Swords · K67 · Leaks
Leak detection in Swords
A leak detection specialist charges €380 + VAT for up to 3 hours, then €120 + VAT an hour. Fixing a leaking pipe runs €230–€865 on published prices. If the leak is on the pipe between your boundary and the house, Uisce Éireann may find and fix it free. Send the job and one local plumber who covers Swords rings you.
- Check if First Fix Free applies first
- Prices re-read at source on 2 November 2026
- One local plumber rings you, not a list
The short answer
How much does it cost to find a leak?
Last checked 2 November 2026. Every price on this page was read again at its source that day.
A leak detection specialist charges €380 + VAT for up to 3 hours, then €120 + VAT an hour. Fixing a leaking pipe runs €230–€865 on published prices. If the leak is on the pipe between your boundary and the house, Uisce Éireann may find and fix it free.
| Job | Published price | Who says so |
|---|---|---|
| Leak detection, up to 3 hours | €380 + VAT | LeakSOS |
| Each extra hour | €120 + VAT | LeakSOS |
| Leak detection | €120–€250+ | TradeSource Ireland |
| Repair a leaking pipe | €230–€865 | Sources below |
| Repair a burst pipe | €150–€2,000 | Sources below |
| Leak on your external supply pipe | Free, if confirmed | Uisce Éireann |
Before you pay
Is the leak inside or outside?
Uisce Éireann's four home checks rule out the inside first.
- Toilets and tapsA constant trickle into the toilet pan, or a dripping tap. Put a sheet of toilet paper on the back of the pan: if it gets wet, the cistern is leaking through.
- The attic tankListen at night. If it keeps refilling when nothing is running, water is going somewhere. Check the overflow pipes on the outside wall too.
- Nothing inside?If the inside checks are clean and Uisce Éireann has written about a leak, ring it on 1800 278 278 and ask for a First Fix Free investigation (Uisce Éireann: First Fix Free).
A leak you can see or hear inside the house is a plumber's job: turn off the stopcock and send it.
First Fix Free
When Uisce Éireann fixes it free
The scheme covers leaks on the external supply pipe: from your boundary to where the pipe enters the house. Uisce Éireann contacts you by post when your meter shows a possible leak, asks you to do four home checks, then sends a contractor to investigate. If the leak is on the external supply pipe, the property owner signs an acceptance form and the repair is free (Uisce Éireann: First Fix Free).
Since April 2021 it also covers homes without a meter, homes without an internal stop valve and homes on a shared connection, and you no longer need to be registered with Uisce Éireann. It doesn't cover any leak inside the house.
Not sure which side of the boundary it is? A plumber can find the leak first. Fixing anything from the boundary in is your job, and the plumber's.
Prices
Every published leak and pipe repair price
| Who publishes it | Job | Price | VAT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LeakSOSLucan | Additional hourly rate (leak detection) | €120/hour | + VAT | leaksos.ie |
| LeakSOSLucan | Leak detection & investigation (up to 3 hours)Up to 3 hours of leak detection. | €380 | + VAT | leaksos.ie |
| plumbersinireland.ie (guide)Ireland | Burst pipe repairEmergency rates apply out of hours. | €150–€350 | not stated | plumbersinireland.ie |
| plumbersinireland.ie (guide)Dublin | Burst pipe repairEmergency rates apply out of hours. | €150–€400 | incl. VAT | plumbersinireland.ie |
| EmergencyTrade.ie (referral site)Dublin | Burst pipe repairDepends on access. | €150–€450 | not stated | emergencytrade.ie |
| OnlineTradesmen.ie (guide)Ireland | Leaking pipe repairFrom a 2025 guide. | €230–€865 (avg €245) | + VAT | onlinetradesmen.ie |
| OnlineTradesmen.ie (guide)Ireland | Burst/broken pipe repairFrom a 2025 guide. | €500–€2,000 (avg €650) | + VAT | onlinetradesmen.ie |
FAQ
Leak questions
How much does leak detection cost in Dublin?
LeakSOS charges €380 + VAT for up to 3 hours of leak detection and investigation, then €120 + VAT an hour, with repairs and materials extra (LeakSOS: prices). TradeSource Ireland gives €120–€250+ (TradeSource Ireland: plumber costs 2026).
Will Uisce Éireann fix a leak for free?
Only on your external supply pipe, the stretch between your boundary and the house. Under its First Fix Free scheme Uisce Éireann investigates free, and repairs free if the leak is confirmed on that pipe. Leaks inside the house are yours to fix (Uisce Éireann: First Fix Free).
Who is responsible for which pipe?
Uisce Éireann is responsible for the mains, up to and including the water meter. Your responsibility usually starts at the boundary of the property, and covers every pipe inside the house (CRU: water leaks and First Fix Free).
How do I know if I have a hidden leak?
Listen for the attic tank refilling when nothing is running, look for a constant trickle into the toilet pan, and check the overflow pipes outside. Uisce Éireann may also write to you: every meter it installs has a leak alarm (CRU: water leaks and First Fix Free).
How much does a dripping tap waste?
Over 1,500 litres a year, enough to fill 20 baths, says the CRU, and it's usually fixed with a new washer (CRU: water leaks and First Fix Free). Fixing one runs €40–€150 on published prices: see tap repairs.
Free quote
Send the leak to one local plumber
Tell us what's wrong. It goes to one local plumber who covers your area, and they ring you about it.
More for Swords
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- Emergency plumber in SwordsBurst pipe or leak now? What to do first.
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Where these numbers come from (2 public sources, checked 2 November 2026)
Sources (6)
Prices and facts on this page were checked against these published pages. We are not connected to these businesses.
- LeakSOS: leaksos.ie
- TradeSource Ireland: tradesourceire.ie
- plumbersinireland.ie: plumbersinireland.ie
- plumbersinireland.ie: plumbersinireland.ie
- emergencytrade.ie: emergencytrade.ie
- onlinetradesmen.ie: onlinetradesmen.ie