Leak Repair in Leith
Fast Detection & Permanent Fix
Unexplained damp patch? Rising water bill? Sounds of water behind a wall? McInally's locate and fix leaks throughout Leith — including the hidden ones inside Leith Walk tenement walls and the complex pipework of harbourside conversions on The Shore.
Leak Repair in Leith, Edinburgh
Leith's Trusted Leak Detection Specialists
Leith's ageing housing stock makes leak detection more complex than in modern new-builds, and getting it wrong is expensive. A hidden leak inside a Leith tenement wall can saturate timber joists, rot lath and plaster, and spread damp across multiple flats before anyone realises where the water is coming from. McInally's use acoustic leak detection and thermal imaging to pinpoint the source without unnecessary hacking or damage — protecting your Leith property and your wallet.
We've carried out leak repairs throughout Leith for over 5 years, working in Victorian tenements on Constitution Street, warehouse conversions on The Shore, and everything in between. Whether the leak is in your supply pipework, your central heating circuit, or a shared waste stack, we find it and fix it properly. For details of our full leak repair service across Edinburgh, visit our main service page.
Leith Property Types
Leak Repair in Leith Homes
Leak detection in Leith is rarely straightforward. The Victorian tenements that dominate Leith Walk, Easter Road, and Great Junction Street were built with lead supply pipes and cast iron waste stacks — materials that are now corroding from the inside and may not show any external sign of failure until the leak has been running for some time. Lead pipes develop pinhole leaks that can be almost invisible to the naked eye but steadily soak structural timbers and masonry.
The Shore's former industrial buildings have been converted with retro-fitted plumbing that often follows non-standard routes through thick stone walls and original stone floors. Locating a leak here can be genuinely difficult without thermal imaging or acoustic equipment. The newer developments around Ocean Drive and Ocean Terminal use modern plastic pipework that, while more reliable, can still suffer from poorly made push-fit joints that work loose over time — particularly in areas where water pressure fluctuates. McInally's carry the right tools and the right experience to tackle leaks in every corner of Leith.
Common Leith Leak Types
Common Leaks We Fix in Leith Properties
Leith's diverse housing stock produces distinctive types of leak. These are the most common faults we encounter and repair across EH6.
Pinhole Leaks in Lead Supply Pipes
Lead supply pipes in Leith's pre-1960s tenements develop hairline cracks at joints and along the barrel of the pipe. The slow drip saturates the surrounding masonry silently over months. We locate, section off, and replace lead runs with modern pipework.
Cast Iron Waste Stack Seepage
The joints between cast iron pipe sections in Leith tenements are sealed with lead-caulked rope that shrinks with age. Waste water seeps through these joints into floor voids and wall cavities, causing serious structural damp. We re-joint or replace the affected sections.
Central Heating Leaks in Converted Warehouses
The Shore's converted properties often have long central heating runs through thick stone walls, where corrosion and thermal movement cause joint failures. We pressurise the circuit, isolate the failing section, and repair or re-route as needed.
Inter-Flat Leaks Through Tenement Floors
Water from a leaking waste pipe or overflowing bath in a Leith tenement above travels rapidly through the original timber floor structure. Residents below see ceiling staining before the source is obvious. We trace the origin flat-by-flat and fix the true cause.
Failed Push-Fit Joints in Ocean Drive New-Builds
The newer developments around Ocean Drive and Newhaven use push-fit plastic plumbing. These joints can work loose over time, especially in areas with variable water pressure. We test, re-make, and support the affected joints to prevent recurrence.
Underground Supply Pipe Leaks
Leith's older terraced properties often have ageing lead or early copper supply pipes running under garden paths and back courts. A subsurface leak can go undetected for months until a sudden water bill spike reveals it. We use ground microphones to locate the fault precisely.
Full Service
What's Included in Our Leith Leak Repair Service
Every leak repair in Leith starts with a thorough investigation. We never guess, and we never patch without finding the true source first.
- Acoustic leak detection — locates leaks behind Leith tenement walls without damage
- Thermal imaging for hidden leaks in stone walls and under floors
- Pressure testing of supply and heating circuits
- Lead pipe section repair or full replacement with copper/plastic
- Cast iron waste joint re-sealing or UPVC replacement
- Central heating circuit leak repair — including Leith's harbourside conversions
- Underground supply pipe location and repair
- Full post-repair pressure test and sign-off
- Written report for your landlord, factor, or insurer if needed
Our Coverage
Covering All of Leith for Leak Repairs
We carry out leak detection and repair throughout Leith's EH6 and EH7 postcodes. Every street and development below is within our regular coverage.
Streets & Thoroughfares
- Leith Walk
- Constitution Street
- Easter Road
- Great Junction Street
- Duke Street
- Ferry Road
- Restalrig Road
- Henderson Street
Landmarks & Developments
- The Shore
- Commercial Street
- Bernard Street
- Ocean Drive
- Ocean Terminal
- Kirkgate
- Victoria Quay
- Newhaven
Postcodes Covered
- EH6 1 — Leith Walk north
- EH6 2 — Lochend & Restalrig
- EH6 3 — Easter Road
- EH6 4 — The Shore & dockside
- EH6 5 — Constitution Street
- EH6 6 — Great Junction Street
- EH6 7 — Ocean Drive
- EH6 8, EH6 9 & EH7 — North Leith, Newhaven & Pilrig
Response Time
Fast Response Across Leith
From Edinburgh we reach Leith in under 20 minutes. An active leak causing damage is treated as an emergency — we dispatch immediately. Whether your property is on Leith Walk, Constitution Street, or the waterfront at The Shore, we will be with you fast. Don't let a slow leak become an expensive repair — call us now on 07449 984820.
Leith Customer Reviews
What Leith Customers Say About Our Leak Repairs
"Had damp appearing on our living room ceiling for months and no one could find the source. McInally's came out to our Leith Walk flat and found a pinhole leak in the lead supply pipe inside the wall within twenty minutes using their detection equipment. Fixed cleanly, no mess."
"The central heating in our Shore conversion was losing pressure every few days. McInally's traced a leak in a section of pipe running through one of the original stone walls — somewhere no one else had even looked. Proper fix, proper job."
"Water coming through my bathroom ceiling from the flat above in our Easter Road tenement. McInally's sorted it same day — found it was a cracked cast iron waste joint, replaced it with modern pipework, and the ceiling has been dry ever since."
FAQs
Leak Repair FAQs for Leith Residents
Yes — we use acoustic listening devices and thermal imaging cameras to locate leaks within walls and under floors without unnecessary hacking. This is especially important in Leith's Victorian tenements where the plaster and stone work is irreplaceable.
Yes. Lead supply pipes remain common in Leith's pre-1960s properties. We can repair a leaking section as an immediate fix, but we always recommend full replacement with modern copper or plastic pipe for safety and long-term reliability.
From our Edinburgh base we can be in EH6 within 20 minutes. For active leaks causing damage we treat it as an emergency and dispatch straight away.
Yes — we work extensively in the converted warehouse properties along The Shore, Commercial Street, and the wider dockside area. Leak detection in these multi-floor conversions is something we're experienced in.
Absolutely. Water tracking between flats through Leith's traditional lath-and-plaster ceilings is a very common call for us. We locate the true source in the flat above and carry out a permanent repair, not a temporary patch.
We always aim to be as non-invasive as possible. Where we need access we make clean, targeted cuts and make good after the repair. Your Leith home is left tidy when we leave.
Yes — we cover all of Leith including the ex-council estates around Kirkgate, Ferry Road, and Restalrig. All property types, all EH6 postcodes.
Yes — a rising water bill without visible dampness often points to an underground supply pipe leak or a slow leak within a floor void. We use specialist detection equipment to locate these hidden leaks in Leith properties accurately and quickly.
Also Covering
Also Covering Areas Near Leith
McInally's cover all of Edinburgh — not just Leith. Here are nearby areas and services we regularly work in.