How To Read a Water Meter (Checking For Leaks)

What is a Water Meter?

A water meter is the device used to monitor the water consumption of an individual home or business. They do so by recording the water supply that flows through your property.

Much like a gas meter, the water meter measures a property's water usage for the purpose of billing. However, this also makes it an incredibly useful tool when it comes to detecting any possible leaks on your property, which is why it is important to understand how to read your meter.

Locating Your Meter

There is no point in learning to read a water meter if you do not know where yours is. Your water meter will usually be located at the front of the property, close to the boundary line. This means it can often be found near the nature strip or the pathway. Most commonly, the water meter will be covered by a plastic, rectangular lid marked 'water meter' that sits level with the ground.

How To Read a Water Meter?

There are many different types of water meters, however the majority have a series of black and red numbers. The black numbers represent kilolitres, where one kilolitre is equal to 1000 litres, and the red numbers represent litres. Meter readers use these to measure the water usage charge for your next bill.

How to Test For Water Leaks?

Knowing how to read your water meter is especially useful if you suspect a leak on your property. While it won't tell you where the leak is, a water meter can provide assurance that there is a leak. It can also provide a general idea of how big the leak might be.

So, how do you check for a leak using the water meter? It's simple really.

Start by ensuring all of the taps in and around the house are turned off completely. It is also a good idea to check that no water using appliances are running, such as the washing machine. This will give you the most accurate reading when checking the meter.

Next you will need to read the meter and note down the number it is sitting at. It is unlikely a leak will be losing kilolitres of water at a time so you will only need to record the red numbers.

Once you've got a record you will need to wait for at least one hour before checking the meter again. To get an accurate reading, it is recommended no water is used in the house, and yes, that does include the toilet flushing. Starting a test before everyone in the household goes to bed is a good way of minimising disruption to general daily tasks.

As a final step, check the red numbers again. Any change in the red dials indicates that there is a leak, while the amount of change can help reveal the size of the leak.

If you've done a test and discovered a leak, Jetset Plumbing has you covered. With specialists in locating and fixing leaks, your water bill will be back to normal in no time. So if it's peace of mind you're looking for, call us today on 1800 443 996.