Establish a controlled period
Choose a period when no taps, toilets, appliances, irrigation or other known water users should operate. Note the meter reading or indicator, wait, then check it again. In larger properties, tanks, automatic equipment or shared supplies can complicate the result.
Interpret carefully
Movement can indicate unaccounted water use, but it does not prove a concealed pipe leak. Toilets, irrigation, filling tanks and other automatic devices can also draw water. The result is evidence for the next diagnostic step, not a final diagnosis.
Record the result
Photograph the meter before and after the test and note the time interval. This gives the plumber a clearer starting point and helps avoid repeating the same basic check.
Related information
Damp Wall Near Plumbing
Dampness near pipe routes can result from a concealed leak, waste leak, waterproofing failure, condensation or moisture from another source.
How to Use a Water Meter as a Leak Clue
A meter can show unexplained water use, but the result must be interpreted carefully before it is treated as proof of a concealed leak.
Suddenly High Water Bill
A high bill is evidence of increased recorded consumption, not proof of a concealed pipe leak. Start by ruling out common continuous water users.
Water Meter Moves When Everything Is Off
Unexpected meter movement is a useful clue that water is being used somewhere, but it does not identify the source by itself.