Detecting a leak!

samnwood1986

Hi,

I was hoping someone could offer me some advice on this forum. I have noticed that my laminate floor in the lounge has started to buckle at the corners and there appears to be water along the joints.

I called my insurance company and they have told me that it will probably be a leak under the floor and that I'm covered for 'trace and access' and should find someone to detect a leak.

Can anyone give me any advice as my excess is £250 and don't know whether it is worth making a claim.

Many thanks in advance

eddddy

A builder or plumber should be able to make an "educated guess" about where the water is coming from - and therefore give you an idea of the cost of fixing it.

TBH, I would have spoken to builders/plumbers first, and only contacted the insurance co if I wanted to make a claim. Because you called them, the insurance co have probably recorded that you've suffered a loss - even if you don't ultimately make a claim.

MoneyMate

Do you have a leaking central heating Radiator valve or pipework ?

runforlife

Try asking here http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/forum1/index.php

It could be that when the floor was laid that there was no expansion gap left for the laminate. The water may be condensation but the guys on that forum will be able to help i'm sure. Take some photos and post them too.

Klummbop

Hi,

I had a similar experience and I'm glad I claimed on my insurance. It turned out to be an old lead pipe that had been capped off years ago that had sprung a leak underneath my kitchen tiles.

I used a company called traceandaccessuk.co.uk and they were exceptional. They used all sorts of equipment to find the leak and the insurance covered the costs to put the damage back to normal.

They are well worth a call as it didn't cost me a penny it was all handled between them and my insurance company.

Hope this helps

atrixblue.-MFR-.

A plumber can detect a leak to its source with gas the can go outside take off the stop tap flow plug (if fitted) and attach a gas canister to it and push some gas (at low flow rate) through the supply, with a gas detector (looks like a toilet plunger but much more posh) can detect the area where the gas is flowing out the pipe at its strongest volume, that will be where the leak is, they will then disconnect the gas push water back though and flush the pipe so no gas Is present and any gas in the air will dissipate within few minutes.once pin pointed they can give a quote on how much to repair, some of which will be covered by your insurers.

kingstreet

Klummbop wrote: »

Hi,

I had a similar experience and I'm glad I claimed on my insurance. It turned out to be an old lead pipe that had been capped off years ago that had sprung a leak underneath my kitchen tiles.

I used a company called traceandaccessuk.co.uk and they were exceptional. They used all sorts of equipment to find the leak and the insurance covered the costs to put the damage back to normal.

They are well worth a call as it didn't cost me a penny it was all handled between them and my insurance company.

Hope this helps

It was, as you had trace and access cover. Typically, insurance bought via the internet comparison sites will not have this, as it's one of those little things removed in the "race to the bottom" or the top of the aggregator premium listings.

The better plans offer upto £5k to find, fix and make good after a water leak.