The meter test
Fullerton homes are served by the city's water utility, and the meter is usually in a box near the street.
Turn off all water use
Stop irrigation, the dishwasher, washer, ice maker and every faucet.
Read the meter
Open the meter box lid carefully and look at the dial or leak indicator, often a small triangle or star.
Watch it
If the indicator moves with everything off, water is flowing somewhere.
Close the house main
If the indicator stops with the main closed, the leak is inside the house. If it keeps moving, it is between the meter and the house, or in irrigation on that side.
Record readings
Write the meter numbers and times. They are useful to a plumber and to the utility.
Where leaks hide
| Location | Clues |
|---|---|
| Toilets | Refilling on their own; dye test shows color in bowl |
| Irrigation | Soggy patches, a valve that does not shut, a broken head |
| Service line to the house | Wet ground or a green strip between meter and house |
| Lines in walls or ceilings | Stains, bubbling paint, musty smell |
| Lines under the slab | Warm spot on the floor, sound of running water, damp carpet edge |
| Water heater or softener | Water in the pan, a softener cycling more than usual |
Rule out the easy ones first
When the leak is inside walls or under the slab
If the easy checks come up empty and the meter still moves with fixtures off, the leak is likely in a supply line you cannot see. Many homes in North Orange County sit on slab foundations, and supply lines can run through walls, ceilings or below the slab depending on how the house was built.
Plumbers locate these leaks by isolating sections of the system, listening with acoustic equipment, checking surfaces with thermal or moisture tools and pressure testing individual lines. Finding the exact spot before opening anything keeps the repair as small as possible.
Spot repair or reroute
Spot repair
- Opens the floor, wall or ceiling at the leak
- Fits a single failure on otherwise sound piping
- Smallest change to the system
Reroute the line
- Runs new pipe through walls or attic instead of under the slab
- Avoids breaking into the slab
- Considered when one line has failed more than once
Questions to ask a leak detection visit
- How will you isolate and locate the leak before opening anything?
- What equipment will you use?
- If it is under the slab, what are the options besides breaking the floor?
- Will you give me a written report I can share with my insurer?
Common questions
Is a hidden leak an emergency?
If water is visibly spreading, close the main right away. A slow leak found by the meter test is urgent but usually not an emergency; schedule a plumber soon.
Will insurance cover it?
Coverage varies by policy. Call your insurer and document everything before repairs.
Can the leak be on the city's side?
Leaks before the meter are the utility's responsibility. If you see water near the meter box itself, contact the City of Fullerton.
General information for Amerige Heights, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.