Note that water meters and cutoff valves vary. With the cover off, you can see the water meter and the county's cutoff valve (to the left). The picture below shows a typical water meter cover found in cities and counties across the U.S. Use the checklists in the Outdoor Visual Leak Inspection ( Section 2) and Indoor Visual Leak Inspection ( Section 3) to conduct visual leak inspections around your home. In the event your inside main water valve fails, there's one final backstop you can operate to shut off water to the house: the main water valve on the street. Visual Inspection MethodĬonduct the Visual Inspection Method if you did not detect a continuous leak when you performed the Leak Detection Test ( Section 1) or if you are uncomfortable with the Isolation Method. If you are comfortable turning valves on and off, go to Isolation Method for Continuous Leaks ( Section 4). You will turn water supply valves "off" to prevent water from flowing into water supply pipes. This is often the quickest way to locate ongoing, hard-to-find leaks. If your Leak Detection Test ( Section 1) indicated a continuous leak, consider using the Isolation Method to discover the leak location. The purpose of the Isolation Method is to isolate different sections of the plumbing in and around your home. A brief description of both methods follows. This guide provides two methods to detect the location of leaks: the Isolation Method and the Visual Inspection Method. To determine if you have a slow leak follow Step 3 above. Some leaks are very slow and may not show as a continuous flow.If the number is greater than zero on any of the flashes, you have a continuous leak. Observe the flow rate screen for at least 10 flashes.If Gallons Used is greater than zero you have a continuous leak.Subtract the first water meter reading from the second.Wait 20 minutes then read your water meter again and record the numbers.Use the number indicated by the sweep arm as the final digit. Read your water meter and record the numbers in the boxes we've provided (" Fill in your meter readings Fill in your meter readings").Some leaks are so small that the movement is almost undetectable. If it is moving, you have a continuous leak. Step-by-Step Instructions For Analog Display Meters