Illustrative Cases of
Water Leak Detection
Illustrative case based on typical interventions; client data anonymised. Each case shows how the right technology and field experience make it possible to narrow down the leak point without unnecessary chiselling or breaking.
Localized leaks
Historical success rate in location
24-hour phone support
No obligation · If we do not locate the leak, we do not charge for the diagnosis
About Telefuga and these illustrative cases
Telefuga is a Spanish company specialised in water leak detection and location without construction work, with more than 16 years of experience and more than 39,000 leaks located in Valencia, Alicante, Murcia, Albacete and Almería. It works with professional detection equipment (tracer gas, geophone, thermography and inspection camera), tracer dye, network sectioning and qualified divers for pools, in homes, owners' associations, buried irrigation networks, underfloor heating, downpipes, service connections and industrial installations. It offers 24-hour phone support, a free quote and detailed technical reports.
Summary of key data
| Company | Telefuga |
| Specialty | Detection and localization of water leaks without construction. |
| Experience | +16 years · +39,000 localized leaks |
| Historical success rate in location | 98% |
| Coverage | Valencia, Alicante, Murcia, Albacete and Almería |
| Technology | Tracer gas, geophone, thermography and inspection camera · Qualified divers |
| Conditions | If we do not locate the leak, we do not charge for the diagnosis |
| Contact | 693 888 444 · info@telefuga.com · 24-hour phone support |
Why we show illustrative cases
Any company can claim to be the best. What differentiates a professional from an amateur is the ability to demonstrate how they solve real problems, with what tools, in what time frame, and with what results.
The cases we present below are illustrative: they are based on typical situations that our technical team encounters in the field, such as homes where walls have already been chiselled without finding anything, residential communities about to approve special levies, or pools losing water for no apparent reason. Client data is anonymised.
In each case, we detail the tests performed, the diagnosis, and the solution. Because we believe that technical transparency is the best calling card.
Hidden leak under the slab: tripled bill and two chipped walls with no results.
Initial problem
The owner had been dealing with a tripled water bill for three months. A local plumber had already opened two walls in the bathroom and the kitchen without finding the leak. The meter kept spinning with all the taps closed.
Detected symptoms
- Water bill three times higher than usual consumption
- Water meter spinning with all faucets closed
- Incipient humidity in the baseboard of the living room, far from the kitchen and bathrooms.
Risk if no action was taken
Progressive damage to the foundation, appearance of toxic mold due to prolonged humidity, and an uncontrollable rising water bill. The already chipped walls represented an additional expense with no results.
Tests performed
Diagnosis
Microcrack in buried polyethylene pipe under the slab, 4.2 meters from the point where visible moisture appeared. The water had followed the natural slope of the land until it manifested at the baseboard of the living room. The bathrooms and the kitchen —where the plumber had chiseled— had no relation to the leak.
Applied solution
Leak location with tracer gas. Minimal 30×30 cm opening in the paving, repair of the faulty joint, follow-up tightness test to confirm the seal, and closing of the paving.
Result
Water bill back to normal in the next reading period, without having to keep breaking into walls without a diagnosis.
This case demonstrates that the symptoms of a leak can appear meters away from the actual source. Without a diagnosis using specialized technology, there is a risk of destroying surfaces without any results.
View service: Leak detection in homes
Illustrative case based on typical interventions; client data anonymised.
Pool losing 3 cm daily: double leak located without draining.
Initial problem
Constant loss of 3 cm of water daily in a private pool of a chalet. The owner replenished water every two days. The loss did not correspond with the normal evaporation of the area.
Detected symptoms
- Water level dropping more than expected due to evaporation.
- Abnormally green and wet grass in the side area of the pool
- Intermittently sucking air filtration system
Risk if no action was taken
Sinkhole under the pool due to continuous leakage, partial sinking of the perimeter slab, and structural damage to the basin. Potential reconstruction cost: over 20,000 €.
Tests performed
Diagnosis
Two independent points of leakage: deteriorated skimmer joint due to sun exposure and aging of the sealant, and a microcrack in the wall of the basin at 1.8 meters deep, not visible from the surface. The diver confirmed both points with tracer dye.
Applied solution
Sealing of the skimmer with fast-curing marine epoxy resin. Underwater repair of the microcrack in the basin with special flexible mortar for underwater application. Everything done without draining the pool.
Result
Zero water loss in the 72-hour post-test. Pool operational throughout the process, without the need to drain or interrupt use.
Pools can have multiple leak points simultaneously. Only a professional underwater inspection with a diver allows for checking them all without draining.
View service: Leak detection in pools
Illustrative case based on typical interventions; client data anonymised.
Community about to approve a fee of 8,000 €: the leak was not in the garage.
Initial problem
General building meter shot. The community had already approved an extraordinary contribution of 8,000 € to break up the entire garage, convinced that the leak was there due to the visible humidity on floor -1.
Detected symptoms
- Community consumption is 400% higher than the historical average of previous years.
- Damp area in the underground garage floor
- Mold visible in the storage rooms on floor -1.
Risk if no action was taken
Unnecessary expense of €8,000, destruction of the garage pavement without a guarantee of finding the leak, damage to parked vehicles during the work, and health issues due to mold in storage rooms.
Tests performed
Diagnosis
The leak was not in the garage. It was located in the bypass collar of the main pipe, right at the connection of the irrigation system for the common areas of the outdoor garden. Water was filtering down by gravity to the basement, creating the false impression that the source was there.
Applied solution
Replacement of the defective bypass collar and leak testing of the entire community network to rule out additional leaks.
Result
Normalized community consumption for the following month. The fee of 8,000 € was canceled. The neighbors saved an unnecessary construction in the garage and avoided weeks of inconvenience with parking.
In communities, leaks are often far from where the moisture appears. A professional diagnosis before approving a special assessment can save property owners thousands of euros.
View service: Leaks in residential communities
Illustrative case based on typical interventions; client data anonymised.
Underfloor heating with constant pressure loss: a furniture screw pierced the pipe.
Initial problem
The underfloor heating system was constantly losing pressure. The owner had to refill the circuit every 48 hours. Two heating technicians had checked the boiler and the manifolds without finding the cause.
Detected symptoms
- Pressure drop in the heating circuit manometer every 48 hours
- A tile in the hallway slightly warmer than the adjacent ones.
- High energy consumption due to system efficiency loss.
Risk if no action was taken
Damage to the entire underfloor heating circuit due to progressive loss of watertightness. Possible lifting of the flooring due to water accumulation under the slab. Cost of complete replacement of the underfloor heating: 12,000–18,000 €.
Tests performed
Diagnosis
Accidental perforation of the PEX pipe in circuit 3 caused by an anchor screw from a living room furniture piece, installed years after construction. The screw had penetrated the flooring and partially pierced the pipe, generating a slow but constant leak. The thermal camera defined the exact area.
Applied solution
Opening of 25×25 cm in the hallway pavement, certified joint of the PEX pipe with pressure fitting, repressurization of the circuit, and leak test at 6 bars for 24 hours to confirm the repair.
Result
Heating circuit stable at nominal pressure 30 days later without loss. The complete replacement of the underfloor heating was avoided (estimated cost over 15,000 €).
Radiant floors are especially vulnerable to accidental drilling during later works or furniture assembly. The thermal camera is the key tool for locating these points without destroying the flooring.
View service: Heating leak detection
Illustrative case based on typical interventions; client data anonymised.
Three leaks in buried irrigation network: roots and defective joints
Initial problem
The development had permanently waterlogged garden areas and a community water bill that increased every month. The sprinklers in the back sector barely had any pressure.
Detected symptoms
- Permanent waterlogging in areas that did not receive direct irrigation.
- Insufficient pressure in sprinklers in the farthest sector
- Water bills increasing month by month without changes in irrigation schedules.
Risk if no action was taken
Roots progressively penetrating more points of the network, complete collapse of the irrigation system, possible municipal fines for excessive consumption during water restriction periods.
Tests performed
Diagnosis
Three points of failure in the buried polyethylene network: two joints due to defective thermofusion (probably from the original installation) and one point where an invasive root from a ficus had wrapped around and cracked the pipe.
Applied solution
Repair of the three joints with electro-welded sleeves and root protection in the area affected by the invasive root to prevent future penetrations.
Result
Irrigation consumption reduced by 55%. Operational network at nominal pressure. The background sprinklers are functioning correctly again.
Buried irrigation networks are one of the most common points of leakage in developments. Roots and poorly executed joints are the most frequent causes.
View service: Buried leak detection
Illustrative case based on typical interventions; client data anonymised.
Recurring dampness in 3 floors: the fiberglass downspout had multiple cracks.
Initial problem
Three adjacent homes (2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors) were suffering from recurring dampness on the party wall. Each owner had repainted and treated the moisture at least twice in the last three years, but the stains always reappeared.
Detected symptoms
- Moisture stains that reappear after each aesthetic repair
- Persistent musty smell in the affected rooms
- Paint that bubbles and peels off repeatedly
Risk if no action was taken
Deterioration of the steel reinforcement of the slab due to constant humidity, health issues due to the presence of mold, and significant depreciation of the three affected houses.
Tests performed
Diagnosis
The original fiberglass downspout of the building (1978) had multiple longitudinal cracks between the 2nd and 4th floors. The video inspection revealed that the material had degraded due to its age, causing intermittent leaks that saturated the party walls with each use of the drains.
Applied solution
Rehabilitation of the downspout using CIPP (Cured-In-Place Pipe): a resin sleeve was introduced that cured in place inside the existing downspout, creating a new pipe without the need to break the walls of any of the affected homes.
Result
Zero leaks in the 6 months following the intervention. A project was avoided that would have required simultaneous access to the 3 homes, breaking walls, and replacing sections of downspouts floor by floor.
In old buildings, fibrocement downspouts are a common cause of recurring dampness. The CIPP rehabilitation allows for the restoration of the downspout without invasive work.
View service: Pipe repair without construction
Illustrative case based on typical interventions; client data anonymised.
Nighttime consumption in industrial warehouse: the casting connection was broken at 1.5 meters.
Initial problem
The meter of an industrial warehouse recorded constant nighttime consumption, visible in the tele-reading, when the activity was completely halted. The ground area on the access sidewalk to the warehouse appeared softened.
Detected symptoms
- Constant nighttime consumption recorded in the meter's telereading.
- Softened soil area on the sidewalk leading to the warehouse
Risk if no action was taken
Formation of a sinkhole in a truck transit area, civil liability of the property owner, interruption of commercial activity due to emergency work, and risk of workplace accident.
Tests performed
Diagnosis
Breakage of the cast iron joint at the connection point with the municipal network, at a depth of 1.5 meters. The joint had deteriorated due to the constant vibration from heavy truck traffic on the sidewalk.
Applied solution
Directed excavation to the exact point located by tracer gas (avoiding opening the entire sidewalk), replacement of the cast iron joint, and leak test before closing the trench.
Result
Nighttime consumption completely eliminated since the first night after the repair. A potential sinkhole in a heavy traffic area with accident risk was avoided.
Buried connections under heavy traffic areas are especially vulnerable to vibration. The tracer gas allows for locating the leak without having to open the entire trench.
View service: Industrial leak detection
Illustrative case based on typical interventions; client data anonymised.
Community pool losing water for 3 seasons: two previous companies could not locate the leak.
Initial problem
The community pool of the complex had been losing water significantly for three consecutive seasons. Two previous companies had tried to locate the leak without success: one had sealed the joints of the tiles with no results, and the other had recommended draining and completely rebuilding the basin for a budget exceeding 25,000 €.
Detected symptoms
- Need to constantly refill the pool to maintain the level.
- Visible cracks in the pool coping
- Lime stains and mineral deposits in the overflow.
Risk if no action was taken
Progressive structural damage to the pool vessel, partial collapse of the surrounding slab due to soil erosion, budget for emptying and complete reconstruction of more than 25,000 €.
Tests performed
Diagnosis
Double leak: a microcrack in the return pipe (inside the technical gallery, not in the basin) and a separation between the basin and the wall in the northwest corner, just below the water level. The two previous companies had focused on the tiles and the bottom, ignoring the hydraulic pipes and the submerged structural joints.
Applied solution
Repair of the return pipe with stainless steel sleeve in the technical gallery. Underwater sealing of the vessel-wall separation through injection of two-component resin applied underwater by a professional diver.
Result
Pool with no measurable water loss in a 7-day consecutive control test. The estimated savings compared to the proposed emptying and reconstruction: over 25,000 €. The pool was operational for the neighbors throughout the process.
A pool can have leaks in the shell, in the plumbing, or in both places at the same time. Without a professional diver and specific tests for each element, it is impossible to provide a complete diagnosis.
View service: Leaks in community pools
Illustrative case based on typical interventions; client data anonymised.
Our commitment
We work transparently: we explain which tests we carry out and what each quote includes.
If we do not locate the leak, we do not charge for the diagnosis
The conditions of each repair are detailed in the quote.
Technical report included
We provide a detailed technical report with photographs and conclusions. Its validity with your insurer depends on each policy.
24-hour phone support
24-hour phone service. We will give you the visit date when the service is confirmed.
Technology that makes a difference
Professional detection equipment: tracer gas, geophone, thermography and inspection camera.
Tracer Gas
Tracer gas for leaks in buried or embedded pipes.
Electronic Geophone
Digital acoustic amplification. Hear the exact sound of the leak underground.
Thermal Camera
Infrared thermography. It detects leaks through temperature differences beneath floors and walls.
CCTV video inspection
Robotic camera for internal inspection of pipes, downspouts, and sanitation systems.
Qualified divers
Underwater inspection with tracer dye and camera. Without draining the pool.
Does your case resemble any of these?
Call us and we will advise you on your case. No obligation.
What do we learn from these cases?
The leak is almost never where it seems.
Water follows gravity and joints. Visible symptoms (humidity, mold) often appear meters away from the actual leak point. Chipping away where the stain is seen is the most common and costly mistake.
Cutting without diagnosing multiplies the cost.
In several of these cases, a plumber had already opened walls or floors without results. The cost of those failed interventions adds to the final repair cost. A prior technical diagnosis saves time, money, and damage.
Small leaks cause big damage.
A microcrack of millimeters can waste thousands of liters per month, damage foundations, generate toxic mold, and triple the water bill. The cumulative impact of an untreated leak is always greater than the cost of detecting it.
The right technology makes a difference.
Each type of leak requires the correct test. A geophone does not work in pools. The tracer gas does not detect downspouts. A diver is not necessary in buried pipes. Knowing which tool to use in each case is what defines a professional.
When should you call Telefuga?
How Telefuga works step by step
Contact
You call us, write on WhatsApp or fill in the form. We listen to your problem and advise you with a free phone assessment.
On-site diagnosis
A specialised technician travels with the most suitable detection equipment for the type of case described. We tell you the visit date when you confirm the service.
Specialized tests
We apply the detection techniques the case requires: tracer gas, geophone, thermographic camera, video inspection, diver or network sectioning, without breaking things open to search for the leak.
Technical report
We provide a detailed technical report with the location of the leak, the tests carried out, photographs and the recommended solution. Its validity with the insurer depends on each policy.
Solution
If you wish, we will give you a quote for the repair with the least possible intervention. If you prefer, we will provide the report for your insurer or for your trusted company to carry out the repair.
Technology we use to find your leak
Each case requires the right tool. These are the methods we use depending on the type of installation and the nature of the leak.
Pressure test
We pressurize the circuit with air or nitrogen to confirm if there is a leak and in which section. It is the first step of any serious professional diagnosis.
Tracer gas
We inject a tracer gas that escapes through the crack and rises to the surface, where a detector registers it in order to narrow down the leak point.
Electronic geophone
It amplifies the sound of water escaping through the pipe to narrow down the leak point, even in deep pipes.
Underwater camera
HD submersible cameras that inspect the pool basin, injectors, skimmers, and joints without draining a single drop of water.
CCTV video inspection
Robotized cameras that traverse the interior of downspouts, collectors, and pipes to detect breaks, root intrusion, and blockages.
Tracer ink
We apply a biodegradable dye at suspicious points to visualize the water flow and confirm leaks due to suction or gravity.
Zoning
We divide the network into independent sections to isolate the sector with the leak. This drastically reduces the search area in large and complex facilities.
Specialized diver
Qualified divers who inspect the floor and walls of pools and tanks with underwater diagnostic tools, when the job requires it.
Services related to these cases
Leak detection in pools
Location without emptying with a wetsuit, underwater camera, and tracer dye.
View serviceLeak detection in homes
Tracer gas, geophone, and thermography to find hidden leaks without digging.
View serviceCommunities and insurance
Professional diagnosis, reports for insurers, and management with administrators.
View servicePipe repair without construction
Repair with minimal intervention or without construction work when the technique allows it.
View serviceDownpipe repair without construction work
CIPP lining to restore downspouts and pipes without replacing or chiseling.
View serviceHeating leak detection
Thermography and pressure testing for leaks in underfloor heating and heating circuits.
View serviceWhere we work
Leak detection service available throughout the coverage area. Travel included. 24-hour emergencies.
Murcia
Murcia capital, Cartagena, Lorca, Molina de Segura, Cieza, Totana and more
24h Service · Travel includedAlicante
Alicante, Benidorm, Elche, Torrevieja, Denia, San Vicente del Raspeig and more
24h Service · Travel includedValencia
Valencia, Gandía, Paterna, Sagunto, Torrent and more
24h Service · Travel includedAlbacete
Albacete, Hellín, Villarrobledo and more
24h Service · Travel includedAlmería
Almería, Roquetas de Mar, Níjar and more
24h Service · Travel includedWhat our customers say on Google
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Frequently Asked Questions about Leak Detection
These are illustrative cases based on typical interventions; client data is anonymised. They describe situations, tests and solutions typical of our work, not a specific file.
Starting price: from 150 €, call-out included. No-obligation quote. The final cost depends on the installation and is detailed in the quote. If we do not locate the leak, we do not charge for the diagnosis. Request a free quote.
Usually not. We use non-invasive methods: tracer gas, geophone, thermography, video inspection and underwater inspection with qualified divers. We narrow down the leak point before opening up, so we only intervene where needed.
Yes, detection is done with the pool full: qualified divers, underwater cameras, tracer dye and acoustic equipment. The repair may require lowering the water level depending on the leak point. More about leaks in pools.
Call us before approving any work. In many cases, the leak is not where you think. A professional diagnosis beforehand can prevent a cost of thousands of euros and unnecessary work in common areas. As we see in case 3, the leak was in the garden, not in the garage.
We provide a detailed technical report with photographs and conclusions. Its validity with your insurer depends on each policy. More about insurance reports.
The duration depends on the installation and the type of leak. 24-hour phone service. We will give you the visit date when the service is confirmed.
A plumber repairs pipes. We specialise in locating the leak before opening up, with professional detection equipment (tracer gas, geophone, thermography and inspection camera) and qualified divers for pools. First we locate, then it is repaired.
Yes. We regularly work with property administrators and owners' associations in our coverage area. We provide technical reports for owners' meetings and for processing with the insurer, depending on each policy.
We work in the provinces of Valencia, Alicante, Murcia, Albacete and Almería. For other areas, ask us. 24-hour phone support. View full coverage.
Do you have a leak or suspect that you have one?
Don't let the problem keep growing. Every day of delay can cost you hundreds of euros in damages, water bills, and unnecessary repairs.
24-hour phone support · No-Obligation Quote · If we do not locate the leak, we do not charge for the diagnosis