Water Meter Malfunction?

Question

I have a very strange situation.
I was taking reading on almost everyday to see how fast the numbers are moving.
2 days later it showed 200 Gallons
6th days 700 gallons which is too high since we did not do laundry and used dishwasher just 1 or 2 times

I kept making conversation with customer service

Then on 7th day it jumped 4500 gallons !!!! I was shoked ! Customer service said there must be a huge water leak.. I called a professional and he shut off main line and meter stopped !! he said this means there is no outside leakage
Then turned on to check all toilets and checked everywhere inside and found one very negligible leak in one toilet which was slightly overflowing, like just you can wet you finger... so it was very small... worst case it can add 1 or 2 gallons a month...

So, the question now is, how can it jump 4500 gallons in 24 hours??

Any of your help is highly appreciated...

Amy Lu · Answer

Is your meter jump again? I have some issue right now.it was 5822 gal per day in three month.after I close the main water and the reopen the main water, the water meter work regular speed again.

Uwe K. · Answer

Although there are probably different meter types out there, I think most should have some kind of flow indicator. All the ones I have seen have little gear-type wheels that turn if water flows through. Even a small flow will be noticed with the wheel turning.
If you have a leak and assuming there are no Gremlins working, it should always flow, especially when all the fixtures in the house are off.

I've had a meter a while back that wasn't working at all, which I can see happen technically with a mechanical one. Not sure how it would jump crazy like that with a mechanical one.

Someone could fiddle/tamper with the meter, of course. But they are built in a way that it for sure will be noticeable, such as broken covers etc.

Jon Klaus · Answer

It's not the right season for your neighbor to be filling their swimming pool ; )

Mike M · Answer

Also, if there is a leakage, wouldn't that be continuos ? how can it just jump once and then work regularl speed? i had same experience in old home and got 300+ bill but I never lived there during the whole month and new owners have never got high bill so there was no leak ! I am still struggling to understand that. May be someone stole my water? BUT I know all my neoghbors are great and no one would do that.

Jon Klaus · Answer

Since it isn't moving now, I'm with you in suspecting a meter malfunction.  Keep watching the meter.

Mike M · Answer

Thanks Jon.. Plumber came and shut off main line and evething is stopped moving, there is no wet spot anywhere, now the meter is not moving after the leaking toilet is turned off.. even if I keep it on, it barely moves the meter... so its just a one night pop !
I will call again a second guy to take a look. BUT can anyone manually change the meter or can meter malfunction just for a day? This has never happened before !
My next door neighbor gets barely 35$ bill and has more people living and has same size house !

Jon Klaus · Answer

4500 gallons in a day is ridiculous, but possible if there is a broken pipe or fitting. Is the meter still running fast?  You will almost certainly see water somewhere. Keep looking.  A plumber can find the leak.  They have tools and techniques for finding them.   Bad meter?  Possible, but rare.  I'd keep looking, get the plumber out again, and call customer service again. 4500 gallons a day is WAY too high.

Just a month ago I had a really big leak.  It took the plumber 2 days to find it even though it was big.  He looked and then we shut off the main for two days.  The underside of the pier and beam house had more than a foot of water in places.  He listened and couldn't hear the leak until after two days the water had receded.  Then he found it. Four feet beneath the garage slab ( the only slab in the house). After a bunch of digging the fix was easy.

The water company may give you a leak adjustment on your water bill. Ask for it.