Water leak detection finds a leak you can’t see: in a pipe inside a wall or ceiling, under a concrete slab, behind a shower, or where storm water is getting in through the roof. The aim is to mark the exact spot before anything is opened, so the repair is one small hole rather than a row of them. Elite Restoration then deals with the water the leak has already let into the building, drying it in line with IICRC S500.
The signs that justify a call are usually quiet ones: a water bill that has jumped for no reason, the meter still turning with every tap off, damp or staining with no visible source, a musty smell, or a floor that has started to lift.
“We had a pipe burst in our ceiling, water seeped into our walls and our unit was at a very high risk for mould :( Guosheng worked tirelessly to ensure the drying process went as smooth as possible, even working until the evening on a Friday to ensure our walls would be dry and safe over the weekend! An extremely proficient and productive company that thrives on providing excellent service and quality work. Thank you so much for all of your help! <3”
“Guosheng from Elite Restoration did an amazing job dealing with the water damage to my unit, due to a burst pipe. Nothing was too hard and Guosheng had multiple tricks up his sleeve to ensure maximum drying capacity. The communication throughout the whole process was excellent, which made this very stressful situation for me a lot easier to handle. Thanks so much Guosheng.☺️”
First, confirm there is a leak. With every tap and appliance off, the water meter shouldn’t move; if it does, water is leaving the system. A pressure test on one section of pipe shows whether it holds or drops, which narrows the search.
Then locate it. Acoustic listening picks up the sound of water escaping a pressurised pipe, which works well on supply lines and poorly on drains. Thermal imaging shows the temperature change water causes in a wall, ceiling or slab, and is quickest on hot water lines, though sun, insulation and air-conditioning can fool it. Moisture meters then map how far the water has spread, and that map decides the drying and the repair.
No single method finds every leak. A slow drain leak or a failed shower membrane often shows only as moisture, and is traced by mapping where the wet is worst.
From the first call to a dry building
Tell us the signs. The bill, the meter, the stain or the smell, and when it started.
Confirm the leak. Meter and pressure checks show whether water is escaping and from which part of the system.
Locate and mark it. The search narrows to a spot, which is marked for the repair, with photos and readings recorded as the work goes.
Report. An initial report and a scope or quote within 24 hours, ready for your insurer if you are claiming.
Dry and restore. Once the leak is repaired, wet walls, floors and ceilings are dried in line with IICRC S500 and monitored on alternate days until they read dry, so mould doesn’t follow.
After the leak
Nicole Martin, in a Google review: “Guosheng from Elite Restoration did an amazing job dealing with the water damage to my unit, due to a burst pipe. Nothing was too hard and Guosheng had multiple tricks up his sleeve to ensure maximum drying capacity. The communication throughout the whole process was excellent, which made this very stressful situation for me a lot easier to handle.”
Who comes, and what stands behind them
Elite Restoration is an IICRC Certified Firm, certificate 70100265, with technicians certified in water damage restoration and applied structural drying. Emergency call-out runs 24/7, 365 days a year, with a target of on site within 2 hours in metro areas. Elite is CM3 certified, carries $20 million in public and products liability cover, and liaises directly with your insurer from first call to final sign-off. The Elite brand has been operating since 1984.
Leak detection questions
Will walls or floors need to be opened?
Finding the leak first is how you avoid opening them on a guess. Once it is located, the repair needs access at that one spot rather than across the room.
What happens to the water damage once the leak is found?
It is dried and restored. Moisture readings show what is wet, drying equipment goes in, and the area is monitored until it is dry, with a completion report at the end.
Is leak detection covered by insurance?
That depends on your policy, so check it or ask your insurer. Elite Restoration liaises with insurers on a claim and supplies the reports, readings and photos they ask for.
Water Damage Restoration
Fire and Smoke Restoration
Mould Removal & Remediation
Mould Inspection
Asbestos Removal
Asbestos Testing
Dehumidifier Hire
Air Quality Testing
Structural Drying
Water Leak Detection
Trauma & Crime Scene Cleaning
Deceased Estate Clearing
Hoarding & Squalor Cleaning
Meth Testing & Decontamination
Lead Paint Removal
