Water Meter Leak Detection

First it is important to understand how to read your water meter.

To check for leaks follow these steps:

Method 1

Turn off all water taps inside and outside your home. Record the meter reading and return in two to three hours to check for movement. If the meter reading has changed, you may have a leak.

Method 2

Many meters have a small red (or blue) triangle on the meter face, designed to detect even small leaks. If this red triangle is moving when you have all water off inside and outside your home, you may have a leak.

Common sources of leaks are a toilet that is running, a constant drip in a sink or outdoor faucet, a loose or dripping washer connection, a home water treatment unit, an evaporative cooler unit, or a sprinkler system.

Shutting off Water at Your Meter

Should you need to shut off the supply of water to your house (to repair a leak, etc.) there is usually a shutoff valve right at the water meter. The water meter shutoff valve typically looks like a brass bolt located on the pipe connected to the water meter. Often this bolt will have an arrow stamped into the top indicating the direction of flow.

To shut off the water supply, use a large pair of pliers to turn the bolt 90 degrees. You can check to make sure that the water is off by operating a faucet or hose bib. To restore the water supply to your home, simply turn the bolt back to the position you found it.

Water Meter Maintenance

Water meter maintenance is almost always the responsibility of the local water utility. If you believe there is a problem with your water meter (a leak, over or under reading, strange noise, etc.) contact your local water utility. The telephone number for your utility can usually be found on a recent water bill or in the phone book.

It is not a good idea to attempt to repair your water meter yourself. In many places, the water meter is actually the property of the water utility – not the homeowner. Tampering with your water meter in any way could result in a fine.

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Tim Caldwell

Tim Caldwell works as both a writer and author and enjoys writing articles on many different topics. He specializes especially in topics concerning Environmental Conservation. Caldwell graduated from Taft Junior College.