{"id":611,"date":"2025-09-30T12:00:50","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T10:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leakdetectionmalta.com\/?p=611"},"modified":"2025-12-01T17:26:47","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T16:26:47","slug":"long-running-garage-leak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leakdetectionmalta.com\/?p=611","title":{"rendered":"The Long-Running Garage Leak in a Condo Under Roadworks \u2014 What Finally Broke the Case"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Long-Running Garage Leak,<\/strong> The complaint that wouldn\u2019t go away<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A condo administrator asked us to investigate persistent water ingress<\/strong> into a tenant\u2019s garage. The issue had dragged on for months and, on the day we arrived, the street was being rebuilt and resurfaced<\/strong>\u2014a detail that would matter more than anyone expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What had already been tried<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The owners had called several authorities. The Environmental Health Authority<\/strong> collected a sample, lost it, then re-sampled from the street<\/strong> instead of the garage. Meanwhile, Water Services Corporation (WSC)<\/strong> confirmed there were no burst mains<\/strong> nearby. The building contractor believed two things were contributing: (1) the block\u2019s drainage hadn\u2019t yet been connected to the government system; (2) an overflowing rooftop tank<\/strong> could be sending water down rainwater pipes and into the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside the garage: where the water travelled<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We began with a visual inspection<\/strong>. Water was visibly tracking along a drain pipe<\/strong> that crosses the garage before tying into the block\u2019s common system. The residents had improvised a collection trap<\/strong> that then discharged into common areas\u2014well-meant, but risky for neighbouring garages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outside at street level: the \u201cmissing seal\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Up on the pavement we noticed fresh concrete between pavement and carriageway. A neighbour started washing her balcony and we watched the water disappear quickly<\/strong>\u2014not pooling, not draining to a gully, but vanishing into a gap<\/strong> between pavement and road. We flagged it to the road crew, who confirmed the opening and agreed to seal it properly<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diagnosis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This was a multi-source problem: street runoff slipping through incomplete pavement\/road sealing<\/strong>, plus potential internal contributions (overflowing roof tank, drainage still pending connection). The under-street seepage likely tracked into the sub-base<\/strong> and found an easy path into the garage area<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we recommended<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n