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How to locate hidden water meter?

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bob_cntrctr

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
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.
 
#2 ·
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
 
#4 · (Edited)
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?
 
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#5 ·
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.

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#13 ·
+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.
 
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#14 ·
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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protechplumbing
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