How to Calculate Water Usage From Meter Reading

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If you receive a monthly h2o bill at your residence, then your h2o usage is monitored past a water meter. H2o meters feature numerical readouts that go far like shooting fish in a barrel for you or your area utilities lath to keep track of the amount of h2o running to your home on a daily basis. Whether your belongings is equipped with a standard analog dial or a newer digital display, calculating your water usage is simple. Just look at the number on the brandish, then decrease that number from the previous calendar month'due south to make up one's mind how much water you tin can expect to be billed for. However, keep in listen that some municipalities use a device that sends a signal using radio frequencies, then you would not exist able to read the meter in these cases.

1. 1

   Locate your water meter. Residential water meters can unremarkably be found at the front of the belongings near the curb or street. They are most often housed in physical boxes undercover with heavy steel covers that are bolted shut and labelled "H2o" for ease of identification.^[1]

   • In an apartment or condominium, the water meters will likely be located in a utility room in the basement or at footing level. They might as well be located direct on the building's exterior.^[two]
   • If your water bill is included in the cost of your rent or homeowner'due south clan dues, the usage for your entire building will be read from a single meter.
   • Make sure to cheque with the provider get-go to find out if information technology is okay for y'all to admission the meter.

2. 2

   Remove the cover of the meter box. Insert a screwdriver or similar tool into 1 of the small holes in the cover and pry it upward advisedly. Set the cover aside somewhere nearby. If your meter box has a hinged comprehend, simply pull back the lid.

   • Never attempt to open your meter box past hand. Snakes, rodents, insects and other dangerous animals have been known to nest inside water meter boxes.
   • Go ahead and wipe the underside of the cover clean of grit, dirt and cobwebs while y'all have it off.

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3. iii

   Check whether your holding has analog or digital meters. An analog meter volition appear as a large round dial that may have ane or more moving hands.^[3] Newer digital meters feature glowing readouts similar to an warning clock and don't require any complicated calculations to read.^[four]

   • An analog water meter may exist covered with a protective cap you volition need to lift in order to encounter the meter's display.
   • Some digital meters are lite activated and won't testify your water usage until you shine a flashlight on them.^[five]
   • Continue in mind that you will be held liable for whatsoever repairs or assessments if the meter is damaged.

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1. 1

   Write downward the number on the display. Jot down the reading exactly as it appears. You tin refer back to this number later when tabbing out your daily, weekly, or monthly usage.

   • If you're interested in tracking your water usage, consider keeping a utilities periodical and taking readings at regular intervals likewise every bit checking the monthly statements that your water purveyor provides.
   • A record of past readings can as well come in handy for detecting potential leaks.

2. 2

   Annotation the position of the dial on an analog meter. At that place are 9 digits effectually the face up of an analog display, depending on the meter each number represents ane cubic foot or 1 gallon of water. For every cubic pes or gallon that runs through your home, the long sweep mitt will move from one number to the next. Once the hand makes a full revolution effectually the punch, on this meter, that'southward x gallons (37.9 50) used.^[6]

3. three

   Fill up in the last digit of the readout. The last digit on the display is a painted on "static zero," which means it always appears as a zero. It'south a placeholder. Its value becomes the number the sweep paw is pointing to. You enter this as part of your reading. To ensure that y'all're getting an accurate reading be sure to include it. ^[7]

   • For instance, if the display reads "012340" and the sweep hand is on the "5," then the meter is actually at 12,345 cubic feet or cubic gallons.
   • Circular downwards when the sweep hand rests between numbers. For more precision, annotation the small tick mark that the sweep paw is pointing to - on this meter these volition be tenths of a cubic foot or cubic gallon. And so, the reading from above becomes 12,345.0. But if the sweep hand was pointing to the second tick marker the reading would be 12,345.2.

4. 4

   Tape the usage and flow rate straight from a digital meter. If your holding is outfitted with a digital display, you're in luck—they're much easier to make sense of. The row of numbers at the bottom shows the total amount of water registered by the meter. The smaller readout in the corner is the rate of menstruation, or the amount of water that passes through your home per minute.

   • Your digital meter may go back and forth between showing the usage and flow charge per unit, or the two readings may be separated into dissimilar sections of the display.^[8]

5. five

   Supercede the meter cap. Don't forget to fit the protective cap back over the punch before yous close up the water meter box. This will help prevent possible harm and keep it clean so information technology can be easily read in the future.

6. 6

   Larn how to interpret your readings. Non all municipalities measure h2o usage the same way.^[ix] For example, charges may vary during times of year when h2o usage is more frequent, such as in the summertime when people tend to wash their cars outside. To find out how your meter is read, and therefore how your neb is structured, contact your local provider. In one case you have an agreement of how the billing arrangement works, yous tin begin keeping track of your monthly consumption yourself.

   • H2o usage is most commonly measured in either cubic feet or gallons. 1 cubic pes may stand for to anywhere from 1–viii gallons (3.8–thirty L), depending on how the utilities codes are written where you live.^[10]

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1. 1

   Take monthly readings. To be able to accurately gauge how much water is running through your home, you'll need to check your water meter every thirty days. That way, you'll accept something to compare the previous month's written report to.

   • Reviewing your readings over the grade of several months will help you spot patterns in your usage, which tin be helpful if you're taking steps to conserve water.
   • The more frequently yous bank check your water meter, the more likely you are to catch leaks before they get serious.

2. 2

   Determine how much water your household uses. Since you know that your h2o usage is billed in units of 100 cubic feet, you can drib the last ii digits of the readout (12,345 becomes 123). This number tin then be subtracted from the next month's reading. Let's say that at that time the meter reads xiii,545 (or 135)—that means you'll be charged for 1,200 (or 12) units.

   • H2o charges reverberate the number of units used per month. Each unit of measurement is typically around 100 cubic feet, or somewhere in the neighborhood of 700 or 800 gallons (3,000 or 3,000 L).
   • If there's whatsoever uncertainty nearly how usage is measured in your area, simply subtract last month'due south reading from this calendar month's and review the utility codes for your area to come across how it'south broken downwards.

3. 3

   Summate the cost of your water usage. Your next task is to find out how much your water provider charges per unit of measurement of water consumed. This can exist accomplished by calling your utilities board. Once you know this number, multiply it by your usage for the month to get an thought of how much you lot can expect to pay.

   • If yous have an old bill on paw, you lot can work in opposite by dividing the corporeality charged by the number of units you used that month to get in at the average cost per unit.

4. 4

   Check for leaks. Sometimes yous'll receive a bill that seems unusually high. In this case, it's possible that y'all accept a leak. To become to the bottom of things, shut off all toilets, faucets and shower heads in your residence. Also, if you have an hugger-mugger sprinkler organization, then brand sure to check all of its components for leaks. So, check the meter once again. If the sweep hand is moving, it means that water is escaping somewhere on the property.^[xi]

   • Another manner to place a potential leak is by watching the menstruation indicator. Nearly h2o meters have a small symbol (usually a triangle, star or gear) somewhere on the brandish. The period indicator will spin when a leak is detected.^[12]
   • Yous can too use a stethoscope to heed for leaks, which often sound similar a humming or hissing noise.
   • Have leaks repaired right abroad. When left unaddressed, fifty-fifty a minor leak can get a major expense.

5. 5

   Look for ways to decrease your water usage. If you're surprised to discover that you're using more water than you thought, don't worry. There are a number of ways you tin cut down on your usage, such as consolidating your laundry into larger loads, shutting off the water when you lot are brushing your teeth, reducing your use of h2o to maintain your lawn, or taking shorter showers. Remember: every piffling fleck adds upwardly.^[13]

   • Keep you and your family's habits in mind when coming upwards with ideas for how to lower your h2o bill.

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Add together New Question

• Question

  How can I use my water meter to tell if I have a leak?

  

  Mike Garcia is a Licensed Landscape Contractor and the Founder of Enviroscape LA, a full-service landscape blueprint and structure firm in Los Angeles, California. With over xxx years of feel, Mike specializes in sustainable landscape practices. Mike holds an Ornamental Horticulture degree, C-27 Mural Contractor and D-49 Tree Service Contractor licenses, and Permaculture Design, California Naturalist, International Certified Professional Pond Contractor, and Pond Building certifications. He is ane of eight Internationally Certified Pond Builders in the globe. Enviroscape LA has won mural and water feature awards from the International Professional Pond Contractors Clan (IPPCA), National Clan of Pond Professionals (NAPP), and the California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA). Mike is a past president of the CLCA and currently serves on their local Board of Directors. Enviroscape LA has been featured in PONDS Usa Magazine, Pond and Garden Lifestyles Magazine, and the Los Angeles Times. Mike has appeared on Extreme Home Makeover, HGTV'southward Landscapers Challenge, and A & E's series Fix That M.

  

  Licensed Landscape Contractor

  Practiced Answer

• Question

  If my water meter was on 17 and is at present on 25 how much water have I used?

  

  Anthony "TC" Williams is a Professional Landscaper in Idaho. He is the President and Founder of Aqua Conservation Landscape & Irrigation, an Idaho Registered Landscape Business Entity. With over 21 years of landscaping experience, TC has worked on projects such as the Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise, Idaho. He is a Idaho Registered Contractor and a previously Licensed Irrigator in the Country of Texas.

  

  Experienced Landscaper

  Practiced Answer

• Question

  Tin I get a single phase 400 amp musical instrument meter?

  

  Anthony "TC" Williams is a Professional Landscaper in Idaho. He is the President and Founder of Aqua Conservation Landscape & Irrigation, an Idaho Registered Mural Business Entity. With over 21 years of landscaping experience, TC has worked on projects such as the Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise, Idaho. He is a Idaho Registered Contractor and a previously Licensed Irrigator in the State of Texas.

  

  Experienced Landscaper

  Expert Answer

• Question

  How practise I correct a water meter that reads backwards?

  

  If it is registering backwards, it probably was installed backwards. Turning it around should correct it, however, it should be done by the water provider.

• Question

  How practice I summate my h2o usage?

  

  First, find the odometer on the water meter, then identify whether information technology is measured by gallons, imperial gallons, or cubic meters. Each part will have the different calculation to convert information technology into liters. Have the outset reading and the finish reading and decrease. Take the difference and convert it into gallons, imperial gallons, or cubic meters.

• Question

  How can I convert my meter to cubic measurements?

  

  Marking Beatty

  Customs Respond

  Physically, you would need to purchase a replacement height annals for the increment needed from the meter manufacturer. Numerically information technology's just a math conversion: 7.48 U.s. gallons = 1 cubic foot, 264 US gallons = 1 cubic meter.

• Question

  How do I check to encounter if a meter is exaggerating the amount of water used?

  

  Showtime, make sure you are not leaking. Read your meter, fill upward 20 gallons of h2o buckets, turn the h2o off tight, re-read the meter, and practice the math.

• Question

  How can I tell if my h2o meter is broken?

  

  Plough on your water and go to your h2o meter. You should see a small triangle or something similar, and it should be turning. If it's not turning, the water meter is not functioning correctly.

• Question

  How do I decrease a reading on 100 gallon water meter?

  

  Drop the concluding two digits from the reading, then subtract the electric current month's reading from last months. The number y'all get volition tell yous how many gallons you've used in that time.

• Question

  How can I estimate the amount of my water nib using submeter readings?

  

  Contact the company that provides h2o (or local government) to determine the rate you're paying, or look back at older bills and split the corporeality of the bill by the amount of h2o consumed. And then, get the monthly reading from the submeter, and multiply this number past the rate.

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• Brand sure you deeply supercede the protective dial cap and water meter cover when you're finished taking a reading.

• There'due south no need to be concerned if your readings are somewhat inconsistent—it's common for your water nib to fluctuate a niggling from month to month.

• It'south a expert idea to check for leaks regularly. That way, if you happen to take one, you'll exist able to catch it early.

• Reading a h2o meter tin be confusing. If yous're yet unsure of how to decide your usage, call your water provider and ask a representative to explicate it to you.

• Keep in mind that larger residential and commercial properties may accept a separate water meter installed for irrigation purposes.

• Enquire your water purveyor well-nigh whatsoever charges y'all do not understand, such equally charges for wastewater treatment.

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Things Yous'll Need

• Screwdriver or similar tool
• Pencil
• Paper
• Sometime utilities bill

About This Article

Article Summary X

To read a water meter, kickoff by removing its encompass. If y'all have an older, analog meter, write downwards the number that'southward displayed on its large, circular punch. And so replace the final digit of that number with the number the meter's needle is closest to. Have a newer, digital meter instead? Just read the largest row of numbers shown to see how much water yous've used. To learn from our reviewer how to monitor and cut down on how much water you use, gyre down!

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