How to Check for a Hidden Water Leak (Using Your Meter)

Why the meter test works

Your water meter records every litre that passes through it, whether it’s going through a tap, a geyser, or a crack in a pipe under your lawn. If nothing in the house is using water and the meter is still turning, that water is going somewhere it shouldn’t.

How to run the test properly

• Make sure every tap in the house is fully closed, including outside taps and irrigation.
• Find your meter, usually near the boundary wall or pavement, and note the exact reading.
• Avoid running the dishwasher, washing machine, or flushing toilets for at least 2 hours before you check again.
• Read the meter again after a few hours, or first thing the next morning if you checked it at night.
• If the number has moved at all, water is leaving the system somewhere you can’t see.

What if the meter has a small triangle or dial

Most modern meters in Sandton have a small leak indicator, often a red or black triangle or star, that spins even with the smallest flow. If that indicator is moving with all taps closed, it’s a fast way to confirm a leak without waiting hours between readings.

Where the leak is likely hiding

If your meter confirms a leak, the next question is where. Common spots we find in Sandton homes are underground supply pipes between the meter and the house, geyser overflow pipes that run constantly, and toilet cisterns that leak silently into the bowl. A running toilet is the single most common cause of a ‘phantom’ leak that homeowners miss, since it doesn’t create a wet patch anywhere.

When to call in leak detection equipment

The meter test tells you that you have a leak. It doesn’t tell you exactly where. If you can’t find an obvious source, cracked pipe, wet patch, or running toilet, it’s worth bringing in electronic leak detection rather than guessing and breaking into walls or digging up the garden. Non-invasive detection finds the exact point before anyone lifts a spade.

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