Guide · Home care

Your Water Meter

A plain, friendly guide to using your water meter to catch hidden leaks: where it is, how to read it, a simple leak check, the toilet dye test, and what to report.

Start the checklist

Where to start

Water bill jumped for no clear reason?
Try the simple leak check. It only takes a few minutes.
Toilet seems to run now and then?
Do the 10 minute dye test in finding where the water is going.
Not sure where the meter is?
See where the meter is, and ask the owner to show you during the move in walk.

The short version

Some leaks announce themselves with a drip or a puddle. Others are silent. A toilet that runs a little, a pipe weeping inside a wall, or a line leaking under the yard can go on for weeks before anyone notices, usually when a surprising water bill shows up.

Your water meter can help you catch those quiet leaks early, and it only takes a few minutes.

This guide shows you how to read it, how to run a simple leak check, and what to do if you find something. You do not need any special skills, just a little patience.

Where the meter is

Water meters live in different places depending on the home.

Many meters are inside, often in a basement or utility room, where they stay warm.
Many others are outside near the street or sidewalk, in a ground box with a lid.
Apartments and some shared buildings may not have a separate meter for each home.

Ask the owner to show you where it is during the move in walk.

A few safety notes

The meter is part of the water utility’s system, and many towns allow only the utility to open it or break its seals. Never remove seals, open the meter or try to adjust it.
Outdoor meter box lids can be heavy, and you cannot always see what is inside. If the lid is hard to lift or you cannot see inside clearly, please leave it and ask the owner or the water utility to help.
Close the lid fully when you are done, so nobody trips or steps in.

Reading the meter

Most meters show a running total of the water used. The utility can tell you whether yours reads in gallons or another unit. Many also have a small leak indicator: a tiny triangle, star or wheel that spins when even a little water is moving. Digital meters may show a flow number or a small symbol instead.

Try it

Try the simple leak check

Tick each step as you go. Your ticks stay on this device.

0 of 5

All water use turned off: taps, washer, dishwasher, ice maker and sprinkler timers
Leak indicator watched for a few minutes. If it moves at all, water is going somewhere
If it is still, reading written down or photographed
No water used for two hours
Meter checked again. If the number went up, there may be a slow leak

Finding where the water is going

Worn toilet flappers are a common cause of quiet leaks, so start with the toilets.

Put a few drops of food coloring in each toilet tank.
Wait 10 minutes without flushing, and look in the bowl.
If color shows up, that toilet is leaking.
Flush when you are done so the color does not stain the tank.

Next, look and listen around faucets, under sinks, near the water heater, at outdoor spigots and along any sprinkler lines.

If you know where the home’s main water shutoff is and it turns easily by hand, the owner may ask you to close it and check the meter again. If the indicator stops, the leak is likely inside the home. If it keeps moving, the leak may be in the line outside, which is a job for the owner and a plumber or the utility. Never force a stuck valve.

What to report

Let the owner know in writing if the leak indicator moves with everything off, if a toilet fails the dye test, or if a water bill jumps for no clear reason. Photos of the meter before and after your check are very helpful. Some water utilities offer a bill adjustment after a leak is repaired, so owners may want to ask.

Try it

Water meter leak check checklist

From the guide’s own checklist. Tick each one as you go. Your ticks stay on this device. These are examples; your home may need others.

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Know where the water meter is
Never open, adjust or remove seals from the meter
Heavy or hard to see pit lids left for the owner or utility
All water off before checking the leak indicator
Dye test on every toilet, with a 10 minute wait
Leaks and sudden bill jumps reported in writing

An everyday example

A resident’s water bill came in much higher than usual, though nothing seemed to be dripping. They turned off all the water, checked the indoor meter and saw the little triangle slowly turning. They did a dye test on each toilet, waited 10 minutes, and found color in the bowl of the guest bathroom toilet. They sent the owner photos of the meter and the colored water. The owner replaced the flapper that week, and the triangle sat still the next time they checked.

Test yourself

How much do you remember?

4 quick questions from this guide, with a one line why for each. Totally optional, no sign in, and your answers are never saved.

From The Perfect Series

Go deeper with The Perfect Leak Guide

A water meter is one of the best early warning tools a home has. The Perfect Leak Guide goes deeper on finding, stopping and reporting leaks before they turn into damage.

See The Perfect Series

Keep this guide handy

Save this page, come back to your checklist any time, and share it with anyone in your home who could use it.

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From the Bunklow shop

Take it with you

Bunklow Home Guide 112: Municipal Water Meter Sweep Hand and Low-Flow Leak Indicator AuditsA printable Bunklow guide to municipal water meter sweep hand and low-flow leak indicator audits: plain steps, how often to check, and when to call a pro.
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Plumbing and Water Checklist PackThe Plumbing and Water checklists in one pack, fillable on screen or printable.
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Sold on Payhip.

This guide shares general educational information to help you, and is not legal advice or a substitute for a licensed professional. Bunklow does not inspect, repair or service plumbing or water systems. Rules about meters, water bills and repairs differ from state to state and town to town, so please check your state and local rules and your lease, and get local help from a licensed plumber or your water utility for repairs.