How it starts
Signs You Have a Hidden Leak
Concealed leaks can run for months. By the time most people notice, the water has already been going somewhere it shouldn’t for a long while.
- A water bill that’s climbed with no change in how much water you’re using
- The sound of running water when every tap in the house is off
- Damp patches, bubbling paint or peeling plaster on walls or ceilings
- A musty smell in a room, cupboard or subfloor that won’t clear
- Warm or damp patches on the floor, often a hot water line under the slab
- Green, soggy lawn in dry weather, or an area that never fully dries out
- Water pressure that’s dropped across the whole property
- Cracking in paths, driveways or paving where water has washed out the base beneath
What to look out for
The Meter Test. How To Check It Yourself in Thirty Minutes
Before calling anyone, this will tell you whether you have a leak at all.
- Turn off every tap in the house and switch off anything that uses water, washing machine, dishwasher, ice maker, irrigation.
- Go to the water meter and note the reading, including the small dials
- Wait thirty minutes without using any water
- Read it again. If the numbers have moved, water is escaping somewhere on your property
If the meter has moved, you have a leak. Where it is, is the part that needs equipment.
Where are they?
Where Hidden Leaks Usually Are
Under the slab
Concrete slab construction is standard across Penrith’s newer estates, Glenmore Park, Jordan Springs, Caddens, Claremont Meadows. Pipework runs beneath, and a leak down there has nowhere to go but into the ground or up through the floor.
Buried in the yard
The service line from the meter to the house is the owner’s responsibility, it’s usually the oldest pipe on the property, and it’s the one nobody thinks about. Reactive clay soils through the Nepean shift with the seasons and stress the joints.
Inside walls
Bathroom and kitchen walls carry pressurised lines. A pinhole leak in a wall cavity shows up as a damp patch, blistered paint or a musty smell long before it shows as water.
Under driveways, paths and paving
Common where the line runs beneath hard surfaces. Often first noticed as cracking or subsidence rather than water.
At fixtures and fittings
Not every leak is dramatic. Failed seals behind a shower or a slow weep at a concealed joint add up quietly.
What We Do
How We Find Leaks Without Digging
Acoustic Leak Detection
Water escaping from a pressurised pipe makes a distinct sound, even through concrete, soil and tile. Acoustic equipment amplifies that sound and traces it back to its loudest point, which is the leak. It works on buried lines, under slabs and behind walls without breaking any surface.
Thermal Imaging
A thermal camera reads surface temperature differences. A hot water leak under a slab warms the floor above it; a cold water leak cools and dampens the surrounding material. Neither is visible to the eye, but both show clearly on thermal, which narrows the search area fast before anything gets cut open.
Pressure Testing and Isolation
Sections of the plumbing are isolated and pressure tested to establish which run is losing water. It confirms there is a leak, and narrows it to a section, before the detection equipment pinpoints the spot within it.
Rated 5 stars
Penrith Families & Businesses Have Trusted Us for 24 Years
Our continual focus on customer service, affordable pricing and quality workmanship has earned DrainPro Plumbing Services a 5 star rating across Penrith and Western Sydney.
Daniel came, checked, fixed all the while answering all my silly questions. Helped getting rid of a massive debris in the sewer pipe. Would 100% recommend.
Koichi Pham
Fixed a burst water pipe I accidentally hit while gardening. They came out straight away and got it sorted quickly and professionally. Great service and very easy to deal with.
Jade McQuillan
Daniel provided a very quick service, was very friendly and explained all the options we had before going ahead with work to make sure we were completely informed.
Monica Asimus
Our old toilet needed an emergency replacement. Daniel responded immediately and was able to have a brand new toilet replaced within 24hrs at a reasonable price.
Caitlan Read
Daniel went above and beyond to fix a cracked pipe in our front yard. After the job you couldn’t tell there was a large trench dig up it looked untouched.
Jessica Toth
Daniel arrived on time, delivered high-quality work, and was very professional throughout the entire process. He exceeded expectations and I couldn’t be happier!
Jasmine Dilworth
Our Process
What Happens When You Call Drain Pro
- You call, and you speak to a plumber
Describe what you’re seeing, the bill, the damp patch, the meter reading and you’ll get an honest read on what’s likely going on. - We arrive same day
With detection equipment on board. - The leak is located, then you get a fixed price
You get the price to repair it before any work starts. No call-out fee, and no hourly rate ticking over while we search. - The repair is tested and the area left clean
And backed by our lifetime labour guarantee.
Fast Same-Day Service
Areas We Service
Based in Werrington Downs, we cover Penrith, Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and the surrounding corridor.
Penrith
- Penrith
- Cranebrook
- Werrington
- Werrington Downs
- St Marys
- Kingswood
- Cambridge Park
- Claremont Meadows
- Caddens
- Jordan Springs
- Glenmore Park
- Emu Plains
- Leonay
- Orchard Hills
Blue Mountains
- Glenbrook
- Blaxland
- Warrimoo
- Mt Riverview
Hawkesbury
- Windsor
- South Windsor
- Bligh Park
- McGraths Hill
- Riverstone
- Schofields
- Marsden Park
- Erskine Park
FAQs