Short answer: Leak detection in Nottingham costs £105–£192 for a general visit, with a Checkatrade average of £141. Specialist underground mains leak detection is published locally at £595 + VAT, and trace and access from £495. Fixing the leak costs extra: Nottingham quotes for a new supply pipe run £388–£598.
Leak detection cost in Nottingham depends mostly on where the leak is. A leak a plumber can get to is a general call-out. A leak on the pipe buried under your drive or garden needs specialist listening and gas equipment, and is priced higher.
Nottingham leak detection prices, side by side
These are published figures from named sources, checked in September 2026. Treat them as a guide to what is normal.
| Job | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Leak detection (general, Nottingham) | £105–£192, average £141 | Checkatrade |
| Specialist mains leak detection | £595 + VAT | Arnold Leak Detection (ADI) |
| Trace and access (Nottingham) | from £495 | Leak Detection Nottingham (ADI) |
| Supply pipe replacement (Nottingham quotes) | £388–£598 | hamuch |
| Lead pipe replacement (Nottinghamshire) | £600–£1,500 | Checkatrade |
| Moling a new pipe (Nottinghamshire) | £1,200–£3,000+ | Checkatrade |
| Supply pipe replacement, upper end | up to £3,000 | Severn Trent |
What the lower and higher prices buy
The £105–£192 range is general leak detection by plumbers. It suits leaks you can reach: under a bath, behind a kitchen unit, a dripping stop tap. It is a sensible first step when you are not sure where the water is going.
A leak on the underground supply pipe is different. Nothing is visible, the pipe may be plastic, and it may run under tarmac or block paving. Finding it from the surface takes acoustic ground microphones, a leak noise correlator and, for quiet leaks, hydrogen tracer gas. That kit, and the time it takes, is what the £595 + VAT specialist price reflects. It should also get you the leak marked on the ground and a written report.
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What changes the price
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Length of the pipe run | More pipe to trace and survey |
| Depth and surface | Deep pipe under concrete is harder to hear than shallow pipe under lawn |
| Pipe material | Lead and metal carry leak noise well; plastic (MDPE) often needs tracer gas |
| Method needed | Tracer gas means draining and filling the pipe, which takes longer |
| Access at both ends | Correlation needs fittings to connect to at each end |
| Shared supply | More branches to trace, and more than one household involved |
Who pays: you, Severn Trent or your insurer
Start with where the leak is. Severn Trent owns the water main, the communication pipe, the boundary stop tap and the meter. If the leak is there, Severn Trent fixes it free: report it on 0800 783 4444. From the boundary to your house the supply pipe is yours, even across a neighbour’s land, and on a shared supply it is jointly owned. See who is responsible for the water supply pipe.
On your side, two things can recover some of the cost. Trace and access cover in many buildings policies pays to find the leak and make good around it. And once the leak is repaired, Severn Trent‘s one-off leakage allowance can refund the lost water, covering up to 12 months or two bills. How the Severn Trent leak allowance works explains the claim.
How to keep the cost down
- Do the meter test first. Close the internal stop tap, run nothing, and watch the meter for a few minutes. If it moves, the leak is on the buried pipe. If it doesn’t, the leak is inside the house or there isn’t one.
- Find both stop taps before the visit: the internal one, usually under the kitchen sink, and the boundary one in the pavement or drive.
- Check your policy for trace and access cover, and its limit and excess, before you book.
- Ask what the price includes. Marking the leak on the ground and a written report should both be in it.
- Get the repair priced separately, once you know what the leak is and where.
Want the underground work explained in full? See underground water leak detection.
Bottom line
Budget around £141 for a general leak check and nearer £595 + VAT for specialist tracing of a buried supply pipe. Do the free meter test first, check your policy for trace and access cover, and keep the report for the Severn Trent leakage allowance. Call 0115 839 0791, 9am–7pm, 7 days.