In This Guide
What is acoustic leak detection?
Acoustic leak detection is a method of finding hidden leaks by sound. Water escaping from a pressurised pipe makes a distinctive noise, a hiss, a spray, or a drip, that travels along the pipe and through the surrounding floor, wall, or ground. Using highly sensitive listening equipment, an engineer can hear that noise where the human ear cannot and follow it to its source.
The key point is that it is non-invasive. Instead of lifting floors or digging up a garden to find where a leak is, the leak is located first, precisely, so that only the affected spot needs to be accessed. That is what makes it the standard first step for any hidden or underground leak.
How does acoustic leak detection work?
An engineer uses ground microphones and contact sensors placed on the floor, pipework, or ground surface, along with amplifying equipment that filters out background noise. By comparing the strength of the sound at different points, they can narrow the leak down to a small area, often to within centimetres.
On longer underground pipe runs, a correlator can be used. This places sensors at two points on the pipe and measures the tiny time difference between the leak sound reaching each one, calculating the leak’s position along the pipe. The result is the same: the exact spot is identified before any ground is opened.
What is it used for?
Acoustic detection is used wherever a leak is hidden and its location is not obvious, including leaks under solid floors, beneath driveways and patios, inside walls, and along underground supply pipes. It is especially useful for underground water leaks, where digging blind would cause huge disruption.
It is rarely the only tool used. For the most reliable result, acoustic detection is combined with other non-invasive methods, and our guide to how accurate a thermal imaging camera is for water leaks explains how the two work together, thermal imaging showing where moisture has spread and acoustic detection pinpointing the source.
How accurate is acoustic leak detection?
In trained hands it is very accurate, frequently locating a leak to within a few centimetres. Accuracy depends on the surface, the depth of the pipe, and background noise, which is why 0800 Homefix treats it as a job for an experienced operator with the right equipment rather than a guess. Combining it with thermal imaging and tracer gas raises the confidence further, so the access point can be opened with certainty rather than hope.
Can you do acoustic leak detection yourself?
No. It relies on specialist equipment and, just as importantly, on an operator who knows how to interpret what they are hearing and rule out false signals like normal plumbing noise. The value is not just the microphone, it is the experience behind it. Before any professional attends, though, you can confirm you have a leak at all with the water meter test, covered in our guide to checking for a water leak at home.
Will insurance cover it?
Often, yes. Most UK buildings insurance policies include trace and access cover, which pays to locate a hidden leak and reinstate the surface afterwards, up to your policy limit. Acoustic detection is exactly the kind of non-invasive tracing that cover is designed for. Our guide to what trace and access costs explains how the cover works and how to claim.
How 0800 Homefix uses acoustic leak detection
0800 Homefix covers London and the South East, and acoustic detection is part of how we find hidden leaks every day. An engineer locates the leak precisely, confirms it with a second method where needed, and accesses only the affected spot, with a written report where the work supports an insurance claim. You can see the full service on our water leak detection and repair and trace and access pages.
0800 Homefix charges as the first hour of labour, paid in advance, with any further detection, access, or repair work quoted and agreed with you before it begins. For current rates, see our rates page. Our labour is guaranteed for 12 months, and any parts we fit are covered by the manufacturer’s 12-month guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is acoustic leak detection?
It is a non-invasive method of finding a hidden water leak by listening for the sound of escaping water with sensitive ground microphones and sensors, so the leak can be located before anything is dug up.
How accurate is acoustic leak detection?
Can acoustic detection find leaks under concrete or underground?
Is acoustic leak detection covered by insurance?
Can I do acoustic leak detection myself?
Helpful resources
- WaterSafe: find an approved plumber for leak detection and supply pipe work.
- Consumer Council for Water: independent guidance on leaks and water use.
Spotted Any of These Warning Signs?
Got a hidden leak you cannot find? 0800 Homefix uses acoustic detection across London and the South East to pinpoint leaks without tearing your home apart, with a written report for your insurer where you need one, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Editorial note: This article is intended as a general homeowner guide. All plumbing work on supply pipes should be carried out by a qualified, WaterSafe-registered plumber. If you suspect a gas leak, leave the property immediately and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.
