Smartvatten uncovered hidden hot water leak

LF Halland, a swedish insurance company, wants to highlight its successful collaboration with Smartvatten. A partnership that strengthens preventive damage work and delivers clear customer value. Since 2022, together with Smartvatten and housing associations in Halland, they have developed an efficient and scalable way of working to prevent and reduce water damage.

An alert that made a difference

When Smartvatten’s system showed unusual hot water consumption in Riksbyggen Housing Association Halmstad Hus 18 during the spring of 2025, it was the first sign of a problem that otherwise would most likely have gone completely unnoticed. The weather was warm, the measured consumption was low, and the water was flowing straight into the ground – conditions that often allow leaks in culvert pipe networks to continue for a long time without being detected.

Thanks to real-time data from Smartvatten’s system, Riksbyggen was able to act early. The association’s chairman, Ersin Hergül, maintained an ongoing dialogue with Riksbyggen technician Mats Frisk and trusted their assessment of the situation. This made fast decisions and early action possible, which in turn helped prevent much more extensive damage.

The weather was warm, consumption was low, and the water was flowing straight into the ground. These are exactly the kinds of conditions that often allow leaks in culvert pipe networks to remain unnoticed for a long time. Thanks to the real-time data, Riksbyggen was able to act early and prevent significantly greater damage.

When the alert came in, residents were first informed in order to rule out increased usage as the cause. But when the values continued to remain at an elevated level, it became clear that something was wrong in the system. Mats Frisk was given responsibility for leading the on-site investigation. There were no obvious indications that hot water was specifically involved, but the increase was stable and recurring enough to point to a major leak in the culvert pipe network.

Troubleshooting in the culvert pipe network

The investigation proved to be complex and required persistent teamwork. A team of technicians systematically inspected the entire culvert pipe network using thermal imaging cameras, often in the early mornings when conditions were most favourable.

At first, most things appeared normal, but through careful and methodical work, the team eventually identified a decisive clue: a manhole cover that was unusually warm. This led them in the right direction, and the leak turned out to be hidden beneath a wall – something that would in practice have been impossible to detect without the combination of real-time monitoring and extensive fieldwork. Had it been a cold water leak, it would have been much harder, perhaps even impossible, to locate.

Once the leak had been found, it became clear that the damage was extensive. The ground had to be excavated, pipe parts replaced, and the culvert restored with special insulation. The cost came to approximately SEK 250,000 – a significant amount, but far less than the damage could have become if the leak had been allowed to continue. The water was flowing straight into the ground, and both Riksbyggen and LF Halland conclude that the leak could have led to soil loss, settlement damage and, in the worst case, a sinkhole.

“This was truly a team effort. My colleagues did a very thorough job in the field, and Smartvatten’s alerts gave us the right signals at the right time. Together, that made it possible for us to find and fix the leak before it caused more serious damage,” says Mats.

The association had to cover the cost themselves because the pipes were old and fully depreciated, which made them especially grateful that the leak was discovered before it could cause even greater problems. After the repair, both water consumption and energy losses dropped significantly – clear proof that this was an active hot water leak affecting the property far more than residents had noticed.

Smartvatten’s alert played a crucial role. Riksbyggen explained that they normally review water statistics once per quarter, meaning that a leak like this could have continued for months before being discovered. With real-time data, they were able to begin troubleshooting immediately. The system also provided greater insight into other consumption patterns, such as when residents watered their gardens during the summer – details that help both housing associations and property managers better understand how water is actually used.

For LF Halland, the leak became yet another clear example of how digital water monitoring can create real customer value. Not only through reduced damage and lower costs, but also through a better understanding of water use and the opportunity to work more proactively with sustainability in properties.

In the end, Riksbyggen Housing Association Halmstad Hus 18 clearly illustrates what happens when technology, property management and early warning systems come together in the right way: a leak that otherwise would have continued unnoticed, caused major costs and put the property’s foundation at risk, was stopped in time. And for Riksbyggen, LF Halland and the association, it became a shared confirmation that preventive work does not only save money – it creates security, knowledge and more sustainable water use.