Water meter test in 10 minutes: is there a leak in your home?
A simple test you can do yourself before calling any technician. Follow the steps, record two readings, and the page calculates the leak rate in liters per hour.
- Make sure the tank is full and the float valve has stopped letting water in (no sound of water flowing into the tank). Skip this if your home has no tank.
- Close every tap and turn off the washing machine, water heaters and automatic irrigation, and make sure nobody is using water.
- Record the first reading from the meter accurately (the black digits are cubic meters; the red digits or dial show fractions of a cubic meter).
- Wait at least 10 minutes (30 is better) without any use — use the timer below.
- Record the second reading and compare.
Smart meter showing an alert code? Decode Saudi NWC smart water meter codes →
Second test: the tank level
If the meter does not move but the bill is high: close the valve that feeds the tank, mark the water level, and use no water for two hours. A drop in the level means a leak in the tank or in the pipes leaving it.
On-site service is available in Saudi Arabia only. The online tools can be used anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
Does the meter move while the tank is filling?
Yes. That is why the test starts after the tank is full and the float valve has stopped; otherwise the tank refilling will read like a leak. Many Saudi homes have a roof or ground tank fed through the meter.
How long should the test run?
30 minutes with no water use gives a clear result, and 10 minutes is enough to spot a large leak.
The meter does not move but the bill is high. Why?
The leak may be after the tank (in the internal pipes fed by the booster pump) or in the tank itself. The tank level test below helps tell them apart, and an on-site inspection with detection devices pinpoints the location.