Petrol garage: 15 litres a minute lost underground
The meter kept moving with every outlet shut. Tracer gas led to a flooded chamber where several mains leaks were repaired.
Commercial leak detection in Greater London
ADI investigates hidden water leaks in commercial premises across Greater London. Describe rising consumption, heating pressure loss or recurring damp, and explain the site’s operating hours so the survey can be planned around access and essential services.
Areas we cover in Greater London
- Croydon
- Bromley
- Enfield
- Harrow
- Hayes
- Romford
- Richmond
- Sutton
Map of Greater London
A shared shop supply with access needed beneath a sink unit
At London premises containing a shop and a rear work unit, an unexpected bill prompted a mains investigation. There was no water meter for an initial meter check and no internal valve that isolated all the pipework, so the internal and external supply were pressure-tested together. That test confirmed a leak on the supply being tested.
Tracer gas gave the strongest indication beneath the kitchen sink unit. The unit needed removal before the pipe could be exposed, and the report recorded that this access work would need to happen out of hours. No repair or subsequent retest was carried out during the visit.
Commercial water leak investigations in Greater London
Start with the symptoms and the system involved. The survey scope should reflect how your building uses water.
Buried mains and shared supplies
Provide meter records and identify shared users. Testing must account for normal consumption before locating a suspected buried leak.
Water mains investigationsHeating circuits and concealed pipes
Share pressure records and accessible circuit boundaries. Agree plant-room access and any interruption to occupied units.
Heating and plant room leaksWashrooms and building water ingress
Record whether damp follows water use or rainfall. Supply, drainage and building ingress need different checks.
Roof and building ingress surveysEquipment for hidden commercial leaks
The building and pipework determine the equipment. In London's commercial stock, floor finishes, basement slabs, background machinery and restricted access points can all affect the tests, so a survey may combine acoustic listening equipment, thermal imaging and tracer gas methods.
- Pressure testing what can be isolated
- An isolated section either holds pressure or it does not. Where no internal valve separates the pipework, as here, the internal and external supply are tested together.
- Tracer gas towards a fitted unit
- Detected where it surfaces from suitable isolated pipework. Here the strongest indication sat beneath a sink unit, which still had to be removed before the pipe could be seen.
- Acoustic listening around plant and traffic
- Microphones amplify water escaping beneath a floor, yard or parking area. Background machinery and street noise can mask it, so readings are compared along the suspected route.
- Leak-noise correlation on long mains
- Two sensors on the same pipe compare when the leak noise reaches each, estimating a position between them. It suits a supply running a long way beneath a service road.
- Thermal imaging over finishes and slabs
- Surface temperature differences can trace a warm pipe route or a damp area behind a finish. The camera reads the surface, so the cause is confirmed with other tests.
- Borescope and moisture readings before opening up
- A small camera reaches a duct, boxing or ceiling void through a small opening, and moisture readings map the spread. A damp reading alone does not identify the source.
Equipment narrows the investigation; further access can still be needed to confirm or repair a fault. Read about the survey and methods.
Support for commercial property teams
The building’s use matters as much as the leak location. These are examples of survey situations, not a list of local clients.
Offices and managed buildings
If several tenants share a building, record the affected rooms and identify who controls each part of the water system. Arrange access to the relevant units and service areas, and explain who can approve an isolation.
Retail parks and large-format stores
For retail premises such as the units at Gallions Reach Shopping Park in Beckton, discuss safe access to trading areas and service yards. Identify isolation points and explain which supplies are shared before booking an investigation.
Hospitality, education and healthcare
If kitchens, washrooms or occupied rooms depend on the supply, explain which services must stay available. Share safeguarding, induction and access requirements before booking so the investigation can be scoped with your site contact.
Commercial leak detection case studies
Three ADI investigations from Bedfordshire, West Yorkshire and Derbyshire, showing how different commercial water losses were investigated.
School: a buried classroom supply capped off
A hissing classroom and saturated ground led to a leaking desk-tap supply. The school chose to cap the branch rather than excavate.
Hospitality premises: continuous use traced to a urinal valve
The meter showed continuous consumption. Testing found a faulty urinal flush control and dripping fixtures, with no concealed pipe leak indicated.
Commercial leak investigations by ADI Leak Detection
Commercial Leak Detection, a specialist service from ADI Leak Detection. ADI started in 2011 and has more than twenty-five leak investigation engineers across England, Scotland and Wales, working in offices, retail premises, hotels and industrial buildings.
- £5 million public liability insurance. Engineers hold CSCS cards for work on construction sites.
- Accredited by CIPHE, WIAPS and WaterSafe for plumbing and water regulations, and a SPATA-approved contractor for pool work.
- Reports for facilities teams, property owners and insurers, with photographs, findings and recommendations.
- 4.7 on Trustpilot from 1600+ reviews, checked 15 September 2026.
ADI Leak Detection reviews on Trustpilot
Selected excerpts from five-star reviews of ADI’s wider service across the UK.
Review excerpt
Read the full review“Great service, turned up as arranged. All work carried out with care and explained fully. Very satisfied, would recommend.”
Review excerpt
Read the full review“Robert worked very hard to successfully find a relatively small leak in the external water main several feet underground .”
Greater London leak survey questions
Which parts of Greater London does this page cover?
This page follows the ceremonial county of Greater London: the 32 London boroughs, including Westminster, but excluding the separate City of London. The places listed are examples within Greater London, not a complete list or a record of past jobs. Call with the full postcode to discuss the property and current availability.
Can the survey fit around our London site's operating hours?
Discuss your operating hours and critical services with the office before booking. Some tests need water or heating isolation, and access to occupied floors or plant rooms may be required. Share any induction or permit-to-work requirements when you call.
What if several businesses in our building share the water supply?
Tell the office which units share the meter and arrange access with the relevant occupiers or managing agent. Water used elsewhere on the supply can affect the readings. The findings can help identify the affected pipework, but they do not determine lease responsibilities.
Does a moving water meter prove we have a leak?
It shows water passing through the meter. Automatic equipment, stored-water systems and other users on a shared supply can also explain movement. Record the readings and known use; do not shut off essential services just to carry out a check.
Will floors or ceilings need to be opened during the survey?
Specialist equipment helps narrow the search before opening a surface. An access opening may still be needed for inspection or repair. What is possible depends on the construction, pipe route and access restrictions. London buildings vary considerably in floor and ceiling construction, which affects the options.
Can we use the survey findings for a repair or insurance claim?
ADI provides a written report with findings and photographs. It can be shared with your repair contractor or insurer. Check any insurer approval requirements before booking; the survey does not guarantee insurance cover. Ask separately about available pipe repairs and reinstatement.
Discuss a leak in Greater London
Have the Greater London site address, symptoms and access details ready. Call ADI to discuss the survey scope, cost and current availability, including any restrictions on water or heating interruptions.
0333 567 2629
- Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6:30pm
- Calls reach ADI Leak Detection's office in High Wycombe. Engineers cover England, Scotland and Wales.