If you are listed on the leak report or received a courtesy call by Woodbine S.U.D and told you are on the leak report here are some tips for finding and preventing leaks.
- If you are listed on the report, you could have a potential leak. This means that at the time of reading, the meter has not stopped turning for one solid hour in the past 24 hours prior to the reading. If the meter has not stopped turning, it has a continuous flow of water going through it.
- Woodbine S.U.D. does not possess the technology to remotely read meters at any time of the month other than at the regularly scheduled reading time. (We cannot see how your meter is doing from our office.)
- Woodbine S.U.D. strongly recommends the following for its members.
- Know where your meter box is located. Keep clear of shrubs, weeds, debris, etc.
- Know how to turn your meter off.
- Know how to read leak detector dial on meter face.
- Make sure no water is being used inside or outside of your house.
- Locate your water meter and check the leak indicator to see if it is moving. Depending on the brand of your meter, it is either a red star or a silver disc. The dial only rotates when water is flowing through the meter and if the dial is moving when no water is on, chances are, you have a leak.
- You can also take a meter reading and wait 1 or 2 hours and take another meter reading but you must make sure no water is being used during that time frame otherwise you will not be able to indicate whether it was an actual leak or someone using the water. If no water was being used during that time the reading should be the same. If the reading has changed, you have a leak.
- Install cut-offs just outside your meter box and just outside of your dwelling. (This can help isolate where the leak is.)
- If you have a cut-off just after the meter and a cut-off at the dwelling, you can isolate whether it is leaking inside the home or in the yard between each cut-off.
- Start by shutting off the cut-off at the dwelling and check your meter to see if the dial is turning. If so, this indicates that it is more than likely leaking between the meter and the dwelling. If the dial does not turn after shutting off the cut-off at the dwelling, chances are there is a leak in the plumbing inside the home.
- Where to look for leaks.
- Dripping inside or outside faucets.
- Leaking commodes – check for leaking fill valves or leaking ball flaps.
- A leaking fill valve will run water continuously and the leak indicator on the meter will turn slowly and continuously.
- A leaking ball flap will make the commode fill periodically when not in use. The leak indicator on the meter will not be turning except when the commode is re-filling.
- Automatic watering devices for livestock. Livestock drink all hours of the day & night and use of these devices will most likely trigger a leak alert. If we know you use these types of devices we exempt you from getting a call.
- Check for green or muddy spots on your property. Grass will be greener in the warm months due to a water leak.
- Refrain from leaving hoses on accidentally when you finished use.
- If you are unable to find the leak or are unable to fix the leak, you may want to call a plumber.
