Take a reading, then don’t use any water for an hour—go for a walk or binge-watch a show. Come back and read the metre again.
If the number changed at all, bingo. You’ve got a leak that’s costing you money.
It’s like weighing yourself in the morning, but for your pipes. Annoying? A little. Worth it? Absolutely.
The fun analog vs. digital difference
Old metres have a sweep hand that spins like a stopwatch. Newer digital metres flash numbers like a tiny clock.
Digital ones often have a button you press to cycle through readings: total water used, flow rate, and sometimes even a “leak alert” symbol. Press it—it’s satisfying.
If your digital metre shows a red wrench icon, call your utility. That’s their way of saying, “Hey, I’m confused.”
