A wet patch on a brick wall does not tell you exactly where a pipe is leaking. Water can run and along the pipe before it reaches the surface. At a house in Armadale, we traced a water leak in the wall to an ageing copper pipe concealed behind the brickwork.
Finding the leak source
Our water leak detection in wall work narrowed down the affected section before we find the spot. Once we removed part of the brickwork, we could see the copper pipe in the cavity. The video shows the exposed pipe behind the opening, with water spraying from the damaged area. What had looked like a problem with the wall was coming from a tiny pinhole in the pipe.
A pinhole can release a surprising amount of water over time. It may leave damp mortar, mark the bricks and keep the wall wet long after the first sign appears. It is different from the sudden rush people expect from a burst pipe, but the damage can still spread if the leak is left alone.
Copper pipes can wear out
We have seen leaks in copper pipes like this before. Copper is durable, but it does not last forever. When an older pipe develops a pinhole, a plumber also needs to look at the condition of the surrounding section. Finding one opening does not automatically mean the rest of the pipe is in perfect condition.
If you notice persistent dampness on a brick wall, a rising water bill or the sound of water when every tap is off, arrange detection early. The aim is to locate the leak, expose only the area needed and give you a clear explanation of the repair. In this Armadale house, opening the brickwork revealed the source: a small hole in an old copper pipe, hidden where the homeowner could never have seen it.