Inspector's check · Basement and crawlspace
With every tap and appliance off, does the water meter stay still?
Turn off all faucets, the dishwasher, washer, ice maker and sprinklers. Find the meter (often in the basement, or in a box near the street) and watch the small leak dial, usually a triangle or star, for 10 minutes. Or write down the reading, use no water for 2 hours, and read it again.
Why it matters
A meter that creeps with everything off means water is leaking somewhere you can't see: a running toilet, a dripping pipe in a wall, or a broken line outside. Hidden leaks rot framing and grow mold.
If it's a problem
An inspector would write it up as “Water meter moves with everything off (hidden leak)” and rate it fix this year. Your options, with rough U.S. costs:
- DIY (usually best), $5 to $30: Check toilets first: a few drops of food coloring in the tank, and color in the bowl after 15 minutes means a leaking flapper.
- Handyman, $100 to $250: Replace toilet flappers and fill valves, and fix dripping fixtures.
- Pro, $250 to $900: Plumber traces the leak, with a pressure test or acoustic leak detection if it's inside a wall or underground.
Keep it from coming back: check the water meter for hidden leaks.
Get this on your own house's plan
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