Danny Lipford » Ask Danny

How to Check a Water Meter to Find Plumbing Leaks

Danny Lipford — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:42:06 +0000

My water bill has been high lately. How can I tell whether I have a plumbing leak, or if there’s a problem with the water meter? -Nick

The average household in the U.S. uses a little over 10,000 gallons of water a month, but that number can vary widely depending on:

The number of family members living in the home.
Whether or not you irrigate your lawn or garden.
The amount of water used by your plumbing fixtures and faucets (toilets, faucets, dishwasher, and clothes washer).
Your water conservation practices.

It’s possible that the increase in your water usage could come from a faulty meter, but it’s much more likely that you have a leak in the buried water pipe between the meter and your house, in a pipe under your house, or in the lawn irrigation system.

How to Check a Water Meter for Leaks

The best way to find out if you have a plumbing leak is by monitoring the water meter. Here’s how to go about it:

Turn Off All Water: Start by making sure there isn’t any water being used inside or outside your home including lawn or garden irrigation, toilets, clothes washers, dishwashers, faucets, icemakers, and automatic backflow cleaning in whole house water filters.
Check Flow Indicator: open the cover on the water meter at the street to see if it has a flow indicator. This is a small rotating wheel on the meter that can detect even small amounts of water flow. If the flow indicator is moving, you have a leak somewhere in your house or yard.

How to Read a Water Meter

If your water meter doesn’t have a flow indicator, or you would like to determine the amount of water that’s leaking, write down the numbers that appear on the meter followed by the number on the hand of the large rotary dial. Check the meter again after an hour and write down any changes in the numbers or dials.

Some older water meters have small dials for each digit with numbers indicating the unit of measure. For example, a dial that reads 8 with the number 100 printed next to it would be read as 800 and recorded as an 8 in the hundred place of the meter reading.

Water meter readings may be in either gallons or cubic feet, with a cubic foot equal to 7.48 gallons. To convert cubic feet into gallons, multiply the number of cubic feet by 7.48 (example: 3 cubic feet would be 3 x 7.48 = 22.44 gallons).

If you have trouble determining how to read your water meter, measure out a gallon of water in a bucket or pitcher, and note the changes on the dial.

To find out how much water the leak is using in an average month, multiply the amount of water used in an hour by 730 hour (example: 3 gallon per hour leak will use 3 x 730 = 2,190 gallons per month.

If you do have a leak:

Yard Leak: Start by examining your yard between the meter and house during dry weather for signs of a soft or muddy spot or a patch of greener grass.
Crawlspace Leak: Check the crawlspace under your house. Pipes in crawlspaces may be buried and the ground covered by plastic sheeting, so the leak can be hard to find.
Slab Leak: If the leak is in or under a concrete slab, you will need to disconnect the leaking pipe, then run a new water line through the attic and down a wall.

If the meter does not indicate a leak, contact your water company and have them check the meter to be sure it is working properly.

It’s a good idea to check to flow indicator on your water meter for leaks every few months even if you don’t notice an increase in your water bill.

Good luck with your project,

Should Kitchen Cabinets or Flooring Be Installed First?

Danny Lipford — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:58:01 +0000

When remodeling a kitchen, should you install the cabinets or finished flooring first? -Amy

Hi Amy,

I prefer to put the finished flooring down before installing the cabinets, though it can be done either way. While this approach uses more flooring material, installation is easier since it requires less accurate cutting and fitting. In addition, the finished floor provides an extra layer of protection in case of a plumbing leak.

If the cabinets are installed first, set them on blocks that are the thickness of the flooring so the countertops will be the proper height once the flooring is installed and be sure to floor under any appliances.

Good luck with your project,

Tools Every Homeowner Should Own

Danny Lipford — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:00:01 +0000

The basic tools that every homeowner should own include:

Tape measure
Hammer
Screwdriver with interchangeable bits
Pliers
Adjustable pliers
Needle nose pliers
Adjustable wrench
Torpedo level
Handsaw
Cordless screwdriver/drill
Safety glasses
Earplugs
Dust mask
Scissors
Work gloves
Putty knife
Ladder
Car battery charger and tire inflator
Fire extinguisher
Flashlights
Water cutoff tool

Advantages of Installing Granite Countertops in Your Kitchen

Danny Lipford — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:00:41 +0000

Granite is very popular these days, and the price has come down substantially in the past few years thanks to faster and easier ways to cut it. Granite is user friendly and while it won’t scorch from a hot pan, it can scratch. Granite should be sealed once a year to prevent staining.

Prices for granite countertops vary from as little as $35 a square foot to as much as $300. If you shop around, and don’t mind being limited in your selection, you might be able to find the countertop of your dreams at a price you can afford.

How to Repair Cracks in a Drywall Ceiling

Danny Lipford — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:55:19 +0000

The ceiling in my living room has a crack where two of the pieces of drywall meet. How should I go about repairing it? -Louise

Hi Louise,

Cracks in a drywall ceiling are caused by wood movement in the framing due to shrinkage of improperly dried lumber or seasonal changes in temperature and humidity. The common approach is to fill the crack with spackling then paint over it, but this is at best a temporary fix, since the crack will usually come back as the seasons change.

A better solution is to apply drywall compound and tape over the crack to keep it from telegraphing through. Here’s how to go about it:

Start by roughing up the painted surface with sandpaper, then wipe it down with a damp rag to remove any dust.
If the drywall isn’t firmly attached, drive drywall screws into the framing on both sides of the crack.
Next, apply a thin coat of drywall joint compound to the crack, using a 4”- 5” wide drywall knife, and embed a strip of paper drywall tape in the wet compound to bridge the crack.
When dry, apply several additional coats of joint compound with a 10”- 12” wide drywall knife, feathering them out over a 12”-18” wide area.
Lightly sand or sponge the dried drywall compound smooth and clean the surface with a damp rag.
Finally, prime the area with a drywall primer, and repaint the ceiling.

Good luck with your project,

How a Programmable Thermostat Can Save Energy in Your Home

Danny Lipford — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:00:51 +0000

Installing a programmable thermostat controls the temperature in your home while you’re away so the heating and cooling system will use less energy. While this can save up to 15% a year on utility bills, the actual amount will vary depending on how it is set and the amount of time the house is vacant each day. If you have a heat pump, use one of the newer hybrid thermostats that are designed to work with these systems.

How to Find Out if You Have Enough Insulation in Your Attic

Danny Lipford — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:00:37 +0000

Since up to 70% of the energy used in the home goes for heating and cooling, it’s important to be sure you have enough insulation. A simple test is to look in your attic. If you can see the top of the ceiling joists, then you need more insulation. Insulation comes in rolls you can install yourself, or it can be blown into the attic. For more information go to InsulateYourAttic.com.

Inexpensive Alternative to Granite Countertops for Your Kitchen

Danny Lipford — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:00:44 +0000

Some of the new plastic laminate countertops can mimic the look of natural stone at a much lower price. Made by various manufacturers and known as honed, etched, or textured, they not only look like stone but feel like it as well. At 50% to 65% less than stone, you can have the look you want while your budget remains intact.

How to Reduce Air Conditioning Energy Costs for Your Home

Danny Lipford — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:00:55 +0000

To reduce the air conditioning bills in your home:

Install a tinted film on the inside of your windows to reduce the amount of heat coming in your house by over 60% and prevent harmful UV rays from damaging fabrics and furnishings.
Add awnings to sunny windows to reduce the temperature of a room by up to 15 degrees and save 25% on the air conditioning for that room.
Plant shade trees that shed their leaves in winter on the sunny (south and west) sides of your house.

How to Control a Ceiling Fan Without a Wall Switch

Danny Lipford — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:08:31 +0000

There isn’t a wall switch for my ceiling fan, and I’m too short to reach the pull chain. Is there another way I could turn the fan on and off? – Cynthia

Hi Cynthia,

Instead of a wall switch, consider installing a wireless remote that will allow you to control your paddle fan at the touch of a button. Remotes for fans are available as a kit you can add to your existing fan, or you can purchase a new fan that comes with a remote control.

Be sure to turn off the circuit breaker to the fan, and test it to be sure it’s not still hot before working on it.

Good luck with your project,