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What Your Water Meter Says About Leaks
Most homeowners don't look at their water meter. Many couldn't tell you where it is. But that small dial by the curb sees every gallon that enters your home, including the ones leaking somewhere you can't see. Ten minutes with your meter can tell you whether you have a hidden leak, often long before a stain shows up on the ceiling. Start With Your Water Bill Before you go outside, pull up your last few bills. Most utilities in the Sacramento region show your usage over time, and many let you check it online. Many bill in CCF (hundred cubic feet). One CCF is about 748 gallons. Compare this billing period with the same months last year. Summer bills naturally climb with landscape watering, and winter bills should drop. If your winter usage looks like summer, or a month jumps with no new guests, pool fill-up or garden project, take it seriously. A running toilet alone can waste hundreds of gallons a day. Find the Meter In most neighborhoods, the meter sits in a concrete or plastic box near the street, in line with where the water line enters your home. Lift the lid carefully. Spiders and wasps like these boxes. You may need to brush away dirt to read the face. Look for two things: the main dial or digital readout, and the leak indicator. The leak indicator is usually a small red or blue triangle, star or wheel that spins with even a tiny flow of water. Run the Ten-Minute Test Turn off every faucet, shower, dishwasher, washing machine and ice maker. Make sure the irrigation system isn't scheduled to run. Look at the leak indicator. If it's turning, water is moving somewhere....