Can you find a leak without ripping the walls or floor up?

In most cases yes. We use thermal imaging, acoustic listening equipment and pressure testing to pinpoint the leak first, so when we do open anything up it's a small, targeted area — not a whole wall or floor.

How much does a diagnostic visit cost?

We charge a fixed call-out for the diagnostic visit and then give you a separate fixed quote for the repair before any work starts. No open-ended hourly rates and no surprise bills.

How long does fault finding usually take?

Most domestic faults are pinpointed within the first hour on site. More complex intermittent or hidden-leak jobs can take 2–3 hours, but we'll always update you as we go.

Can you actually fix the problem on the same visit?

The majority of the time, yes — our vans carry the common parts for leaks, valves, taps, toilets and pipework. If a specialist part is needed we'll order it, fit a temporary fix where possible, and return quickly.

What if the fault is intermittent and not happening when you arrive?

Intermittent faults are our bread and butter. We'll inspect the system, run pressure and flow tests, and look for the tell-tale evidence the fault leaves behind — staining, scale, corrosion, drip marks — to track it down.

Do you cover heating system faults as well as plumbing?

Yes. Low pressure, cold radiators, noisy pipework, kettling boilers and weak hot water are all covered. Anything that requires gas work is carried out by our Gas Safe registered colleagues.

Diagnostics & Repairs · Brentwood & Essex

Plumbing Fault Finding & Diagnostics

When something's wrong with your plumbing but you can't see where, the worst thing you can do is start guessing. FFT Plumbing & Heating specialises in plumbing fault finding, diagnostics and repairs across Brentwood, Chelmsford and the surrounding Essex areas. We arrive with a fully stocked van and the right diagnostic kit — and the majority of faults are identified and fixed within the first visit.

Call 07955 809 774 WhatsApp a photo

Most faults diagnosed AND repaired on the first visit
Thermal imaging & acoustic leak detection on board
Fully stocked vans — no second trip for common parts
12+ years finding the faults other plumbers miss

Common plumbing problems we diagnose

If any of these sound familiar, that's our daily work. We cover plumbing fault finding in Brentwood, leak detection across Essex and full plumbing repairs — usually in a single visit.

Hidden leaks

Damp patches, ceiling stains or a slowly dropping boiler pressure.

Low water pressure

Weak flow at one tap or across the whole house.

No hot water

Cold showers, lukewarm taps or hot water that runs out fast.

Noisy pipework

Banging, humming or vibrating pipes when taps are used.

Toilet faults

Constantly running, refilling, slow flush or phantom flushing.

Shower faults

Temperature swings, weak flow or leaks behind the wall.

Intermittent leaks

Water that only appears sometimes — and never when anyone's looking.

Water hammer

Loud bangs in the pipework when taps or valves shut off.

Poor flow rates

Slow-filling baths, weak kitchen taps or starved outlets.

Heating faults

Cold radiators, kettling boilers and pressure that won't hold.

Unknown plumbing issues

Something's wrong and you genuinely can't tell what — start here.

Why professional plumbing diagnostics save money

Trying to find a plumbing leak yourself — or letting a non-specialist swap parts at random — almost always costs more in the long run. Here's what proper diagnostics give you.

Stop paying for guesswork repairs

Replacing parts at random until something works gets expensive fast. A proper diagnosis means you pay once, for the right fix.

Catch hidden damage early

A pinhole leak above a ceiling can cost thousands in plasterboard and flooring if left. Finding it on day one limits the damage.

One visit instead of three

Most plumbing repairs in Brentwood and Essex are done on the same visit because we arrive with the right kit and the right parts.

Honest quote before work starts

Once the fault is confirmed you get a fixed price in writing — no surprise bills and no open-ended hourly meters.

How we find the fault

1
Describe the symptoms
Call or WhatsApp a short description (and a photo or video if you can) — we'll often have an idea before we arrive.
2
On-site diagnosis
We pressure-test, thermal-image and trace the system until the actual cause is confirmed — not guessed at.
3
Confirm cause & quote
We show you what's wrong in plain English and give a fixed price before any repair starts.
4
Repair on the same visit
Whenever the parts are on the van, we fix the fault there and then so you're not waiting around.

Recent fault-finding jobs

Real Essex diagnostics — the symptom, the cause and the fix.

See all recent jobs →

Leak Repairs Chelmsford (CM2) 4 hours

Hidden Under-Floor Leak — Chelmsford

Challenge: Ceiling stain growing in the kitchen below a tiled bathroom. Three previous tradesmen had failed to locate the leak. Insurance asking for evidence before authorising repair.

Solution: Pressure-tested the cold feed (clear), then thermal-imaged the bathroom floor — pinpointed a pinhole leak on a 15mm copper feed to the basin. Lifted two tiles only, repaired with soldered joint, re-tiled.

Result: Leak fixed in 4 hours, no further water ingress, insurance-ready report supplied. Customer's insurance reimbursed the full job.

Silicone Sealant Replacement & Resealing Ongar (CM5) 1.5 hours

Shower Tray Leak Investigation & Reseal — Ongar

Challenge: Customer called about water damage showing on the wall and ceiling below an upstairs shower. The source was not obvious from downstairs, so the tray and enclosure needed checking before more damage spread.

Solution: Investigated the shower tray and found the existing silicone had failed and pulled away from the tray, letting water escape during use. Fully removed the old sealant, cleaned the area back properly, then re-applied fresh white silicone around the tray and a beige vertical corner seal to colour-match the tiles.

Result: Leak path stopped, shower tray left watertight again, and the finished seal matched the bathroom far better than a standard all-white bead.

Related services

Leak Detection & Repairs

Thermal imaging and pressure testing to find hidden leaks.

General Plumbing

Taps, valves, toilets and everyday plumbing repairs.

Contact FFT Plumbing

Call, WhatsApp a photo or request a fixed quote.

Plumbing fault finding — questions answered

Not sure what's wrong? Let's find it.

WhatsApp a photo or short video of the problem — we'll often have a diagnosis before we arrive.

Send A Picture For A Fast Free Quote Call 07955 809 774