Cubic Foot Registers - Small Meters

Each numeric indicator around the face of the register indicates a tenth of a cubic foot and the sweep hand measures one cubic foot for each complete revolution. The register has odometer type dials that total all of the water that has passed though the meter. The two dials on the right are known as “dead zeros” and are not used when we read meters for billing purposes.

Since the City of Hollywood bills in hundred cubic foot increments, we only read up to the thousand foot dial (the last dial that has a black digit against a white background), which increases by one every time a hundred cubic feet of water passes through the meter.

The small red triangular dial near the center of the register is a flow or leak indicator and it will turn counterclockwise with the slightest amount of water that flows through the meter, even a dripping faucet. However, a slight back and forth movement may occur if the pressure from the main line is fluctuating somewhat, and is not significant.

Cubic Foot Registers - Large Meters

Larger water meters (greater than 1” in size) for some commercial customers will have different register faces than most residential meters. Instead of a one cubic foot register, they will have 10-cubic foot (and possibly 100- cubic foot) register faces.

In the figure here, the register is labeled “Cubic Feet”, but the numeric indicators around the circumference indicate cubic feet, not tenths of a cubic foot like a 5/8 x 3/4” meter. One complete revolution of the sweep hand indicates a total flow of ten cubic feet, and each of the small ticks around the circumference of the register are tenths of a cubic foot. The right most dial is a painted zero, as a placeholder for ten cubic feet. As with the smaller meters, the two dials to the far right (including the painted zero) are not used when recording a reading for billing purposes.

For Leak Detection

1. Turn off all the water in your house very carefully.
2. Then check the position of the meter dials.
3. Make a note of where the small dials are.
4. minutes later go re-check your meter.
5. If no dials have moved, congratulations No leaks.
6. If anything on the meter changed, time to look closer...
7. You could have leaks.

If you believe you have leaks start checking the following things first - they are notoriously leaky...

1. Toilets 2. Faucets 3. Outside Hose Connections

Toilets can silently waste hundreds of gallons of water a day. The best way to spot toilet leaks is to put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank (where all the internal mechanisms are). Wait a few minutes, if the color begins to show up in the toilet bowl - you have a leak Most toilet leaks are at the plunger ball or at the overflow pipe. If you're a competent "do-it-yourselfer" you can easily fix your toilet leaks. Otherwise call a plumber. Leaks cost you money.

TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH WATER YOU USE IN A DAY TAKE A READING TODAY. READ THE METER AGAIN TOMORROW SUBTRACT THE SMALLER READING FROM THE LARGER READING. THAT'S THE AMOUNT OF WATER YOU CONSUMED (IN CUBIC FEET!)