Water Testing London
What is a Water Testing?
At Building Survey London, we utilise various techniques for the purpose of determining where water has come from; leak detection. Whilst thermal imaging, ultrasound, density mapping, gas tracing, and dye testing are vital tools, water sample testing is the most accurate way of determining the type of water that has caused the damage.
The aim of water sample testing is to determine whether the fluid that has caused the visible water damage or flooding has the same or similar contents as another source of fluid/ water within the premises. For example, if you had a basement covered in an inch of water and needed to know where the water had come from, in the event that the usual leak detection techniques were not providing categorical answers, we would take a sample of the basement water, and compare it to the tap water, rain water, and any other source of water within the property. We would test each sample to determine similarity and provide a water sample test report.
What do you test for in a water sample test?
Whilst basic water sample testing will flag up nitrates, nitrites, and phosphates that would immediately indicate the sample as contaminated with sewage or waste water, we would also test for the presence of chemicals that could be found in soap; this would help us determine whether the sample leads us back to the washing machine, dishwasher, or bathroom. However, all water sample tests undertaken would include analysis of the following quantities and variables within the sample; phosphates, nitrates, sodium, alkalinity, ph, and Langelier Saturation Index. These would be checked in all samples for comparison, and reports would be provided and interpreted for each sample.
Book a water sample test
Booking a water sample test is simple. Contact us by phone or email and explain your situation; we will be able to give information as to how many samples you may need to have taken, how long the process would take in your case, and what the costs would be.
Following your instruction of our service, we would attend site, complete our risk assessment form, collect the samples, and return the samples to our laboratory. Testing typically takes 7-10 days for the most accurate results; on the spot testing can be carried out, but the results are qualitative at best; for quantitative results, time must be allowed for the water samples to progress through the testing process.
Quantitative testing is simple and straight forward; we can be instructed to undertake such tests at the time of any site visit. Quantitative water sample tests do not, however, meet insurance or forensic criteria, and therefore are only useful for instant, limited, identification of the type of water damage being experienced. Speak to us to discuss how we can best facilitate your needs.
Request a Survey
I contacted James de Miguel after a recommendation from a friend. My brand new house developed a series of cracks on the exterior walls and after numerous failed attempts by local builders, surveyors and even the original architect, to try and identify the cause of these cracks I had no clue what to do next. Thankfully, James was able to identify the exact cause of the issues and handed me a detailed report on what had caused the cracking and the next steps to take in order to remedy them. I couldn’t be happier with the result.
I have been working with James de Miguel for a few years now and can honestly say that I have not come across a more savvy surveyor when it comes to fault finding. James is switched on, his reports are always on time and he has never failed to deliver. I would wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone seeking a definitive answer as to what exactly is going wrong with their building. I now consult with James on all projects I undertake as his input is vital to the success of my projects. A big thank you to James and his team.
I have been building houses for over 10 years and from time to time, new builds develop faults that can be tricky to trace. We brought in James de Miguel to provide us with a report on where we were going wrong with a rather complicated new build that involved a basement that was allowing water ingress. Within half an hour of being on site James and his colleagues identified the issues and provided the exact steps to fix them. Without his survey, I feel we would of been chasing our own tails for days if not weeks, trying to find out why we had so much water ingress. James has saved us time and money and we are very grateful that we found him.