If you suspect a hidden leak, it helps to know what the people you call will actually do. Leak detection isn’t one tool. It’s a process of narrowing down, using different methods for different kinds of leaks. Here’s a plain-English guide for Auckland homeowners.
How does leak detection work?
Leak detection narrows down a hidden leak step by step. A water meter test shows whether pressurised pipes are leaking. Thermal imaging and moisture meters show where materials are damp. Specialists then use acoustic listening, tracer gas or water testing to pinpoint the source so a plumber or builder can repair it.
The main methods at a glance
| Method | What it does | Best for | Who usually does it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water meter test | Shows if water is flowing when nothing is in use | Confirming a supply-pipe leak exists | You (free, see Watercare’s guide) |
| Visual inspection | Looks for stains, swelling, mould, loose tiles | Every job | Anyone, then the trade |
| Thermal imaging | Shows surface temperature patterns that may indicate damp | Mapping where water has spread | Inspectors, restorers, some plumbers |
| Moisture meter | Measures moisture at a point | Confirming damp areas | Inspectors, restorers, builders |
| Acoustic listening | Listens for the sound of escaping water in pressurised pipes | Pipes under slabs, in walls, in the ground | Leak detection specialists, plumbers |
| Tracer gas | Pushes a safe gas into a pipe and detects where it escapes | Hard-to-hear leaks | Leak detection specialists |
| Water / flood testing | Wets one part of a building at a time to see where water enters | Roof, window, cladding and shower leaks | Building surveyors, leak investigators |
Step 1: Is it a supply leak at all?
Start with the water meter. Watercare’s guide says to record your meter, avoid using water for 4+ hours (overnight is ideal), and compare. If the reading rises, water is escaping from a pressurised pipe on your side. If it doesn’t, the water may be from a waste pipe, shower, roof or condensation. Our water meter leak test guide walks through it.
Step 2: Map the damp
Thermal imaging and moisture meters show where materials are wet. They don’t confirm why. This step is useful for knowing how much of the house is affected and where drying is needed. See what thermal imaging shows after water damage.
Step 3: Pinpoint the source
This is specialist work:
- Acoustic listening uses sensitive microphones to hear water escaping from a pressurised pipe.
- Tracer gas is used when a leak is too quiet to hear; a detector finds where the gas comes out.
- Water testing recreates the leak, one building element at a time — common for roofs, windows and showers.
We don’t offer acoustic or tracer-gas leak detection. If your leak needs pinpointing, a licensed plumber or leak detection specialist is the right call.
Step 4: Repair, then dry
Once the source is fixed, the remaining moisture needs to come out of carpet, walls and timber. When you hire our Drying Combo, our technician delivers the equipment and, where suitable, does a free on-site thermal imaging and moisture check so the dehumidifier and fans go where they’re needed.
| Drying Combo | What you get |
|---|---|
| Equipment | Commercial 90 L dehumidifier + two drying fans |
| Testing | Free on-site thermal image assessment and moisture test, included where suitable |
| Delivery | Our technician delivers the equipment and does the testing on site; Auckland delivery and pick-up, subject to booking timing and site access |
| Price | $75 + GST per day (3-day minimum) or $400 + GST for 7 days |
See the full offer: free thermal imaging and moisture testing with the Drying Combo.
What thermal imaging and moisture testing can’t do
We’d rather be upfront:
- Thermal imaging indicates, it doesn’t prove. The camera reads surface temperature. A cool patch can be damp, but it can also be a draught, missing insulation, a cold-water pipe or shade from the morning sun. Our technician checks suspicious areas with a moisture meter on site before treating them as wet.
- Meters read accessible spots. A moisture meter gives a reading where it touches. It can’t see right through a sealed cavity, and we don’t cut open walls.
- It isn’t a plumbing repair. We can help show where water has spread. Finding and fixing a failed pipe, shower tray or fitting is a job for a licensed plumber.
- We’re drying specialists, not plumbers or inspectors. We aren’t a licensed plumber, a pre-purchase building inspector or an acoustic/tracer-gas leak detection specialist, and we’ll tell you when you need one.
- It isn’t a building report. This check supports your drying setup. It isn’t a pre-purchase inspection, a weathertightness report or a code compliance document. For roof, cladding or structural concerns, talk to a qualified building surveyor or inspector.
Frequently asked questions
What is the first step in leak detection?
Do a water meter test. Watercare advises recording the meter, not using water for at least 4 hours (ideally overnight), then checking again. A higher reading suggests a leak on a pressurised pipe.
Can thermal imaging find the exact leak?
Not on its own. Thermal imaging shows temperature patterns that may indicate damp. The source usually needs confirming by a plumber, leak detection specialist or water testing.
What is acoustic leak detection?
It uses sensitive listening equipment to hear water escaping from pressurised pipes, often under slabs or in walls. It is carried out by leak detection specialists and plumbers.
Does Dry Me Now do acoustic or tracer gas leak detection?
No. We provide drying equipment with a free on-site thermal imaging and moisture check where suitable. For pinpointing a leak, use a licensed plumber or leak detection specialist.
What happens after the leak is found?
The plumber or builder repairs the source, then wet materials need drying. A dehumidifier and drying fans remove remaining moisture, and moisture checks show when areas are dry.
Book the Drying Combo with a free moisture check
If you’ve had a leak, overflow or flood in Auckland, call Dry Me Now on 021 877 504 or use the enquiry form on our thermal imaging and moisture testing page. Tell us what happened and which rooms are affected, and we’ll confirm availability and delivery. Our technician delivers the machines and does the testing on site.