How to Check a Water Meter for a Possible Leak
Your water meter can help answer the first important question: is water moving through the system when everything should be off?
Fort Myers area service inquiries
A meter check is a useful starting point because it tracks water entering the property. It cannot identify the failed fixture or pipe by itself, and it will not diagnose every intermittent leak.
First, stop intentional water use
Turn off faucets, showers, clothes washers, dishwashers, and any other fixtures. Confirm that automatic irrigation is not running and that the pool autofill, if present, is accounted for. Do not shut off equipment that needs continuous water for safety without advice.
- Find the water meter and look for the flow or leak indicator.
- Observe whether it moves while all intended water use is stopped.
- Note the reading; check again after a period with no use.
- If it changes, investigate common fixtures and consider a professional assessment.
Lee County Utilities explains that its leak indicator should not rotate when no indoor or outdoor water use is occurring.
A moving indicator does not tell you where the leak is
A running toilet flapper can waste water silently. So can an irrigation valve that stays open or an automatic pool fill. Check the easy causes before concluding a pipe beneath the slab has failed.
- Check toilets for continuous refill noise or tank-to-bowl leakage.
- Inspect visible hose bibbs, supply lines, and appliances.
- Review the utility bill for changes in actual usage, not just the amount due.
The City of Fort Myers also offers the WaterSmart portal, which includes usage information and leak alerts for eligible utility accounts.
When to get help
If the meter continues to show flow and you cannot identify a running fixture, the next step may be isolating parts of the system and using pressure or acoustic testing. Never loosen meter equipment or open sealed utility hardware.
References: Lee County Utilities meter guide and City of Fort Myers Utility Billing.
Answers before you call.
Get a clear starting point for your next decision.
Can a water meter detect a slab leak?
Why is my meter moving when nothing is on?
What if the meter does not move?
Not sure where the leak is hiding?
Describe the symptoms, the property type, and what you have already checked.