Water leaking right now?
Skip the test. If water is coming through a ceiling or spraying from a pipe, turn the water off at the main stop tap and keep clear of power points and appliances that are wet. Then see burst pipes or get an emergency plumber.
How the meter test works
Turn everything off
Close every tap, and make sure the washing machine, dishwasher, irrigation and any toilet cistern have stopped filling.
Read the meter
Take a photo of the numbers, and of any small dial or marker that spins when water flows.
Wait without using any water
Leave everything off for as long as you can. The longer the gap, the clearer the answer.
Read it again
Compare it with your photo. If anything has moved, water is going somewhere.
Reading your result
The meter moved. Water is escaping somewhere past the meter. Start with the toilets: a cistern that keeps refilling can waste water silently. If they're quiet, the leak may be in a wall, under a slab or in the yard, and that's a job for a leak detection specialist.
The meter stayed still. No water was leaving while you watched. If the bill is still high, ask your water company to check the reading, and read high water bills for other causes.
Who fixes which pipe
Where the leak sits matters. Each water company sets its own line between the pipes it looks after and the ones you own, often around the meter. Our city pages quote the company that serves each city, so check yours before you book.
If the test points to a hidden leak, we match you with one plumber who specialises in finding and fixing leaks.