When water issues strike at home, it’s easy to feel out of your depth. But knowing whether to call a plumber or a leak detection specialist can save you a lot of headaches, not to mention time and money. Both are water warriors, but their superpowers are quite different. So, who should you call when things go wrong?
Let’s dive in!
The Key Difference: Plumbers vs. Leak Detection Specialists
In plain English: plumbers fix the things you can see – your sinks, toilets, boilers, and all the other bits that keep water flowing in and out of your house. Leak detection specialists, on the other hand, are the detectives of the plumbing world. They find the sneaky leaks hidden in walls, underground, or anywhere else that’s hard to reach, using gadgets and gizmos that would make any tech enthusiast jealous.
Think of plumbers as the medics who fix the symptoms and leak detection specialists as the diagnosticians who hunt down the cause.
Common Household Issues: Who to Call?
Let’s break down a few common water-related scenarios and figure out who’s best suited for each one.
1. Dealing with a Water Leak
Uh-oh, there’s water where it shouldn’t be. If you suspect a leak but can’t figure out where it’s coming from, it’s time to call in a leak detection specialist. Sure, plumbers can handle the obvious stuff like a dripping tap, but when it comes to tracking down hidden leaks, you need a specialist with all the high-tech gear.
Signs of a sneaky leak:
- Your water bill suddenly looks like you’re watering a football pitch.
- There are mysterious puddles or wet spots in odd places.
- You hear water running, but no one’s in the shower. Spooky!
A leak detection specialist will swoop in with their fancy equipment, pinpoint the leak, and get it sorted without tearing apart your house like a scene from a disaster movie.
2. Resolving a Blocked Sink or Toilet
The classic blocked sink or toilet – every homeowner’s least favourite plumbing emergency. When you’ve got a sink that drains slower than a Sunday driver or a toilet that’s staging a rebellion, a plumber is your go-to hero. Plumbers are masters of the indoor pipework kingdom, and they’ll have your drains flowing freely again in no time.
Leak detection specialists, meanwhile, are more concerned with things like underground pipes and external water mains. If your toilet is blocked, don’t overcomplicate it – just get a plumber.
3. Installing a New Water Supply Pipe
Got a big renovation or extension planned? You might need some work done on your water supply pipes, and this is where it can get a bit tricky. While plumbers can handle a lot of the internal work, a leak detection specialist might be needed for external pipework, especially if you’re dealing with underground pipes that need to be redirected or replaced.
Sometimes, these two pros team up like a plumbing dream team. But if it’s external or underground pipework, a leak detection specialist usually takes the lead to make sure everything is up to code.
The Bottom Line
To sum it all up: if it’s something obvious like a blocked sink, broken toilet, or a dodgy tap, a plumber is your best bet. They’ll have everything flowing smoothly again in no time. But if there’s water where there shouldn’t be, and you can’t figure out why, a leak detection specialist is the detective you need on the case.
Knowing who to call means you can avoid unnecessary costs, save time, and keep your home as dry as it should be. After all, water’s great in the pool – but not so much in your walls!
