Auger are the premier nationwide underground services and subsidence specialist working alongside many of the UK’s leading insurers to provide our mutual customers with a first-class service every time.

We also offer innovative solutions directly to homeowners and private clients through our 'Auger For You' service.

With over 30 years’ of expertise in our sector, we specialise in the handling, investigation, validation and repair of drainage, water mains and off-mains claims, and carry out subsidence site investigations including laboratory testing and arborist services.

The initial investigation allows us to confirm whether there’s a leak on your underground supply pipe, and if so, where it is located. This ensures that any work we carry out at your property is necessary and appropriate to guarantee minimal disruption where possible.

If no issue is found, you won’t need to proceed with a claim.

Once we’ve identified the problem, we’ll explain your insurance cover and provide guidance on suitable repair or replacement options. If you want to opt for a localised repair instead of a full replacement, let your dedicated Claims Advisor know.

Please review all documentation provided to you thoroughly before making a decision on how you would like to proceed with your claim.

Yes, some digging is usually required to inspect the pipe material, confirm the leak, and determine its exact location. This will often be near your property boundary or close to where the pipe enters the building.

We always aim to minimise disruption and will reinstate any surfaces we dig up.

If the leak is identified during our initial investigation, especially if water is visible above ground, we will contact you immediately whilst our Engineer is still at your property.

At this point, we can offer you the option for us to carry out the repair. We’ll request your policy excess (if applicable), and a pipe repair contribution if the cause of the leak is found to be wear and tear or gradual deterioration of an older pipe.

Following our investigation, we will call you to discuss our findings. If a leak has been identified at your property and your policy provides cover, we will explain your repair options to you.

This could be a single localised repair if you wish, however often we recommend using an insurance settlement amount towards a full pipe replacement for a more lasting solution.

Your policy excess will be payable following our investigation once we’ve confirmed that there is a valid insurance claim.

We’ll request the payment before scheduling any repair work.

In many cases, your insurance policy will cover the cost of our investigation under 'Trace & Access', but not the actual physical repair of the pipe. This means we may ask for a pre-authorised contribution towards the repair costs to be debited in the case that the cause of the leak is found to be wear and tear or gradual deterioration of an older pipe.

Whilst you may have accidental damage cover, most policies exclude repairs to the pipe where the cause of the leak is found to be wear and tear or gradual deterioration. This is the most common cause of leaks.

If no accidental damage is found, the repair won’t be covered, and your pre-authorised contribution will be taken to complete the works.

If we do find evidence of accidental damage, your pre-authorised contribution will be cancelled, though you may still need to pay your policy excess.

Some Water Companies still offer free repairs on private water supply pipes, but this varies by region and is often subject to specific conditions. It’s best to check your Local Water Company’s website for details.

Companies that may still offer this service include Portsmouth Water, Scottish Water, Bournemouth Water, Dee Valley Water, South Staffordshire Water, Sutton & East Surrey Water, Thames Water, United Utilities, Welsh Water, and Wessex Water.

Please note that these services can come with restrictions and may involve longer waiting times.

There’s no need to worry. A 30-day notice simply gives you time to arrange for the leak to be investigated and repaired.

In most cases, the Water Company allows sufficient time for this process to be completed.

Coverage will depend on your insurance policy.

'Trace and Access' cover typically applies only within your property boundary, so we won’t be able to carry out repairs beyond this point.

If the leak is outside of your boundary, the adjoining property owner will usually need to make a claim with their insurer for the investigation and repair.

Your Auger Claims Advisor can discuss your options with you should this situation arise.

Leaks found to be beyond the Internal Stop Valve (ISV) are generally considered an internal plumbing issue. Most insurance policies do not cover above-ground pipework repairs.

Even if you have internal 'Trace and Access' cover, your insurer would typically appoint a specialist Leak Detection Company rather than Auger to handle these cases.

If you already know your leak is internal and beyond the ISV, please inform us as soon as possible.

How we proceed will depend on your insurer and policy cover. Auger may be able to carry out limited investigations and repairs, usually only within your property boundary.

If the leak is on a neighbour’s side, they will need to make a claim on their own insurance and arrange any necessary repairs.

Shared supply pipes are often older, and repair costs should typically be shared between the properties using the pipe. In some cases, Auger can calculate an apportioned settlement cost and offer a cash settlement towards the repair.

Water Utility Companies encourage individual supplies for each property and can provide competitive estimates to install separate meters and External Stop Valves for all properties involved.

Whilst we can carry out localised repairs, leaks usually occur in older pipes that suffer from wear and tear. Repairs on these pipes don’t come with guarantees because they often develop additional leaks soon after.

For this reason, we recommend replacing old supply pipes with durable Blue MDPE Pipework, using an insurance settlement to cover the cost.

If you opt for a localised repair instead, you may end up paying your policy excess and repair contribution, only to discover further leaks later that won’t be covered due to wear and tear or gradual deterioration.

Older pipe materials such as Lead, Cast Iron, and Galvanised Steel corrode over time underground.

Even Copper Pipes, whilst durable above ground, can deteriorate below ground due to chemicals in the soil. Black Alkathene Pipes also wear out and can gradually split.

Because these materials are prone to leaking again (even after repairs), it’s advisable to replace them as soon as you can. Replacement is typically done using Blue MDPE Pipe, which is much more resistant to wear and tear and gradual deterioration, therefore offering a longer-lasting solution.

Usually we can only repair one leak on an older supply pipe. If the cause is found to be due to wear and tear or gradual deterioration, insurers will typically decline any future related claims.

Due to multiple leaks being a common occurrence in older pipes, we strongly recommend replacing the supply pipe to avoid repeated issues.