Locate a Leak
Determine If Your Leak Is Inside Or Outside Your House
First, determine you have a leak. If you have a leak, follow these steps:
- Shut off the main water valve to inside your house.
- Locate your water meter again and lift the cover to see the meter dial.
- Note the position of the sweep hand, or use a marker on the lens cover.
- Wait 20-30 minutes and check the sweep hand location again. If the sweep hand has moved, you possibly could have a leak somewhere in your system.
- You can also check the "flow" indicator to see if it's moving.
- If the meter has moved when the water is shut off to the house, you have a leak somewhere outside of the house.
- If the meter has not moved when the water to the house is shut off, your leak is somewhere inside the house.
A few other tips to check for leaks:
- Check for moist spots around and under the house plumbing and around outdoor plumbing.
- Your toilet may have a silent leak. Drop a little food coloring into the tank. Wait about 10 minutes without flushing. If color appears in the bowl, you have a leak.
