Grange PlumbingWhat to do if you suspect a hidden leak
Damp patches on a ceiling, a meter that ticks over when nothing is running, or an unexplained jump in your water bill — all classic signs of a hidden leak. In Forest Row the most common culprits are pinholes in old copper pipework, perished compression joints under floors, and supply-pipe leaks running between the meter and the house.
We use acoustic listening sticks, thermal imaging cameras and pressure testing to pinpoint the leak to within centimetres before anything is disturbed. That means a targeted repair instead of ripping up an entire floor or driveway.
If the leak turns out to be on the underground supply pipe, we can fix it in the same visit using moling — replacing the run without digging a trench across your garden or drive.
See our full leak detection serviceWhat's included
- Acoustic listening equipment for in-wall and under-floor leaks
- Thermal imaging to map hot/cold water runs
- Pressure testing and tracer gas where needed
- Underground supply pipe and driveway leaks
- Written report for your insurance trace-and-access claim
- Repairs handled in-house — including moling for buried pipes
Why Forest Row homeowners call Grange Plumbing
Local to Forest Row
Based nearby, we cover Forest Row and the surrounding villages regularly.
Fully insured
Every job is fully insured with a written quote and clear invoice.
Fast response
Same-day or next-day visits for leaks and water-main problems.
What leak detection work in Forest Row actually involves
Housing stock and why supply pipes fail in Forest Row
Forest Row has an unusually high proportion of older detached and semi-detached houses on long plots, plus a good number of converted farm buildings and Ashdown Forest fringe properties on private drives. Long supply runs are the norm rather than the exception here — 30 to 60 metres from the boundary to the house is common, and where that run is old lead or galvanised, pressure at the tap is often noticeably poor before any leak shows on the surface.
Ground conditions across RH18
The village sits on the Ashdown Sand of the High Weald, with pockets of ironstone. Sand moles very well, but the ironstone bands mean we occasionally have to adjust the launch angle or set an intermediate pit. Because Forest Row plots are often sloped, we also check the depth of the existing pipe carefully — shallow historic runs are common and need laying to proper depth on replacement.
Access, driveways and reinstatement
Shared and private driveways are common in Forest Row, and several properties share a single supply from a distant meter. We map the run and confirm exactly who is on which pipe before quoting, because shared supplies change both the cost and who is responsible for the repair.
Water supplier and postcodes we cover
Forest Row and the surrounding East Sussex villages are supplied by South East Water, and the properties we work on are mainly in the RH18 postcode area. Your water supplier is responsible for the main in the road and the communication pipe up to the boundary stop tap; the supply pipe from the boundary into your home is the homeowner's responsibility, and that is the section we replace, repair and leak-locate.
Streets and neighbourhoods we regularly work in around Forest Row include Ashurst Wood, Hartfield, Wych Cross, Chelwood Gate, Coleman's Hatch, Priory Road and Lewes Road. If you are just outside these, it is still worth calling — most of East Sussex is within our normal working radius and there is no charge for a quote.