[How to Check for Water Leaks Using Your Water Meter]
[00:00:04]
TODAY WE'RE GONNA SHOW YOU WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT YOU HAVE A WATER LEAK AT YOUR HOUSE.
WITH ME IS JOSH ALVERA, WHO'S A METER SERVICES TECHNICIAN FOR THE CITY OF PLANO.
I HAVE A WATER LEAK IN MY HOUSE, AT LEAST I THINK I DO.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO OUT HERE AT THE AT THE METER? WHAT YOU'RE GONNA WANNA DO, STEVE, IS FIRST LOCATE YOUR WATER METER BOX.
YOUR WATER METER BOX IS TYPICALLY IN FRONT OF YOUR HOME, RIGHT NEXT TO YOUR CURB LINE.
YOU'RE GONNA WANT TO GET ONE OF THESE.
THIS IS CALLED A SHUTOFF WRENCH.
THIS SHUTOFF WRE IN PARTICULAR HAS A KEY ON IT, AND THAT'S THE KEY THAT WE WANT.
AND YOU CAN BUY THESE AT ANY HARDWARE STORE, CORRECT.
SO WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO IS TAKE THIS KEY, YOU'RE GONNA SHOVE IT IN THIS KEYHOLE RIGHT ON TOP OF YOUR METER BOX LID.
AND YOU'RE GONNA COUNTERCLOCKWISE TURN, POP THAT THING RIGHT OPEN.
AND THAT'S THE METER RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE THERE.
SO THAT WATER METER, BEFORE YOU EVEN CHECK IT, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS OFF INSIDE.
MAKE SURE THERE'S NO TOILET FLAP RUNNING, MAKE SURE THERE'S NO KIND OF LEAKING ON ANY KIND OF VALVE THAT YOU HAVE INTERNALLY.
AND WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO IS COME OVER TO YOUR METER.
AND THESE METERS TYPICALLY HAVE A PLASTIC COVER OVER IT.
SO WHENEVER YOU FLIP OVER THAT COVER, YOU'RE GONNA LOOK AT THAT RED SWEEP HAND.
IF THAT RED SWEEP HAND IS MOVING SLIGHTLY, OR IF IT'S REALLY GOING, THAT'S SHOWING THAT YOU HAVE CONSUMPTION ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THAT METER.
NOW I'VE TURNED EVERYTHING OFF INSIDE THE HOUSE, SO IF IT'S STILL MOVING AROUND, THAT MEANS I'VE GOT A LEAK SOMEWHERE.
YES, YOU HAVE SOMETHING GOING SOMEWHERE, BUT IF IT'S STILL, THEN YOU'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.