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WaterFix® Concealed Leaks
We locate and repair hard-to-find leaks
If your bill shows water use has significantly increased but there's no visible leak, contact WaterFix Concealed Leaks. To arrange an investigation, call 1800 558 552 8:30am–5:30pm Monday to Friday (except public holidays) or email concealedleaks@sydneywater.com.au. Our qualified specialist plumbers are available 7am–6pm Monday to Friday and 8am–4pm on Saturdays (except public holidays).
WaterFix Concealed Leaks services
Not all plumbers have the specialised tools and skills to find leaks hidden underground and inside walls. Our qualified specialist plumbers do. They will:
- check your property for obvious leaks
- use specialised equipment such as pipe location devices and acoustic listening devices, and techniques such as filling pipes with a safe gas
- find any concealed leak and mark its location
- offer an obligation-free estimate to fix the leak or leaks
- test any repairs you accept
- remove any rubbish associated with the service.
Quotes and billing
Up-front investigation cost
The up-front cost of a WaterFix Concealed Leaks investigation will depend on how long it takes to find the concealed leak:
- First hour $450
A base fixed charge for up to the first hour of a WaterFix Concealed Leaks investigation. - Each additional half-hour $130
For each additional 30 minutes to complete a WaterFix Concealed Leaks investigation. - Obvious or no leak found $260
The minimum fixed charge to attend an appointment if the cause of the leak is determined to be an obvious leak or no leak is detected. We may charge this fee instead of the first hour fee.
The initial investigation cost doesn't include any repairs for any hidden or obvious leak we find. We issue a separate estimate for repairs.
What happens next
We'll provide a separate obligation-free estimate for repairs once we've found the source of leak. You're welcome to source alternative quotes for required repairs from other licensed plumbers.
If you decide you'd like us to do the repairs, all charges, including repairs you agree to, will be added to your Sydney Water bill. If the total cost is over $400, you have the option to spread it over 4 consecutive bills for a $44 administration fee.
You'll find a complete list of the services we offer and what we charge in our schedule of services and charges. You need to read it with our terms and conditions.
Case study: Fast action saves up to $17,000 a year
In July 2024, a residential customer noticed an unexplained spike in water use. Their average use of just 400 litres a day had jumped by 900%. It had to be a leak – but where? Was it getting worse? They called WaterFix Concealed Leaks for swift results.
Catching this leak early saved this homeowner more than $4,000 a quarter.
- Within an hour, our specialist plumber pinpointed a burst tee junction supplying water to a garden tap. The leak had already grown to 17,280 litres a day. That's 2.5 Olympic-sized swimming pools every year.
- We provided a detailed repair estimate that the customer accepted.
- Repairs included exposing the damaged area, then cutting out and replacing the damaged tee, reconnecting the service and testing to ensure there were no additional leaks, and backfilling the exposed area with soil.
- Our total fee of $2,550 to detect and repair the concealed leak was far less than it would have cost the customer every quarter.
The homeowner's water use is now back to normal. They had no upfront costs, choosing to spread payments over 4 consecutive water bills. Plus, they're eligible for a hidden leak allowance.