended.
Very good experience. Arrived on time and did the job in expected time frame. Good workmanship.
FAQ
Leak detection questions we get asked
Something not covered? Call us, we will give you a straight answer over the phone.
How do you find a leak without breaking anything?
Acoustic equipment listens for the sound of water escaping under pressure, thermal imaging shows temperature differences behind surfaces, and pressure testing isolates which line is losing water. Between them we can usually mark the leak to within a small area before anything is opened up.
How do I know if I have a hidden leak?
Turn off every tap and appliance, then watch the meter. If the dial is still moving, water is escaping somewhere on your side of the meter. Other common signs are a bill that jumps without a change in use, a damp patch that never dries, or a musty smell in one part of the house.
Can you find leaks under a concrete slab?
Yes, and it is worth doing properly. We trace the line and mark both the position and depth of the leak before anything is cut, and where possible we will reroute or bypass the section instead of opening the slab at all.
Will you provide a report for my insurer?
Yes. We write detailed reports covering the cause, the location and the imaging, in the form assessors expect. Photograph the damage before anything is dried out or repaired, because assessors want to see the state it was found in.
What does it cost to get someone out?
Call us and we will talk it through properly. Every job is different, so we would rather understand what is happening than quote a generic number. No surprises, upfront pricing.
Can you quote without visiting?
Often, yes. Send photos of the issue and we can usually quote free of charge, for general maintenance and hot water work. If we find further issues on site we will let you know before doing anything.
Which parts of Melbourne do you cover?
All of Bayside Melbourne, from Mordialloc through Sandringham and Brighton up to St Kilda, Port Melbourne and the CBD, plus the inland Bayside and Glen Eira suburbs.
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Get in touch
Tell us what you need and a licensed local plumber will get back to you with a clear, upfront price.
(03) 9077 9114
After hours 0458 872 659
maintenance@cannyplumbing.com.au
18 Advantage Road, Highett VIC 3190
Opening hours
- Monday to Friday
- 6:00am – 7:00pm
- Saturday
- 7:00am – 6:00pm
- Sunday
- 8:00am – 2:00pm