WhatsApp engagement was excellent. They diagnosed the problem remotely with my water heater but given they weren’t the best fit with the device manufacturer, they recommended a different path with the manufacturer. They were awesome to work with.
Leave your number, we WhatsApp you in under a minute.
ENGLISH-SPEAKING · QUOTE BEFORE ANY WORK
Leak detection in Lisbon: we find hidden leaks with thermal cameras
We find the source of a hidden leak with thermal and pipe cameras, mark the spot on a photo and open only that point. English-speaking team, across Greater Lisbon, Cascais and Sintra, and the south bank down to Setúbal.
You get a written quote on WhatsApp, and no work starts until you approve it. We confirm the arrival time on WhatsApp before we set off.
ENGLISH-SPEAKING · QUOTE BEFORE ANY WORK
Find the leak before anything is opened.
Thermal imaging shows where water is spreading behind a wall, a floor or a ceiling, anywhere in Lisbon and the surrounding areas. A pipe camera lets us look inside the pipe itself. You see what we see on the screen, and we explain it in English.
- Thermal camera for leaks behind walls, floors and ceilings
- Pipe camera to look inside drains and pipes
- The spot marked on a photo before anything is opened
- Written quote on WhatsApp before any work
- Every job gets a VAT invoice with your NIF
- 1,000+ expats served, 4.9 on Google
Signs of a hidden leak
Damp patches on a wall
A patch that grows, paint that bubbles or plaster that crumbles, often near a bathroom or a kitchen.
A wet ceiling or floor with no visible reason
A stain on the ceiling, a swollen skirting board or floor tiles that sound hollow or lift.
The water bill suddenly goes up
Nobody is using more water, but the bill or the meter says otherwise. The meter test below tells you in half an hour.
Running water when every tap is off
A hiss or a trickle behind a wall or under the tiles, often clearest at night when the building is quiet.
Pressure dropping on the boiler
If you keep topping up the pressure on a boiler with radiators, water may be escaping from the heating pipes.
A musty smell or mould
Mould in a corner or behind furniture, or a smell of damp you can't trace, can come from a slow leak.
Is it a leak? The meter test
Before anyone opens a wall, check whether water is really escaping. It costs nothing and you can do it now.
- Close every tap and make sure nothing is using water: no washing machine, dishwasher or toilet cistern filling.
- Find the water meter (contador). It's usually in a small box on the landing, by the entrance of the building or outside the house. Take a photo of the numbers, and of the small dial if it has one.
- Don't use any water for at least half an hour, then look again.
- If the numbers moved or the small dial turns, water is escaping somewhere after the meter. Send us both photos on WhatsApp.
The meter doesn't move but the stain keeps growing? The water may be coming from the flat above or from a shared pipe of the building. Tell us what you see and we'll tell you what it looks like.
What to do while you wait
- Water coming through fast? Close the main stop valve. In Portuguese homes it's often next to the water meter, by the front door or in the kitchen.
- Water near sockets, lights or the fuse box? Switch the power off at the fuse box and don't touch wet switches.
- Move what you can away from the wet area: furniture, rugs and anything electrical. Put a bucket or towels under drips.
- Take photos and a short video of the stain, the ceiling or the floor as it is now. They help us, and they help when you talk to your landlord, a neighbour or the building administration.
For a burst pipe or water pouring in, see what to do in a plumbing emergency.
Leak from the flat above: who pays?
It depends on where the water comes from. These are the usual rules in Portuguese buildings; the details are in your building's rules and your rental contract.
- A pipe inside the neighbour's flat (their bathroom, kitchen or water heater): it's normally the neighbour's responsibility, and their home insurance may cover the damage.
- A shared pipe of the building (the vertical column, called the prumada, or a pipe in a common area): it's normally the condominium's, through the building administration (administração do condomínio).
- A pipe inside your own flat: it's normally yours, even when the damage shows up downstairs.
Before anything is repaired, talk to the neighbour or the administration and keep your photos. If you rent, tell your landlord straight away. If your Portuguese isn't up to it yet, we can explain what we found to them in Portuguese.
We tell you where the water is coming from. Who pays is agreed between you, the neighbour, the condominium and your landlord: we don't take sides.
What the report contains
After the detection you get a short written report in English on WhatsApp. You can forward it to your landlord, a neighbour or the building administration.
Where the leak is
The spot marked on a photo of the wall, floor or ceiling, so anyone can find it again.
The camera images
The thermal images that show where the water is spreading, and the pipe-camera images where we used one.
The likely cause
Which pipe or fitting we think is leaking, and whether it sits in your flat, the neighbour's or a shared pipe of the building.
What we recommend
The repair we suggest, with a written quote on WhatsApp before any work.
How it works
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Tell us what you see.
WhatsApp us photos of the stain or the meter, or call. We confirm the arrival time on WhatsApp before we set off.
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We locate the leak and mark the spot.
We find it with thermal and pipe cameras and mark the exact spot on a photo, before anything is opened.
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Written quote first, then we open only that point.
You get a written quote on WhatsApp, and no work starts until you approve it. Then we open only the marked spot and repair the pipe. We fix it properly or we come back for free.
Send a photo of the stain or of the water meter on WhatsApp, and we tell you what happens next.
MESSAGE US ABOUT A LEAKWhere we work
We cover Lisbon, Cascais, Sintra, Oeiras, Carnaxide, Algés, Carcavelos, Estoril, Amadora, Loures, Odivelas, Vila Franca de Xira, Almada, Costa da Caparica, Barreiro, Seixal, Setúbal and Sesimbra. Send your address on WhatsApp and we'll confirm.
See the areas: Cascais · Oeiras · Sintra · Almada · Setúbal.
We also handle drain unclogging, water heaters and boilers and plumbing emergencies.
What our customers say
You're in good hands.
Rated 4.9 on Google
Every job gets a VAT invoice with your NIF
Technicians speak English and Portuguese
We fix it properly or we come back for free
1,000+ expats served
Leak detection in Lisbon — common questions
How does leak detection work?
We look for the leak with a thermal camera, which shows where water is spreading behind walls, floors and ceilings, and with a pipe camera where we can look inside the pipe. We mark the spot on a photo, then open only that point.
How much does leak detection cost?
It depends on the home and on where the leak is, so we don't publish prices. You get a written quote on WhatsApp, and no work starts until you approve it.
How fast can you get here?
We confirm the arrival time on WhatsApp before we set off. If water is coming through right now, say so in your first message.
Do I get a written report?
Yes. You get a short report in English on WhatsApp with the marked spot, the camera images, the likely cause and the repair we recommend. You can forward it to your landlord, a neighbour or the building administration.
The water is coming from the flat above. Can you help?
Yes. We find where it comes from and can explain what we found to your neighbour or the building administration in Portuguese. Who pays usually depends on whether the pipe is inside their flat or a shared pipe of the building.
What if the leak comes back?
We fix it properly or we come back for free. If what we repaired fails again, message us and we come back at no cost.
Which areas do you cover?
We cover Lisbon, Cascais, Sintra, Oeiras, Carnaxide, Algés, Carcavelos, Estoril, Amadora, Loures, Odivelas, Vila Franca de Xira, Almada, Costa da Caparica, Barreiro, Seixal, Setúbal and Sesimbra. Send your address on WhatsApp and we'll confirm.
Find the leak before anything is opened
Send a photo of the stain or of the water meter on WhatsApp. We confirm the arrival time on WhatsApp before we set off.
Leave your number, we WhatsApp you in under a minute.
WhatsApp and phone
Message us on WhatsApp at +351 21 700 9237 or call +351 21 700 9773.
Thermal and pipe cameras
We locate the leak and mark the spot on a photo before anything is opened.
VAT invoice with your NIF
Every job gets a VAT invoice with your NIF.
About us
Rua Cardal de São José 8A, 1150-088 Lisboa
Impulso de Leão, LDA
NIF: 518664422
Serving Lisbon · Cascais · Sintra · Oeiras · Carnaxide · Algés · Carcavelos · Estoril · Amadora · Loures · Odivelas · Vila Franca de Xira · Almada · Costa da Caparica · Barreiro · Seixal · Setúbal · Sesimbra.