How much does water leak detection cost in Ireland?
Source reviewed with 3 external references. How we review guides
Water appearing at a ceiling or floor does not necessarily reveal where it started. Before paying for exploratory work, distinguish a request to locate the source from a request to repair a known fault. The appointment, equipment, documentation and making good may all be priced separately.
As a published Dublin example checked on 20 October 2026, LeakSOS lists leak detection and investigation at €380 excluding VAT for up to three hours. Extra investigation is listed at €120 per hour excluding VAT, with repairs and materials separate. This is one provider's service, not a national average or a fixed repair price.[1]
LeakSOS published investigation example, checked 20 October 2026; VAT is additional
| Job | Advertised charge |
|---|---|
| Leak detection and investigation, up to three hours | €380 excluding VAT[1] |
| Additional investigation time | €120/hour excluding VAT[1] |
| Leak repair and materialsObtain approval and an itemised quote for additional work. | Charged separately[1] |
| Opening finishes, drying and reinstatementDo not infer these from a detection fee. | Confirm separate scope |
Published provider examples, not national averages or a HomePros price list. Confirm current scope, availability and the full VAT-inclusive total before booking.
Detection, repair and making good are not one purchase
Ask the company to state the purpose of the visit: investigating an unidentified source, checking a particular pipe, repairing an accessible fault or documenting damage. A capped investigation period does not promise that every hidden source can be found and repaired within that period. Agree what information you receive if the investigation is inconclusive.
Separately identify any opening of floors, cupboards, walls or ceilings. Ask who authorises it, who protects the room, what will be left safe and who restores finishes. A plumbing repair can be complete while plaster, decoration or flooring work remains. Have those responsibilities described before choosing the cheapest investigation figure.
Describe symptoms without diagnosing the leak yourself
- Where water or staining appears and when it was first noticed.
- Whether the pattern follows rain, heating use, an appliance or bathroom use.
- Any loss of pressure, recurring refilling or visible dripping already observed.
- Previous repairs, accessible photographs and any drawings you have.
- Apartment, shared-system or managed-building information relevant to access.
Do not remove covers, disturb suspect materials or operate a faulty appliance to create evidence. Provide observations from safe accessible areas. If there is active flooding or water near electrical equipment, prioritise safety and appropriate urgent help; a website job request is not an emergency response service.
A leak may involve supply pipes, heating, drainage, a roof or a waterproofing detail. Explain the uncertainty rather than selecting a testing method from a price list. Ask the professional whether their service is appropriate for the symptoms and who should attend first if a different specialist is needed.
Agree extra time and the VAT-inclusive total
A price excluding VAT is not the amount a household should assume it will pay. Request the final total and ask the provider to identify the applicable VAT treatment. This guide deliberately retains the source's excluding-VAT wording rather than applying an assumed rate to a service whose exact scope has not been agreed.
Confirm the included investigation period, how additional time is recorded and whether extra attendance needs prior approval. Ask about travel, out-of-hours charges and any further equipment or specialist testing. Do not assume an emergency plumbing call-out includes the same investigation scope as a dedicated detection booking.
If repairs can be offered during the same visit, request a separate price and approval point before they begin. Ask what happens to the investigation charge if you choose another business for the repair. Keep a record of what has been authorised rather than relying on an open-ended instruction to do whatever is necessary.
Confirm whether a written report is included
LeakSOS also publishes a survey-and-written-report service at a fee stated as €380 excluding VAT, depending on complexity. Do not automatically add a second identical fee to the investigation price or assume both pages describe one combined booking. Ask the provider whether your quote includes the written report and what its scope is.[2]
Request a description of the findings, photographs, limitations and proposed next steps that will be documented. If an insurer, management company or another party needs the report, ask them what they require before commissioning it. A contractor's report is not itself a guarantee that an insurer will accept a claim or reimburse a bill.
Keep the invoice, agreed scope and any written findings together. Avoid relying on a verbal statement that a leak is fixed without clarifying what was tested or repaired. If another trade must complete the restoration, share only the relevant technical findings and access information.
Check First Fix Free for a possible external supply leak
Uisce Eireann's First Fix Free scheme concerns eligible leaks on external supply pipes. Its current guidance includes domestic and qualifying predominantly domestic mixed-use customers, and it lists eligibility expansions that include unmetered domestic customers. Contact Uisce Eireann to check your situation before assuming a private investigation is the only route.[3]
The scheme is not a blanket free-repair promise for a bathroom leak, a heating circuit or every pipe within the building. Read the eligibility and process guidance for the external supply pipe. Do not delay necessary urgent safety action while seeking a routine scheme appointment.[3]
Example leak-investigation job brief
Illustrative brief: 'Recurring water stain at the downstairs ceiling of a Dublin house. Cause not confirmed; photos and dates available. Please advise whether your detection service suits the symptoms, the included investigation time, VAT-inclusive total and approval process for extra work. Quote the written findings and any repair or opening of finishes separately.'
Explore plumbing professionals in Ireland
Request an investigation quote: post a water-leak job
Frequently asked questions
Does a leak detection fee include fixing the leak?+
Not necessarily. The provider example here lists repairs and materials separately. Agree what can be authorised during the visit and request a distinct repair quotation.[1]
Will an investigation definitely locate the source?+
Do not assume a guaranteed result from a time-limited booking. Ask about the scope, limitations, findings and next steps if the source is not confirmed.
Is every domestic leak covered by First Fix Free?+
No. The scheme concerns eligible external supply-pipe leaks. Check the current Uisce Eireann criteria and process rather than treating it as cover for every internal plumbing or heating fault.[3]
Sources and editorial notes
Numbered references link claims in this guide to the sources below. Sources were accessed during the article's research or latest material review.
- [1] LeakSOS: investigation fee, included time, additional hours and repair exclusions
- [2] LeakSOS: survey and written-report service pricing
- [3] Uisce Eireann: First Fix Free eligibility and process
Official guidance and further reading
These links are further reading and do not substantiate every estimate above.