Last reviewed and updated: 2026-09-24
Every water meter has a low-flow indicator: a small triangle, star or dial that turns when even a trickle of water passes through. With every fixture and appliance off, any movement of that indicator means water is escaping somewhere on your side of the meter. Closing the main house shut-off valve and re-checking then tells you whether the leak is inside the house or out in the buried service line.
The meter test is the free first step behind every other page here: it confirms a leak exists before anyone is called, then splits inside from the buried service line. A confirmed leak is also what a Cobb County leak credit starts from.
Running the test
- Turn everything off. Every tap, the dishwasher, the washing machine, the icemaker, the water softener, any humidifier, and all irrigation. Do not flush a toilet during the test.
- Find the meter. Usually in a covered box near the curb at the front of the property. Lift the lid carefully. Check for insects and wildlife first.
- Find the low-flow indicator. A small triangle, star, gear or dial, separate from the main number display. It is designed to turn at very low flow rates.
- Watch it for two minutes. Any movement at all means water is passing through the meter. A fast spin is a large leak; a slow creep still adds up to thousands of gallons a month.
- Do the longer version. Write down the full meter reading, leave the property completely untouched for one to two hours, then read it again. A change confirms a leak even if the indicator movement was too slow to see.
- Split inside from outside. Close the main shut-off where the supply enters the house and re-check. Still moving means the leak is between the meter and that valve, the buried service line. Stopped means the leak is inside or under the house.
- Isolate irrigation separately. If you have sprinklers, close that supply on its own and re-test. Irrigation tees off before many house valves.
Reading the results
| What you see | What it means | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| No movement over two hours | No leak on your side of the meter | Look at usage habits, or a recent one-off event |
| Movement, stops when house main is closed | Leak is inside or under the house | Rule out toilets, then arrange detection |
| Movement continues with house main closed | Leak is in the buried service line | Service line location |
| Movement stops when irrigation is closed | Leak is in the sprinkler system | Zone-by-zone irrigation testing |
| Fast continuous spin | Large active leak | Close the main and act today |
| Very slow creep | Small leak or a weeping toilet | Dye test the toilets first |
Check the toilets before anything else. A flapper that no longer seals is the most common cause of a mystery bill and the cheapest to fix. Food coloring in the tank, twenty minutes without flushing, then look in the bowl, color means it leaks.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check for a water leak with my meter?
Turn off every water-using fixture and appliance, find the meter near the curb, and watch the low-flow indicator: a small triangle, star or dial. Any movement means water is escaping. For slower leaks, record the full reading, leave the property untouched for one to two hours, and read it again.
What is the little triangle on my water meter?
The low-flow indicator. It is designed to turn at very low flow rates so that even a small leak shows up. If it turns while nothing in the house is running, water is passing through the meter onto your bill.
How do I tell if the leak is inside or outside?
Close the main shut-off valve where the water enters the house and re-check the meter. If it still turns, the leak is between the meter and that valve: the buried service line. If it stops, the leak is inside or under the house.
My meter moves very slowly. Does that still matter?
Yes. A slow creep still adds up to thousands of gallons over a billing cycle, and a small leak under a slab or inside a wall causes damage regardless of flow rate. Rule out the toilets first, then investigate properly.
What if the meter does not move at all?
Then you do not have an active leak on your side of the meter. A high bill with no meter movement usually has a usage explanation: pool filling, a changed irrigation schedule, guests, pressure washing, or occasionally a meter reading issue worth raising with the utility.