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Leak detector on water meter spins back and forth

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2020 9:34 pm
by caligirl
Every once in a while I check my water sub-meter (I am in a park where each home has a sub-meter) to see if I have a water leak. I recently got a new sub-meter, which has the red triangle leak detector dial (my old one had the blue wheel type dial). Today was the first time I checked for a leak since I got the new meter, and I was shocked to see the red triangle jump back and forth. I never noticed this in all the years I checked when I had the blue wheel. When the red triangle moves, whether it moves back or forth, it does not move slowly but jumps at various speeds and in various intervals, sometimes 2x in a minute, sometimes not at all for several minutes. I turned off all water supplies inside my home and it still jumped. Only time it stopped jumping was when I turned off the main water valve (which is located right below the sub-meter). When I actually do use water, the red triangle moves at a steady speed. Anyone know what it means when the dial jumps back and forth? And with the thing randomly jumping back and forth, how am I going to be able to tell whether I have a leak or not? Any input is appreciated!

Re: Leak detector on water meter spins back and forth

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2020 6:11 pm
by Greg
I would contact the park and ask them. I have never had a submeter.

Greg

Re: Leak detector on water meter spins back and forth

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2020 9:47 pm
by Mark440
Ok...I may be out in the weeds on this one...but....

the little red spinner is very sensitive to any water movement, hence a very small leak will cause it to spin. That said, I would venture the jumping is due to other houses on the same service line opening and closing faucets. The reduction in pressure - even momentarily - might be enough for a minute bit of back flow - causing the spinner to jump forward and backwards.

And while it is possible none of this is true....it is plausible!