Wall or floor that stays damp in dry weather, or a water meter that keeps moving with every tap off? We locate the hidden leak before anything is hacked, then repair it and restore the wall.
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bizSAFE StarPipes run inside walls, floors and false ceilings, so a leak can run for weeks before it shows. Damp or discoloured patches, bubbling plaster or a higher water bill are the usual first signs.
A quick check: note your water meter reading, use no water for an hour, then read it again. If the number has moved, water is escaping somewhere.
We trace the leak before opening any wall, so hacking, if it is needed at all, is limited to the exact spot. We use a moisture meter and a thermal camera to trace damp areas and pipe runs behind the wall.
Once we have found the leak, we engage a licensed plumber to repair or replace the pipe, then restore the wall or floor.
See all types of water leakage repair in Singapore →
Concealed pipe leakage is water escaping from supply pipes hidden inside walls, floors, or false ceilings, where the leak is not visible at the surface. In Singapore homes, the pipes most commonly affected are copper or stainless steel cold water lines, hot water lines, and PVC discharge pipes for sinks and toilets. Detection requires specialist tools because the pipe is not accessible.
Concealed pipe leaks can be detected without hacking using five non-invasive methods: water meter shutoff testing (no water use for 1 to 2 hours, then check meter movement), acoustic leak detectors that pick up flow sounds, thermal imaging cameras for hot water lines, moisture mapping with handheld meters, and tracer gas injection through the pipe system.
Five signs indicate a hidden pipe leak in walls: damp or discoloured patches that stay wet regardless of weather, peeling paint or bubbling plaster, mineral deposits or chalky white efflorescence, a sudden jump in your water meter reading or PUB bill, and unexplained drops in water pressure. A constant drip sometimes produces a faint trickling sound behind the wall.
Concealed pipe leakage is repaired in three main ways: traditional hacking to expose and replace the damaged pipe section, epoxy pipe lining where a coating is applied through the inside of the existing pipe (non-hacking), or surface re-routing where a new pipe is run outside the wall. Choice depends on pipe access, leak severity, and whether wall finishes can be saved.
Not always. Minor leaks at accessible joints can often be repaired with epoxy pipe lining or surface re-routing without breaking the wall. Hacking is required for burst pipes deep in the slab, severely corroded copper sections, or any leak where the affected pipe length exceeds 1 to 2 metres. A PUB-licensed plumber assesses access before deciding the method.
Concealed pipe leak repair takes 1 to 5 days depending on access. Detection takes 1 to 4 hours with acoustic and thermal tools. Epoxy pipe lining repair runs 1 to 2 days plus 24-hour curing. Hacking, replacement, re-plastering, and re-tiling takes 3 to 5 working days. PUB-licensed plumbers handle pipe replacement; waterproofing contractors restore wall finishes.
