Real Cases — What Thermal Imaging Has Actually Revealed in Christchurch Homes

Leaky Showers — Even in New Homes

There’s a common assumption that if a home is new, it should be fine.

Most of the time, it is.

But not always.

Where this started

This was a relatively new home. No obvious damage, no major red flags. Just a concern that something didn’t feel right around the bathroom area.

Nothing visible. No clear staining. No obvious failure.

What was happening

Showers are one of the most common sources of moisture issues — not because they’re poorly designed, but because they rely on multiple elements all working together.

Waterproofing, junctions, penetrations, seals.

If something isn’t quite right, water doesn’t need much of a path.

What made this case different

The leak wasn’t obvious.

It wasn’t actively presenting in a way that you could point to immediately. It was subtle — building up over time.

That’s what makes these cases frustrating.

Where thermal imaging helped

The thermal image showed a slight but consistent variation along one side of the shower.

Not dramatic. Easy to overlook if you weren’t paying attention.

But enough to suggest something wasn’t behaving normally.

From there, it narrowed the focus.

What this highlights

New doesn’t always mean risk-free.

And some of the more costly issues are the ones that don’t present clearly at the start.