The Complete Meter Test
Below are instructions on how to check your meter to find out how much water is being lost due to a leak. Knowing the volume of loss will help your leak specialist or plumber to understand the potential size of the leak. Also, after a leak detection repair is completed, check the meter again to make sure all the leaks have been repaired.
- This test should be conducted for a 30 minute period, during which time no water is being used on the property.
- Find your water meter, which is usually located in front of the house in a covered box near the street or in the crawl space under the house.
- Write down the numbers indicated on the meter at the start of this test.
- Return to check the meter reading after 30 minutes have passed.
- If the numbers have not changed, you do not have a leak in your pressurized water system. If the numbers have changed, continue with the following steps.
- Shut off the valves under all toilets in the house, and repeat steps 1-4.
- If the numbers have not changed, you may have a running toilet that should be serviced. If the numbers have changed, this indicates water consumption even though water was not being used during the test, and you may need leak detection.
- Note the smaller spindle on the left. This is the low flow indicator. If this indicator is moving then water is flowing thru the meter indicating that you have a leak.
- Write down the meter number.
