Water Meter Leak Test – Is Your Water Meter Moving When Not Using Water?

The water meter leak test is a simple DIY test to confirm the presence of a water leak on your property.

If no water is being used in your property but the dial on the water meter is spinning – you have a leak.

You can measure the size of your leak by timing how many times the dial rotates in a minute. 1 single rotation of the dial on the water meter equates to 1 liter of water usage.

Repeating the test with the internal stopcock shut off will identify if the leak is before or after the internal stopcock. 

A leak before the stopcock the leak indicates a leak on the incoming water main supply pipe.

A leak after the stopcock the leak indicates a leak inside your property. A leak inside your property will be on either water mains, hot or cold feed pipework, central heating, underfloor heating, a toilet leak or a swimming pool leak (if you have a pool!).

Water Meter - Simple Leak test

Why does my water meter keep running (Spinning) when not using water?

A leak will cause the water meter to go up and keep spinning continuously, even though all the taps are turned off and no water appliances are being used.

Is your water meter spinning fast? You may have a big leak! 

If the dial on the water meter is spinning very slowly then you have a smaller leak. 

If you have confirmed a water leak is present we provide a comprehensive leak detection & repair service! Don’t want to get your hands dirty? The water meter leak test is part of our service!

WATCH: Our Engineer Uses The Water Meter To Confirm A Leak Is Inside The Custmers House.
Leak Rate: 1 LITRE per MINUTE!!

How to carry out a meter test, a step-by-step guide

Step 1. Make sure no water is being used in or on the property

Ensure:

  • No taps are running
  • No toilet cisterns filling up
  • No washing machines are on
  • No dishwashers are in use
  • Your Central heating system is off

Step 2. Locate your water meter!

Our water meter looks like this


Your water meter will usually be on the boundary between your property and the nearest public footpath, road or walkway.

Depending on the type of property, it could be just a few feet away, or several hundred meters away, maybe even up to a mile.

Some properties do not have a water meter. Some properties have a shared water supply with just one water meter measuring the total usage of several properties.

Check the serial number on the meter with the one on your water bill to make sure you’re taking the reading from the right meter!

If you don’t know where yours is or you’re not sure if you have one, contact your Local Water provider – they should be able to tell you.

Step 3. Take a reading from your meter

Please be careful when removing the plastic cover to take a reading! You may need to wedge a screwdriver down the side of the cover.

Underneath this there will be a polystyrene or foam disc that protects the meter from frost. Make sure you put the protective cover back in place when you have finished taking your meter reading.

If you see any of the cogs or dials or rotating, this means you have a leak.

Take a note of the meter reading and then wait a while.


Step 4. Take another reading from your meter

If you only see a tiny amount of movement, or the meter stops and starts this means you have a small leak. Wait an hour or so, then take another reading.

If you see fast movement, wait 1 minute or so, then take another reading.

Step 5. Calculate your Leak Rate

Working out the difference between the two readings will tell you your leak rate over 1 minute or 1 hour respectively, or for whatever fixed period of time you were monitoring the leakage rate.

It’s really helpful for us to know the leak rate before we book you in for a Leak Detection.

But if you don’t manage to calculate your leak rate, don’t worry, we can still book you in – it’s enough just to know that there is movement on your meter.

Step 6. Isolation testing

If you want to know more about your leak, isolation testing can help you determine if it’s on your internal or external pipework.

For this, you’ll need to know the location of your internal stopcock and be comfortable with ‘isolating it’, (that’s what we call ‘turning it off!’). This will stop water from passing the isolation valve – it will cut off the water supply to the property.

Be careful when isolating your internal stopcock, as they can be stiff and brittle and old ones have been known to break easily.

Once you have turned off the internal stopcock, take another take another look at your water meter.

If the meter has stopped, that means your leak is after the internal stopcock, on your internal pipework somewhere.

If your meter carries on moving then you know your leak is before the internal stopcock, somewhere on your external supply.

If you have any other isolation points (stopcocks) in or around your property, you can repeat this test to further narrow down your leak location.

If the results of your meter test reveal you have a leak, or if you’re still not sure, call 0800 731 3843 now so that one of our Leak Detection Experts can assist you.

CIPHE - Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering

ADI Leak Detection is accredited with The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering.

ADI Leak Detection is registered with The Water Industry Approved Plumbers’ Scheme.

ADI Leak Detection is registered with The Water Industry Approved Plumbers’ Scheme.

ADI Leak Detection is a Watersafe Accredited contractor.

ADI Leak Detection Customer Service Office Team

Adrian Morgan

Adrian Morgan CIPHE RP RHP is the founder & Managing Director of ADI Pro Leak Ltd. Adrian is also the Head Plumbing, Heating & Leak Detection engineer at ADI Leak Detection.

Adrian CIPHE RP RHP is proud to be registered with the Chartered Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineering, a Registered Plumber and a Registered Heating Professional.