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02-11-2009, 01:35 PM
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#1
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Pro
Trade:
renovator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 353
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How to locate hidden water meter?
Gentlemen,
I gotta find the water meter in this house. Usually a simple thing, but:
- there's no basement, only a ~12" crawlspace that is completely enclosed with a concrete foundation all the way around.
- I suspect that either it's under the floor somwhere, in the crawlspace, or previous renovators have closed it in a wall cavity somewhere.
I do have access to a main shut-off valve through a 6"x6" access panel in a wall in the groundfloor bathroom, but can't see any meter in there.
Anyone got a good trick for locating this sucker without ripping up floors and opening walls?
Thanks.
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02-11-2009, 01:42 PM
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#2
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Sean
Trade:
General Contractor
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Cullman, AL
Posts: 3,809
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Call the water company - they know where its at
Also you can call dig safe & follow the paint - its probably out by the street (at least around most places I have been at)
Your location - can you put in your profile? Thanks
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02-11-2009, 02:26 PM
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#3
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Pro
Trade:
renovator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 353
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SLSTech
Call the water company - they know where its at..
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Good idea. Well, they sort of almost know approximately where it's at. On the west wall, somewhere between 5 and 15 feet from the north wall. The last guy drywalled that all in. Great. I guess at least now I know which wall to open up...
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02-11-2009, 02:31 PM
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#4
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Dream Builder
Trade:
GC/Remodeling
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central America (Kansas)
Posts: 686
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hey bob, Around here, a 'main shutoff' valve is all that is inside.. The 'meter', is outside closer to the city line.
edit...read your last post.. how about listening for the meter?
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by neolitic
Now, now, next thing we know
you'll be having a press conference
and apologizing to the whole world...  |
Last edited by TimelessQuality; 02-11-2009 at 02:33 PM.
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02-11-2009, 02:41 PM
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#5
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Pro
Trade:
Squirrel Handler
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 3,438
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Make sure there is a water meter (tons of houses out here without them), the water may have been hooked up before they began charging, check with the homeowner and see if they get a bill and if they do, is it metered, if there is a meter, is there a unit outside to read it, if there is you might be able to trace the wire back. Other than that maybe some small holes and a Milwaukee or Ridgid inspection camera.
.
__________________
Some people climb mountains. I take out the trash. But we both do it for the same reason.
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02-11-2009, 02:42 PM
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#6
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Member
Trade:
plumbing
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Los Angeles, CA.
Posts: 60
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Had a similar situation where a defective pressure regulator was buried, dug up and followed the main till we found it.
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02-11-2009, 02:49 PM
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#7
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Pro
Trade:
manager of excavation division
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: danbury,ct.
Posts: 3,660
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Look outside along the front property line it may be in a meter pit.
__________________
___"Remember You Never Get A Second Chance To Make A First Impression"______________________
Joe
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02-11-2009, 03:07 PM
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#8
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Pro
Trade:
renovator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 353
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Ya, like I said, it's definitely in the house, on the west wall. I like the inspection camera. Off I go...thanks everyone.
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02-11-2009, 06:41 PM
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#9
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Member
Trade:
Exterior Remodeling Sales
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 36
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How about using Thermal Imaging camera?
__________________
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02-11-2009, 06:43 PM
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#10
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The Grand Wazoo
Trade:
Popcorn Vendor
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,307
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bob_cntrctr
Gentlemen,
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That right there will guarantee that no plumbers will reply.
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The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to KillerToiletSpider For This Useful Post:
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02-11-2009, 06:44 PM
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#11
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Professiona Instigator
Trade:
Design Build Remodeling Contractor Washington, DC
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Washington, DC/ Maryland
Posts: 6,554
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KillerToiletSpider
That right there will guarantee that no plumbers will reply.
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__________________
Being an idiot frees a man from having to live up to others peoples expectations.
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02-11-2009, 06:54 PM
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#12
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Pro
Trade:
Squirrel Handler
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 3,438
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ISelRfs
How about using Thermal Imaging camera?
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Might be cheaper to just rip the entire suspect wall out, unless he happens to have a thermal imaging camera lying around.
.
__________________
Some people climb mountains. I take out the trash. But we both do it for the same reason.
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02-11-2009, 07:27 PM
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#13
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Pro
Trade:
Residential Contractor
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Jensen Beach, FL
Posts: 10,464
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+1 for SLS. Somebody has to read it and they know where it is. Here, it's in the right of way and spudded as close to the property line as possible. From there on it's all up to the PO.
Same applies to sewer connections.
__________________
You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.
Albert Einstein
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02-18-2009, 08:57 PM
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#14
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the pipe master
Trade:
plumbing, solar
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Central, Fl
Posts: 383
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turn on all of the water in the building. Use an audio leak detector or a good stethoscope to scan the ground and walls. You will hear a "clickity clickity clickity" sound of the gears in the meter spinning like crazy. I use that technique to locate hidden non-metallic water mains all the time.
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02-18-2009, 09:16 PM
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#15
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Brock
Trade:
Residential Remodeler
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Midwest
Posts: 902
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Wait for the meter reader to come by and follow her. She should lead you right to it.
Sorry. I couldn't stop myself. 
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02-18-2009, 09:38 PM
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#16
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the pipe master
Trade:
plumbing, solar
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Central, Fl
Posts: 383
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Love the avatar!
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The Following User Says Thank You to protechplumbing For This Useful Post:
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02-18-2009, 09:45 PM
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#17
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Professiona Instigator
Trade:
Design Build Remodeling Contractor Washington, DC
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Washington, DC/ Maryland
Posts: 6,554
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Hook a hose to the out door water spicket.
Tie a metal hanger around the end of the hose attached to the sprayer.
Drag the hose in the house and walk from room to room the the hanger will pull and be attracted to the water meter
__________________
Being an idiot frees a man from having to live up to others peoples expectations.
Last edited by rbsremodeling; 02-18-2009 at 10:21 PM.
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02-18-2009, 10:17 PM
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#18
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the pipe master
Trade:
plumbing, solar
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Central, Fl
Posts: 383
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You forgot to mention the step where you ingest psychedelic mushrooms first.
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