You’ll find most of the plumbing infrastructure of the average home inside walls, floors, and ceilings. That can make detecting leaks difficult. The good news is that your home already has a device you can use to uncover hidden leaks, wherever they are. Here’s how to use your home’s water meter to do exactly that.
Find Your Water Meter
Before you can use your water meter to detect a hidden leak, you must locate it. Depending on where you live, your water meter may be inside or outside your home. If you suspect it’s the latter, look for a buried concrete box with a cover emblazoned with the word water. Lifting the cover should let you access the meter. If you suspect your meter is inside your home, look where the water main enters. If you know where your home’s main water shutoff valve is, you’ll likely find the meter right near it.
Stop All Known Water Use
Before you can look for evidence of a leak, you must cease all known water use in your home. That means turning off your water heater’s supply valve, stopping all water-dependent appliances, and shutting off all faucets. Once you do that, the only remaining water flow should be your leak, if one exists.
Read Your Water Meter
If you have an analog water meter, read the numbers on its display and write them down. Then, return at least 15 minutes later and check the display again. If you see a different number, you’ve identified a leak. However, it’s important to note that small leaks can take quite a while to change an analog meter’s display. If you suspect a very slow leak, look for a small, asterisk-shaped spinner on the display. If it’s moving at all, there’s water flowing somewhere.
If you have a digital water meter, leak detection is even easier. You can use the comparison method above. But, because digital meters are more precise, you’ll have an easier time. Also, many digital water meters have flow and leak indicators. The former may show up as an arrow on the meter’s display. If yours is a large leak, it will almost certainly cause that indicator to illuminate. A leak indicator, meanwhile, may look like an icon of a dripping faucet. It lets you know when the water flow is too low to represent intentional use.
Now that you know how to use your water meter to detect leaks, you can take prompt action to prevent home damage. Catching a small leak early can save you a small fortune on water damage repairs. If you have concerns or require leak detection services, contact Gordon AC & Plumbing in Monroe, LA.
