The clue most people never check
A higher-than-usual water bill is often the first hint of a leak nobody can see. Before calling anyone, you can check the meter yourself. Fullerton homes are served by the city's own water utility, and the meter usually sits in a box near the street with a dial or digital display that shows water moving through it.
Most meters have a small low-flow indicator, often a little triangle, star or wheel, that spins with even a tiny flow. If it moves while every fixture and appliance is off, water is going somewhere.
Run the basic meter test
- Turn everything off.Make sure no taps, toilets, dishwasher, washing machine, ice maker or irrigation are running.
- Read the meter.Open the meter box lid carefully, note the numbers and watch the low-flow indicator for a minute.
- Wait without using water.Leave everything off for an hour or so, then read the meter again.
- Compare.Any change, or a spinning indicator, means water is flowing somewhere past the meter.
Narrowing it down
| Check | How | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | Add a few drops of food coloring to each tank; wait without flushing. | Color in the bowl points to a leaking flapper. |
| Main shutoff closed | Close the house main and watch the meter again. | If it still moves, the leak is between the meter and the house. |
| Irrigation off | Close the irrigation supply valve if there is one. | If the meter stops, the leak may be in the sprinkler system. |
| Water heater | Look for water at the base or the relief valve drain line. | A dripping relief line or tank leak. |
| Floors and walls | Feel for warm spots, look for damp baseboards. | Possible leak in a wall or under a slab. |
Quick facts
- Tool needed
- Flashlight, food coloring, a notepad
- Best time
- When nobody needs water for an hour or two
- Meter questions
- Contact the City of Fullerton water utility
- Next step
- A licensed plumber for leak location if the cause is not obvious
When a plumber takes over
If the meter keeps moving after toilets and irrigation are ruled out, the leak may be in a supply pipe inside a wall or under the floor. Many Sunny Hills houses sit on concrete slabs with water lines underneath, so a plumber may use pressure testing, listening equipment or thermal imaging to locate the leak before any concrete or drywall is cut.
What drives the cost of leak location is mostly time and access: how many lines need testing, whether the house has multiple branches, and how hard it is to reach the suspected area. Ask how the plumber plans to narrow it down and what happens if the first method is inconclusive.
Common questions
Can a leak be on the city side of the meter?
Possibly. If you see water pooling near the meter box or the street, contact the city's water utility, since equipment on their side is theirs to inspect.
My meter barely moves. Is that a problem?
Even a slow, steady flow adds up over weeks. Run the toilet dye test and the shutoff check to find out where it goes.
Does a moving meter always mean a slab leak?
No. Toilets, irrigation and water heater relief lines are more common causes. A slab leak is one possibility to check after the simpler ones.
General information for Sunny Hills, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.