Two leaks in unprotected pipes under a kitchen floor, Torquay
Pipes to a radiator that had been removed years before were still live under the kitchen. The cold feed had also worn through where it rubbed against them.
- Location
- Torquay, Devon (TQ1)
- Property
- Residential property
- System
- Central heating with 18 radiators; pipes laid unprotected in concrete
- First sign
- Heating needed topping up as often as every three to four hours
- Engineer
- James Bexter, ADI Leak Detection
- Outcome
- Two leaks found and repaired; pipes protected
What was happening
The owner was topping up the heating as often as every three to four hours. Some engineered wood flooring had already been lifted, and the floor was damp in places.
Damp was also showing on one side of a wall by the kitchen, where units had been fitted over an old radiator position.
How the leak was traced
Thermal imaging
With the heating running, the camera traced the buried pipes under the kitchen and through the wall.
Tracer gas
The system was drained and gas put in. It was detected behind the kitchen kick-boards, where capped pipes came up out of the concrete at the old radiator position.
Visual inspection
Opening the floor on the other side of the wall showed the pipework laid bare in the concrete.
What was found
The heating leak was at the tee connections feeding the old radiator position, still live under the kitchen.
The cold feed was also leaking where it had been rubbing against the heating pipe.
What happened next
The redundant tees were cut out and new copper fitted, the damaged cold feed section replaced and the repaired pipework protected before the floor went back. A Gas Safe engineer checked the gas pipe running alongside.
A minor leak at the immersion boss on the cylinder was reported for the customer’s plumber. The customer plans to re-pipe downstairs, since much of it is unprotected in concrete.
Old alterations leave pipes behind
A radiator taken out years ago left live pipes under the floor. Knowing the history of the room helped, but the gas reading is what showed where to dig.
Photos from the job
Flooring already lifted, with damp showing. 
Gas detected behind the kitchen kick-boards. 
Wet copper pipes in the concrete. 
Pipes laid unprotected in the concrete. 
Removed pipe showing where it had worn through.
Case published by ADI Leak Detection. Photos taken by the engineer during the investigation.
