How to choose a reliable leak detection company: fair criteria you can check yourself
You have a leak, and a long list of phone numbers from ads and neighborhood groups. They all promise "no breaking" and "with warranty". So how do you know who to let into your home? Who will give you an accurate result and a clear price, and answer the phone if the leak comes back?
This guide gives you practical, fair criteria for choosing a reliable leak detection company, whichever company it is, Kashf included. You will learn how to check the commercial registration and tax number yourself, what the report, warranty and written quote should contain, and which questions expose weak practices. It comes with the Company Trust Checker, so you can rate any company in a minute.
What makes a leak detection company reliable, and what does this guide give you?
Reliability in this field does not mean nice words in an ad. It means every promise can be proven on paper: a legally registered business, a correct tax invoice, a written report that can be verified, a warranty with clear terms, and a price agreed before the work.
This guide gives you three things:
- Verifiable criteria you apply to any company, with how to check each one.
- Warning signs and questions to ask on the phone before the visit.
- The Company Trust Checker: a free tool with 5 yes/no questions that gives you a quick guidance rating for any company you are considering.
The registration and tax details below are Saudi-specific; outside Saudi Arabia, check your country's equivalent business register and tax authority.
Who is this guide for?
- Homeowners hiring a leak detection company for the first time.
- Anyone whose previous company broke more than necessary, or whose leak came back weeks later with nobody answering.
- Anyone who needs a written report to have a high water bill reviewed.
When should you use it?
- Before calling: to prepare your questions.
- Before the visit: to check the registration and identity.
- Before signing or paying: to make sure the quote and warranty are in writing.
- At handover: to make sure the report, invoice and warranty certificate are complete and verifiable.
In an emergency, such as heavy flowing water or water near electricity, close the main valve first and follow the water leak emergency guide. Then apply these criteria before any non-urgent repair.
Where do you use it?
You apply most criteria from your phone: on a call with the company, or on official verification platforms. Some apply on site, such as the inspection method and what is written in the quote before the repair starts.
What do you need before you start?
- The company's official legal name, not just the trade name in the ad.
- Its commercial registration number, or its unified national business number.
- Its tax number, if it is registered for VAT.
- A sample of a previous report, or a description of what the report contains.
- The warranty terms in writing, and the price quote in writing.
How to use it correctly, step by step
Company Trust Checker
A tool on the Consumer Safety Center page that asks 5 questions about the company you are considering. You answer each one with "Yes" or "No":
- Does it provide a documented technical report showing where the leak is and what type it is?
- Does it have a written service contract, and does it show its commercial registration number and VAT number (or your country's equivalent)?
- Does it use thermal and acoustic equipment to locate the leak before any breaking?
- Does it give a written warranty card with a clear period and terms?
- Does it give you an all-inclusive final price after the inspection, with no surprise fees?
The tool counts your "Yes" answers out of 5 and places them in one of three levels. At the end there is a fixed note that always appears, whatever the result, titled "Note: apply the same standards to us". It invites you to ask Kashf the same five questions, points you to the official verification page for the business details (commercial registration and tax number), and offers two contact buttons. It introduces Kashf; it is not part of the rating of the company you entered. The calculation runs in your browser, and your answers are not sent or saved. The tool itself says the rating is guidance, not an official rating or a legal judgment on any company.
Steps for correct use
- Open the Consumer Safety Center
Go to the Consumer Safety Center and scroll to the "Trust checker — rate the company you are considering" section.
- Collect the evidence first
Before answering, ask the company for its commercial registration number, a sample report and the warranty terms in writing. Only answer "Yes" when you see the evidence yourself, not when you hear a promise.
- Answer the five questions
Tap "Yes" or "No" under each question. You must answer all five, or you will see "Answer all five questions before calculating the result".
- Calculate the result
Tap "Calculate the trust result". A score out of 5 appears, with the level title and advice on what to do next.
- Repeat to compare
If you are comparing two or three companies, change your answers for each and tap the button again. Note each company's score and the points you answered "No" to.
How to read the result
- 4 or 5 out of 5, "Good indicators": the company meets most of the criteria. The tool advises you to make sure everything promised is written in the contract or report before work starts.
- 2 or 3, "Medium indicators": some points need clarifying. Ask for written clarification on every point you answered "No" before any repair or payment.
- 0 or 1, "Weak indicators": be careful before any financial commitment, and compare with a company that provides a written report and warranty.
The result does not verify what the company says. If you answer "Yes" based on verbal promises, you get a good score that means nothing. The tool's strength is that it makes you ask for the evidence.
8 fair criteria for judging any company
1. A registered business you can check
Ask for the commercial registration number or the unified national business number (a 10-digit number that usually starts with 7), and the official name. Then check it with the inquiry services of the Ministry of Commerce or the Saudi Business Center. Check three things: the registration is active and not expired, the name matches the invoice and contract, and the registered activity relates to contracting, plumbing or maintenance. Outside Saudi Arabia, use your country's business register.
2. A valid tax number and a proper invoice
A Saudi VAT number has 15 digits, starting and ending with 3. You can check it through the services of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA). A Saudi electronic tax invoice carries a QR code with the seller's name, tax number, date, total and VAT amount.
To be fair: a small business below the mandatory registration threshold may have no tax number, and that is legal. But it is then not allowed to charge you VAT. If you see "15% VAT" with no tax number, ask.
3. A written report you can verify
A good report states the inspection date and address, the equipment and method used, the readings or photos, the leak's location and type, the recommendation and the technician's name. It carries a reference number and a verification code or QR code that opens a page on the company's own domain showing the same details. A verbal report or a WhatsApp photo with no number does not protect your rights.
4. A written warranty with clear terms
Hearing "we give a warranty" is not enough. Ask for a certificate that states what it covers (the repair point? the waterproofing?), how long it lasts and when it starts, the exclusions, and how to claim. Clear terms and a verifiable number matter more than a long period.
5. A written price before the work
Separate the inspection fee from the repair cost. Ask for the quote to state what it includes: the local opening, parts, reinstatement (tiles or plaster), waterproofing and testing after the repair. The final price is usually not known before the assessment, but it must be written down before any repair starts. To see what drives the price, read the leak detection cost guide.
6. A detection method the company explains clearly
Ask: which equipment will you use, and why? A serious company explains acoustic sensing, thermal cameras, pressure testing or tracer gas as the case requires. It also tells you honestly that "no breaking" means locating the leak before opening anything, and that the repair itself usually needs a small opening at one precise point.
7. Traceable payment
Pay in a way that leaves a record: bank transfer, card, mada or a proper payment link. Get an invoice or receipt. Avoid paying the full amount before the work, unless the terms are written and clear.
8. A stable identity and contact
A fixed contact number, a stated address or office, and a technician who introduces himself. Ask: if the leak comes back in a month, which number do I call? And who will come?
Warning signs worth stopping for
- A "final" price over the phone for a repair nobody has seen, followed by many extras on site.
- Pressure to decide immediately, or a demand for full payment upfront in cash with no receipt.
- Suggesting breaking things open to search for the source before any measurement.
- Promises that cannot be proven, such as "absolute accuracy" or "X-ray detection". Home water leak detection equipment does not use X-rays.
- Refusing to write the report or warranty, or offering a sheet with no business name or number.
On the other hand, a free inspection is not a bad sign in itself. Just ask how the repair is priced, and get it in writing.
Questions to ask on the phone before the visit
- What is the business's official name and registration number?
- Which equipment do you use for a case like mine?
- What is the inspection fee? Is it deducted from the repair if I go ahead?
- Will I receive a written report? Does it have a number and a verification code?
- What does the warranty cover, and how do I claim?
- Do you issue a tax invoice?
How does Kashf apply these criteria?
We apply the same criteria to ourselves, and encourage you to check them as you would with any company:
- Registration: Kashf is the trade name of Al-Azl Al-Haseen Contracting Est. (Alazl Alhaseen Contracting Est.). The business number 7030694488 appears in the footer of every page and on the official verification page, and you can check it on the Ministry of Commerce platform. The tax number is printed on every official invoice and available on request.
- Report: it carries a serial number, a verification code and a QR code, and you can open it on our verification page. The same goes for the warranty certificate and the tax invoice. Details are in the guide to verifying reports and warranties.
- Price: we show you where the problem is and what it costs before starting, with no financial commitment before you agree.
- Warranty: a written warranty card, whose period and terms vary by service and are set in the contract.
Kashf's on-site services are available in Saudi Arabia only.
Common mistakes that spoil the result
- Answering "Yes" to a verbal promise. The standard is what you see in writing, not what you hear.
- Relying only on reviews and stars. Reviews help, but they do not replace the registration, invoice and report.
- Choosing the cheapest quote without reading what it includes. It may leave out reinstatement, waterproofing or testing after the repair.
- Accepting a report with no number, date or business name. Such a report will not help you with a bill review or a warranty claim.
Honest limits of the tool
- The Company Trust Checker verifies nothing: no registration, number or report. It only organizes your questions, and its result is only as good as your answers.
- The five questions are a minimum. They do not measure the technician's skill or experience, or whether the diagnosis is right.
- The third question assumes thermal and acoustic equipment. A serious company may use other methods suited to your case, such as pressure testing or tracer gas, so ask why.
- Whether any report is accepted in a bill review is the water utility's decision, and no company can promise it.
- This is general information, not legal advice. In disputes, go to the relevant authorities.
When do you need a leak detection technician?
Ask for a professional inspection when your bill rises for no clear reason, the meter moves with all taps closed, damp keeps returning, or you hear running water inside a wall. Start with the water meter test to find out whether the leak is before or after the tank.
When you choose, apply the eight criteria to every company, Kashf included. In Saudi Arabia you can book from the order page or on WhatsApp at 0544027180, and ask to see any document you want before the visit.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know a leak detection company is reliable before I hire it?
Check five things in writing: an active commercial registration in a name that matches the invoice, a proper tax invoice, an inspection report with a number and verification code, a warranty with clear terms, and a written price before the work. A reliable leak detection company hands over these documents without hesitation.
Is it enough that the company has a commercial registration?
Registration is a basic requirement, but it is not enough on its own. It proves the business legally exists, not the quality of its inspections or the clarity of its prices. Treat it as the first step, then ask for the report, warranty and written quote.
How do I check the VAT number on a leak company's invoice?
A Saudi VAT number has 15 digits, starting and ending with 3. You can check it through the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority's services. Also make sure the business name on the invoice matches the name on the commercial registration and the contract.
Is a company without a tax number operating illegally?
Not necessarily. Businesses below the mandatory VAT registration threshold may not be registered, and that is legal. But they are then not allowed to add VAT to your invoice. If you are charged VAT with no tax number shown, ask for an explanation.
What should a leak detection report include?
The inspection date and address, the equipment and method, readings or photos, the leak's location and type, the repair recommendation, the technician's and business's names, and a reference number with a verification code you can open on the company's website. A report missing these is weak evidence.
Does no-breaking leak detection mean nothing will be broken at all?
No. It means the leak is located with equipment before anything is opened, so there is no random breaking to search for it. The repair itself usually needs a small opening at the exact point. An honest company tells you this from the start.
Should I pay the full amount before the work starts?
It is safer not to pay the full amount before the work without written terms. Pay the inspection fee or the agreed deposit in a traceable way, and get an invoice or receipt. Make sure the agreement on the rest of the amount is written in the quote.
How long should a leak repair warranty be?
It depends on the work. A warranty on replacing a joint differs from one on roof waterproofing. More important than the length is that the warranty is written, states what it covers and excludes and how to claim, and carries a number you can verify.
Are Google reviews enough to choose a reliable leak detection company?
Customer reviews are a useful sign, especially detailed comments about the warranty and after-sales service. But they are not enough alone, and fake reviews can distort them. Combine them with checking the registration, invoice, report and written warranty.
Will a company's report get my water bill reduced?
No. A written technical report documents the condition of the network and supports your request, but the decision to review or adjust the bill belongs to the water utility and its procedures. Any company that promises a certain outcome here is promising more than it controls.
Related services
On-site inspections are available in Saudi Arabia; the tools and guides work anywhere.
This guide is educational. It explains estimation tools that help you understand a situation and decide what to do next; confirming a leak and pinpointing it always requires an on-site inspection with instruments. Structural questions are for a licensed engineer to decide.