Ideally, check your meter once a month—same time every month. Write the number on a calendar. Note the date. Over time, you’ll spot if your usage suddenly spikes by 50% without explanation. That’s your signal to hunt down a leak or ask your family who’s been taking 45-minute showers. (Looking at you, teenagers.)
And if you’re really paranoid—like I am after that basement flood—buy a cheap water shut-off timer. They attach to your main hose bib and auto-stop after a set amount of water. It’s overkill, but so is replacing a drywall ceiling. Hey, better safe than soggy.
One Last, Ironic Twist
I checked my meter the morning after writing this article. The spinning dial was going crazy—even though everything was off. I found the culprit: a dripping faucet in the guest bathroom that I’d ignored for three weeks. Hidden behind a towel. It had used about 200 gallons. I fixed it with a $6 washer and a few grumpy turns of a wrench. So, yes, I’m writing this to you as a reformed hypocrite. Check your meter. You’ll feel like a detective, a plumber, and a financial advisor all at once. Plus, it’s oddly satisfying to watch those numbers not move when they shouldn’t be. Trust me.
