If you’ve got a damp patch that’s growing, a ceiling stain that wasn’t there last week, or the sound of water when nothing’s on — you’re in the right place.
I’m Stuart from SKR Plumbing & Heating. I’m usually moving between Orpington, Bromley and BR7 most days — tool bag in the van, phone on loud, trying not to get stuck behind the school run on the A21.
Need me to trace a leak quickly? Call 07706 889 614 now or send photos and your postcode via the contact form.
If you’re near Orpington High Street, Bromley South Station or up by The Glades and water’s actively coming through — ring me and say “active leak” so I know it’s urgent.
The thing with leaks is they rarely introduce themselves properly. It starts as a “slightly musty smell” in the cupboard under the stairs. Or a bit of paint that bubbles near the skirting. Then one day you’re stood there thinking, hang on… why is the carpet cold and wet?
I get called to a lot of homes around Petts Wood, Chislehurst, Bickley, and the older pockets around Bromley where pipework has had a few decades to develop personality. Add in modern bathrooms slapped in by someone in a rush and… yeah, leaks happen.
Quick sanity check (top tip): If you suspect a leak, take a photo of your water meter, don’t use any taps for 30–60 minutes, then check it again. If it’s moved, something’s using water somewhere.
If that meter is spinning and you can’t find the cause, don’t keep guessing — call me on 07706 889 614 and I’ll help you work out the fastest way to make it safe.
If you’re after a general overview of everything I handle (repairs, heating, bathrooms, drainage), you can browse the main services page here. But this page is specifically about tracking down leaks and fixing them properly — not just slapping a bit of silicone on and hoping.
Leak detection isn’t magic. It’s a mix of experience, method, and not panicking. I start by working out what “type” of leak we’re dealing with — because a pressurised pipe leak behaves totally differently to a waste pipe drip, and a heating leak is its own little category.
If you tell me “the boiler pressure keeps dropping” — that’s already a clue. If you tell me “it’s worse after someone has a shower” — that’s another clue. People think they’re not being helpful when they describe it, but honestly, those little details save time.
My usual approach looks like this:
• Confirm the symptoms (when it happens, what rooms, what’s above/below).
• Check obvious points first: isolation valves, flexi hoses, basin traps, WC fill valves, shower wastes, radiator valves.
• Work out whether it’s mains cold, hot, heating or waste.
• Trace logically: pressure tests where relevant, dye tests for awkward shower leaks, listening/visual checks, and targeted access (not “lift every floorboard for fun”).
A very real example: I had a job not far from Crofton Lane where the customer was convinced the shower was leaking. Turned out it was a pinhole in a pipe joint that only wept when the heating was on and the house warmed up. The shower was innocent. The ceiling stain wasn’t.
Once the leak is found, I fix it properly and leave you with a clear explanation of what failed and why. I’d rather be honest and a bit boring than dramatic and wrong.
If you’re in Orpington or Bromley and you’ve got a damp patch spreading, the sooner it’s traced, the smaller the mess usually is. Call 07706 889 614 and tell me what you’re seeing — even if it “doesn’t seem that bad yet”.
Prefer writing it down? Send your details here — include photos of the stain, the boiler pressure (if relevant), and your postcode.
There are patterns to this stuff, especially locally. Around Bromley and Orpington you get a mix — older houses with older pipe runs, plus refurbs where new kit has been fitted onto old systems. That’s where the “mystery leak” usually lives.
Three real-world examples (the sort that turns up all the time):
1) The “ceiling stain under the bathroom” leak: Often a shower waste, a cracked tray seal, or a slow drip from a basin trap that only leaks when the drawer is shut and knocks it slightly.
2) The “boiler pressure dropping” leak: Could be a radiator valve, a weeping joint under floorboards, or (sometimes) the pressure relief route. Needs checking properly, not guessing.
3) The “kitchen cupboard is always damp” leak: Flexi tap hoses and isolation valves are common culprits — cheap parts, constant pressure, and one day they just give up.
If your leak has escalated into something more serious (water coming through lights, pipe has gone bang), you’ll want the urgent page instead: emergency plumbing help is explained here. And if it’s a full-on pipe failure, this is the one: burst pipe repair details here.
For general repairs (taps, toilets, pressure issues, small leaks), the hub page is here: plumbing repairs overview.
Leaks make people stressed. I get it. You don’t want a sales pitch — you want someone to turn up, find the problem, and not leave you worse off.
I’m a sole trader, which sounds small, but it’s the reason the experience is consistent. It’s me you speak to, me who turns up, and me who has to stand behind the work. I started SKR in 2020 after years working for other firms around South East London — the work was fine, the standards and communication often weren’t.
With leak detection specifically, I try hard not to do the “let’s open everything and see” approach. I’d rather take ten minutes asking the right questions and checking the right places than lift a floor you didn’t need lifted. And if something does need opening up, I’ll tell you why before I touch anything.
If you’re a contractor and need someone who can fault-find without drama on a refurb, you can also check: how I work with building contractors here.
“We had a damp patch that kept coming back and two people told us it was ‘probably the shower’. Stuart traced it properly and it was a small leak on the pipework, not the shower at all. Fixed it, explained it, and didn’t leave our bathroom looking like a building site.”
Homeowner — Orpington (BR6)“Boiler pressure dropping for weeks. We were topping it up constantly. He found the issue and the system’s been stable since. Honestly just nice dealing with someone calm who tells you what’s happening.”
Customer — Bromley (BR1)“Leak in a kitchen cupboard that was starting to smell. Stuart replaced the dodgy valve and sorted the mess without making it a big job. Turned up when he said he would too — which sounds basic but it matters.”
Landlord — BR7Want the bigger picture reviews? You can read verified feedback on Checkatrade, or if you’re comparing plumbers for ongoing work, read about me and how I work here.
Condensation usually shows up in predictable places (cold corners, windows, behind wardrobes) and changes with weather and ventilation. A leak tends to keep “feeding” the same patch and often gets worse after water use (shower, heating on, toilet flushing). If you’re unsure, the water meter test is a good start — and you can always call me and talk it through.
Not always, but it’s one of the common causes. Pressure loss can also come from a valve, a radiator connection, or the safety discharge route. I treat it like a fault-finding job rather than jumping straight to “it’s under the floorboards”.
A lot of the time, yes. Leaks usually leave clues if you approach it methodically. Sometimes targeted access is unavoidable (especially with concealed pipework), but the aim is always to minimise disruption and only open what we genuinely need.
First: make it safe. If there’s any chance it’s near electrics, switch off that circuit if you can safely do so. Turn off the water at the stopcock if the leak is active and you can’t control it at a local valve. Then call me — if I can’t physically get there immediately, I’ll help you isolate the issue over the phone.
I’m based around Orpington and I’m regularly in Bromley and BR7 as part of the normal week. If you’re near places like Petts Wood, Chislehurst, Bromley South, or down towards the edges of SE London / Kent, you’re generally in my day-to-day patch.
I’ll always be straight with you before we start. If it’s a straightforward visible issue, I can usually give a clear expectation from photos. If it’s a tracing job (where we don’t yet know the exact source), I’ll explain how I charge and what you’ll get for that time. No weird surprises, no “oh by the way” at the end.
Owner • Plumber & Heating Engineer
“Find the cause, fix it properly, and don’t leave chaos behind.”
I started SKR Plumbing & Heating in 2020. Leak jobs are a big part of the work because they’re the ones that quietly wreck a house if ignored. I’ve seen ceilings ruined by a 10-minute fix that got put off for months — and I’ve also seen people panic over something that was genuinely simple. Either way, I’d rather you ring and get a proper answer than keep guessing.
If you want to book leak detection in Orpington or Bromley, call me on 07706 889 614. If you’re stuck in traffic near the A21 / A232 routes and you need to know if I can still make it today — just ask. I’ll tell you straight.
Want the general repairs hub instead of just leaks? Here it is: plumbing repairs in Orpington & Bromley.
Short version: text/photos help, but a quick call is fastest. Ring 07706 889 614 and tell me what you’re seeing.
Longer version: if you’d rather send it through properly, use the form here: send leak details and postcode here. If you can include where the stain is, what’s above it, and whether the boiler pressure is dropping — perfect.
And if you’re reading this from a hallway with a bucket on the floor somewhere near Bromley South or Orpington High Street… call me now. We’ll sort the next step.
