Wellington Leak Detection & Repair
A leak you can see is easy — turn off the stop tap and fix it. A leak you can’t see is where insurance claims come from: ceilings stained, walls mouldy, timber rotting quietly behind the plasterboard for weeks.
We undertake leak repairs on water pipes and shower leaks from doors and panels.
Southern uses thermal imaging, acoustic detection, and targeted pressure testing to find leaks without tearing the house apart. 40+ years of leak hunting experience across Wellington, the Hutt Valley, Kapiti and Porirua.
For Leak Repairs Call 0800 484 353 — 24/7.
Four Types of Leak We Hunt
- Water leaks — hidden runs under floors, in walls, under concrete slabs, and inside ceiling cavities
- Gas leaks — pressurisation testing for slow losses on domestic and commercial gas lines
- Roof leaks — water-testing methods to trace where rainwater is entering
- Drain leaks — CCTV and smoke-testing to locate cracked or collapsed sections
- We use the best material for the job. Eg we use PEX for all water piping inside the building. Link to our recommended pipe material.
Each type has its own detection method. Sending a plumber or gas fitter with only one tool to a job that needs three is how leaks get mis-diagnosed.
Signs You Might Have a Hidden Leak
- Water bill has jumped but usage hasn’t changed
- You can hear running water when nothing is turned on
- Hissing sound under the floor — often a pressurised line leaking
- Damp patch on a ceiling, wall or floor that doesn’t dry out
- Low water pressure that’s appeared out of nowhere (see water pressure)
- Water meter ticking over with all taps off
- Unexplained mould in a corner
- Warm spot on a cold concrete floor — hot water line under the slab
- Future water bills are going to get expensive if leaks are not fixed quickly.
Burst Pipes — Isolate First, Call Second
If water is visibly pouring out of something — burst pipe, cracked tank, failed cylinder — isolate first:
- Find the main toby at the street or driveway and turn it off
- Turn off power to the hot water cylinder at the switchboard
- Open the lowest taps in the house to drain pressure
- Then call 0800 484 353
We’ll usually talk you through what to do on the phone while a van is dispatched. Burst pipes are priority callouts any hour of any day.
Common culprits: Dux QEST pipework from the 80s, galvanised pipes corroding from the inside, polybutylene, and failed cylinder fittings. Broken pipe fitting under ground.
Polybutylene pipes that are over 30+ years old should be replaced after you have had a couple of leaks before it causes further damage.
Leaking Taps, Toilets & Fittings
The small stuff adds up. A dripping tap is 20+ litres a day; a leaking cistern can run 2000+ litres before you notice. Fix rates vary:
These prices are on top of the Service Call which includes travel, vehicle and GST and some labour.
The prices below include the materials and labour to install these materials.
We give prices before starting work so no surprises.
These prices are on top of our Service call of $325.00 including GST.
- Washer / O-ring replacement/ spindle on an older tap — $40-$180
- Our vans carry a range of cartridges. Tap Cartridges range in price from $25 to $150.
- Cistern inlet valve or flush valve — $150-$320
- Full mixer replacement — $280-$750 + mixer, this price depends on what is in front of the mixer eg if there are tiles and the hole is cut small we have to make a larger hole to extract the mixer.
- Waste trap or waste pipe fitting leak — $180-$400
We carry parts for many major NZ tapware brands — Felton, Methven, Greens, Paini, Le Vivi. Most repairs are finished on the first visit.
Each vehicle carries $3,500 of parts and materials.
Insurance Claims & Leak Reports
Hidden water damage claims need a plumber’s report — cause, location, scope of damage, proposed repair. We produce this routinely for insurers and property managers across Wellington and the Hutt Valley.
Our detection and repair work is covered by the Master Plumbers Guarantee. Certifying Plumber on staff, 50+ years of experience, Master Plumbers members for 40+ years. Read what clients say on our testimonials page.
Frequently Asked Questions
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We combine thermal imaging (shows temperature differences where hot water is escaping), acoustic listening (hears pressurised water), pressure testing (isolates sections of the line), and moisture metering. Saves cutting into walls and floors blindly.