Find the leak indicator—that little triangle, star, or spinning wheel. Turn off every faucet in your house. I mean every single one. Even the one in the guest bathroom you forgot existed. Now, go watch that indicator. If it moves at all—even a tiny flutter—you have a leak. It could be a drippy toilet flapper (very common) or a pipe sweating in the wall (less fun). To confirm, write down the meter reading now. Don’t stop laughing.
The Toilet Test (Because It’s Always the Toilet)
Head to your toilet. Lift the tank lid. Listen. Do you hear a faint hiss? Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank water. Wait ten minutes. If that color appears in the bowl without flushing, your flapper is toast. Congratulations, you’ve found the leak that’s draining your wallet faster than a Starbucks habit. Fix it. It’s a $5 part and twenty minutes of your life. You can do this.
How to Read a Water Meter | Billing, Leaks & Overconsumption
