How do I check if I have a leak in the house?
The City's meter test checks for unexplained water use. It is a first check, not a full leak diagnosis. Make sure nothing on the property is using water: automatic appliances, irrigation and anything that fills by itself all count.
Close every tap on the property and do not flush any toilet. Read your water meter and write the number down. Wait at least 15 minutes with nobody using water, then read it again. The City says that if the number has increased, a leak has been detected.
This is the City of Cape Town's own test, from its page on how to find and fix leaks on your property. If the number has not changed, no extra use showed up in that time. A slow or intermittent leak may not show in 15 minutes, and a plumber can advise.
Then check the toilets. The City gives three checks. Listen for trickling into the bowl. Press toilet paper against the inside back of the bowl; if it gets wet, you probably have a leak. Or put 15 drops of food colouring in the cistern; if the bowl water has changed colour after 15 minutes, it leaks.
If you cannot find the cause, request a quote and tell us what the meter did.
What are the signs of a hidden leak?
A hidden leak can show itself through its effects before you see the water. Look for a damp patch or a stain on a wall, ceiling or floor that does not dry out. Watch for a musty smell, or mould in one spot. Check whether your water bill is higher than usual when your habits have not changed. Listen for running water when every tap and appliance is off. One sign on its own may have another cause.
The meter is a good first check. If it moves when all taps are closed and nothing is using water, the water is going somewhere. If the leak is a burst pipe, or water is spreading near electrics or through a ceiling, treat it as an emergency plumber job. The safety steps are on that page. A leaking geyser or its pipes is a case for geyser repair or replacement.
How do plumbers find a leak?
No single method finds every leak, so a plumber may combine more than one. Listening equipment can pick up the sound of water escaping from a pipe. A pressure test checks whether a section of pipe holds pressure when it is closed off. A thermal imaging camera shows temperature differences on a wall or floor, which can point to where water is escaping. A camera on a flexible cable can look inside a drain.
Each method has limits. A pressure test can show that a pipe is losing pressure but not always where, and a thermal image shows a pattern that the plumber still has to confirm. Finding a leak is one job and repairing it is another, and repairing it may mean opening a wall or floor. Ask what the plumber plans to open up and who closes it again. If the leak is in a drain, see blocked drains for how drains are checked.
Meter still moving? Request a quote and we call you back, or call 060 086 9889.
Where do I report water problems in Cape Town?
For properties in the City of Cape Town, report water problems on the City's network. Call 0860 103 089 and follow the prompts, send an SMS to 31373, or use the service request portal at capetown.gov.za/servicerequests. For a burst pipe or a leak in a street or public space, give the street address and ask for a reference number.
Stellenbosch is a separate municipality. For a water fault on the municipal network there, call Stellenbosch Municipality on 021 808 8215, or 021 808 8890 after hours.
For plumbing on private property in Stellenbosch, see plumber in Stellenbosch.
A leak inside your own property is different. Under the City's Water By-law, the property owner must ensure water is not allowed to run to waste, so a plumber's visit is the next step. The City's page also says to call a plumber unless the fix is a simple do-it-yourself job.
What does leak detection cost?
One Cape Town business, Absolute Plumbing Cape Town, lists leak detection, drain camera inspections and drain cleaning at R1,250 an hour (article dated 27 October 2026, checked 2026-11-09). That is an hourly rate, not the price of a job, and other published guides measure different things, so a single number can mislead. A fair price needs a look at the property, because access and the methods needed change the hours.
Ask how the price is built, and check that the plumber is registered: the guide on how to check a plumber is registered shows how. The page on what a plumber costs sets out the published rates with their sources.
Where we do this: plumber in Sea Point, plumber in Table View, plumber in Claremont and plumber in Stellenbosch. See all plumbing services or where we work.
Questions people ask
How much does leak detection cost, and is it expensive?
It depends on the leak, access and the methods needed. A fair price needs a look, so the plumber assesses the problem and quotes.
See what a plumber costs for published rates, each with its source and date.
Who is responsible for a leak on my property?
Under the City's Water By-law, the owner must prevent water running to waste on their property. Street leaks go to the City.
That is for properties in the City of Cape Town. To report a leak in a street or public space, call 0860 103 089 or use the City's service request portal, and give the street address. In Stellenbosch, use the municipality's numbers given above.
Can I find a leak myself?
You can check for unexplained water use with the meter test and the toilet checks. Locating a hidden leak usually needs a plumber.
If the number on your meter went up, tell us the readings when you request a quote.
Does a higher water bill mean I have a leak?
Not always. A higher bill can have other causes. The meter test shows whether water is passing through the meter when nobody is using it.
If the meter moves with every tap closed and nothing using water, the water is going somewhere on the property.