HOW TO FIND A LEAK

Locating a leak is a process of elimination.

Finding a phantom water waster on your property:

First, make sure no water is being used inside or outside of your home.

Second, go out to the water meter, it is usually located in the front sidewalk of your home with the meter lid marked "water".

Check the flow indicator on the meter, if the small red flow-indicator triangle is moving, then water is leaking somewhere.

Check your toilets

Shut off one toilet at a time at the wall.  In between each shutoff, go out to the water meter and check your flow indicator.  If the small triangle stopped moving, that means it is the culprit.  If the small, red flow-indicator triangle is moving, that toilet is not the problem. Something else is causing a leak.

Check your sprinkler system
Shut off the anti-siphon valve that serves your sprinkler system. Check the red flow-indicator triangle at the water meter. The sprinkler system is the problem, if the flow indicator stopped moving.

Check your water softener
Most softeners have a bypass lever. Turn the lever to allow water to bypass the softener. Check the red flow-indicator triangle at the meter. You have isolated the leak to your softener, if the triangle is no longer moving. 

Check your main service line
First, you need to find your water shutoff valve. This is usually in your front yard near the sewer riser cap, in your garage or near your water softener unit.  Shut off the valve, cutting off all water to your home, and go in the house and turn on a faucet to make sure the water is off. Check the red flow-indicator triangle at the meter.  The leak is between the shutoff valve and the water meter, if the red triangle is moving.

Still not able to find the leak?

Call a professional plumber to find the leak.  Be sure to close the water meter cap to prevent damage to the lens and replace the meter box lid.

Most area residential water meters are located in the front sidewalk of your home with the meter lid marked "water".  

Locate the meter in the sidewalk at the front of your home. 

1.Remove the meter box lid using a screwdriver or appropriate tool.

2.Lift the meter cap over the lens and position yourself to read the meter. Face the meter so that the "0" on the outer dial is at the top.

3.Locate the number bar of the meter face. Write down the number reading from left to right. Note the number on the far right does not move.

4.After obtaining your reading, close the meter cap to prevent damage to the lens.

5.Carefully replace the meter box lid to avoid damaging the meter or lid.