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Leak Insurance ClaimCall 0333 567 2652

Your water leak insurance claim, organised step by step

Record the incident, prepare your insurer enquiry and keep the evidence together. Follow the claim checklist and confirm approval before booking non-emergency work.

Call ADI Leak Detection0333 567 2652

Mon to Fri, 7:30am to 6:30pm

ADI Leak Detection: 4.7 on Trustpilot, 1,600+ reviews

Open the claim record and downloadable document checklist

Stop a water leak safely

Turn the stopcock off, switch the heating off if the water could be coming from a radiator or its pipes, and keep water away from anything electrical.

  1. Find the stopcock and turn it clockwise. It is usually under the kitchen sink, and sometimes by the front door or under the stairs.
  2. Switch the boiler off if the heating could be leaking. Repeated pressure loss can indicate a heating leak, but boiler faults can also cause it.
  3. Keep clear of wet electrics. If water is near sockets or light fittings, switch off at the fuse box only if you can reach it safely without touching wet equipment or standing in water. Otherwise keep clear and get qualified help.
  4. Limit further damage. Collect leaking water with towels or a bucket and move valuables away, if safe to do so.
A hand turning the red handle of a stopcock under a kitchen sink

If water continues to leak after the stopcock is closed, it may be coming from a tank, the heating system or the flat above. Tell the specialist, as this helps determine how the leak is traced.

Photograph water damage for your insurance claim

Take dated photos and short videos of every stain, drip and damaged item before anything is cleaned up, thrown away or repaired.

What to photograph

  • The stain or damp patch, close up and from across the room
  • Video of water dripping or pooling to show the flow
  • Damaged flooring, ceilings, furniture and belongings
  • Your water meter reading, if you have a meter
  • The boiler pressure gauge, if the heating is involved
  • Receipts for purchases made to limit the damage

Retain damaged items until your insurer confirms they can be disposed of. Photographs and the items themselves may be needed to assess the claim.

A brown-edged water stain spreading across a hallway ceiling

Does home insurance pay to find a leak?

Possibly, if your buildings policy includes trace and access cover. It may cover locating a hidden leak, opening the floor or wall to reach it, and restoring that opening. Limits and conditions vary by policy. Repairing the failed pipe is a separate cost and may not be covered.

Buildings insurance scheduleExample layout
Buildings
Covered
Escape of water
Covered
Trace and access of leaks
Covered, limit shown
Accidental damage
Optional extra
Escape of water excess
Amount shown

Check these terms on your policy schedule. Trace and access may be included under escape of water or offered as optional cover.

Potential cover

  • Finding the leak with specialist equipment
  • Lifting the floor or opening the wall to reach it
  • Making good that opening afterwards
  • Water damage from a sudden leak, which policies call escape of water

Common exclusions

  • Replacing a pipe, joint or fitting that failed through wear and tear
  • Damage from a slow leak left for months
  • Worn seals and grout around baths and showers
  • Repairs to pipes maintained by the water company

Prepare the facts for your insurer enquiry.

Trace and access: finding a hidden water leak

A leak detection engineer may use tracer gas, acoustic listening and thermal imaging to identify the likely leak location and guide access. Further investigation may be needed after opening the area.

ADI engineer wearing headphones and using acoustic leak-detection equipment on a paved path

How specialists locate hidden leaks

  • Tracer gas. A safe gas is introduced into the pipe. A sensor detects where it escapes through the floor.
  • Acoustic listening. A ground microphone detects the sound of water escaping from pipes beneath concrete or tiles.
  • Thermal imaging. A camera shows the warm trail a leaking heating pipe leaves in a floor or wall.

Specialist equipment helps locate a hidden leak before floorboards are lifted or walls are opened.

The specialist we recommend: ADI Leak Detection

Report normally within 48 hours
ADI states that its reporting team prepares the report from the attending engineer’s findings, photographs and video. Reports are released after payment.
England, Scotland and Wales
Engineers are based around the country. Northern Ireland is not currently covered.

Rated 4.7 on Trustpilot from 1,600+ reviews (checked 30 September 2026). ADI lists CIPHE accreditation, WaterSafe approval, WIAPS registration and £5 million public liability cover on its website. Finding leaks since 2011. Access and repairs are quoted separately. Suitable pipework repairs may be possible during the visit; installed pipework and fittings have a 3 months guarantee under ADI’s booking terms.

Call ADI Leak Detection0333 567 2652

Paying for leak detection and claiming it back

ADI normally takes payment on the day and states that reports are emailed within 48 hours of the investigation, after payment. Submit the report and invoice to your insurer; reimbursement depends on your cover.

  1. Initial enquiry

    A technical advisor assesses the reported symptoms and explains the visit before booking.

  2. On the agreed visit date

    The engineer investigates the leak and identifies the likely location. ADI normally takes payment at the end of the visit; some bookings require advance payment.

  3. Report after payment

    ADI states a 48-hour report turnaround after the investigation. Confirm the timing when booking and retain the report as evidence for your claim.

  4. Submit your claim

    Send the report and invoice to your insurer with your claim number. Drying out and repairing the damage are separate jobs your insurer arranges or agrees.

Some insurers allow you to appoint a leak detection engineer; others require their own contractor. Confirm your insurer’s requirements before booking. See every step of the claim.

Customer feedback on reports and claims

  • “He patiently answered all my questions and even spoke to my insurance company on my behalf, which I found incredibly helpful.”

    Kathy, Penton Hook, SurreyReview reproduced on ADI’s website, 24 January 2026

  • “Worth every penny and the report received afterwards satisfied our insurance company.”

    Jason Farmer, swimming pool leakReview reproduced on ADI’s website, 11 October 2022

  • “It turned out to be absolutely pinpoint accurate, only requiring a small hole to fix the problem.”

    Mr Palmer, North Ascot, BerkshireReview reproduced on ADI’s website, 25 March 2025

Read ADI Leak Detection reviews on Trustpilot.

Water leak insurance claim questions

Is it worth claiming on my insurance for a leak?

A claim may be worthwhile when covered detection, access and drying costs exceed your excess. Consider policy limits and any potential effect on future premiums. Water leak claim calculator: costs and excess.

Will my insurer send their own contractor?

Some insurers require their own contractor. Contact your insurer, obtain a claim number and confirm whether you can appoint a leak detection engineer. If they agree, keep the invoice and the report for your claim.

Will my home be damaged while they look for it?

Non-invasive testing can help narrow down the location, but opening a floor or wall may still be needed to confirm and repair the leak. The extent of access varies. Ask your insurer whether access and reinstatement costs are covered.

What if the leak is on the water company’s side?

You usually maintain the private supply pipe serving your home, but shared pipes and boundaries can complicate this. Meter position alone does not decide ownership. Ask your water company to confirm responsibility; a leak report helps identify the location.

Does someone need to be home?

ADI says attendance is not always necessary if access is arranged and you can be contacted. Confirm this when booking. In a flat, access to neighbouring properties may also be needed.

More water leak insurance claim guides

Speak to a leak detection specialist

Discuss the leak, the assessment process and the next steps before booking.

Call ADI Leak Detection0333 567 2652

Lines open Mon to Fri, 7:30am to 6:30pm

Leak Insurance Claim is run by ADI Leak Detection.