Reading Your Water Meter to Find Hidden Leaks
Your water meter can tell you whether there's a leak somewhere, even when you can't see or hear one.
Request a plumberFind the meter
In Topeka the meter is usually in a covered pit near the street or sidewalk, or sometimes in the basement. Lift the lid carefully; spiders and wasps like meter pits.
Turn everything off
Make sure no water is being used: taps, toilets, dishwasher, washing machine, ice maker, sprinklers and the water softener if you have one.
Watch the leak indicator
Most meters have a small triangle, star or dial that spins when any water flows. If it's moving with everything off, water is leaking somewhere.
Narrow it down
Close the main shut-off inside the house. If the indicator stops, the leak is inside. If it keeps moving, the leak is in the buried line between the meter and the house.
Check the toilets
A few drops of food coloring in the tank will show up in the bowl within 15 minutes if the flapper is leaking. Toilets are the most common hidden leak.
Next step
If you can't find it, a plumber can trace it with the right tools. See leak detection.
Read it twice
If the indicator is hard to see, write down the full meter reading, wait an hour without using any water, then read it again. Any change means water was used while nothing was on. This works well overnight too: read the meter before bed and again in the morning before anyone uses a tap.
Outdoor lines
Sprinkler systems and yard hydrants are common hiding places for leaks, especially after a winter freeze. If the leak only shows up in summer, check the irrigation zones one at a time.
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