Why this matters
Markham bills for water and wastewater by volume, so a hidden leak costs twice. Small leaks inside walls also cause rot and mould long before they show.
Reading the meter
Most residential meters have a dial or digital display showing cubic metres, and a small triangle, star or flashing indicator that moves even with tiny flows. That indicator is your leak detector.
| Meter part | Use |
|---|---|
| Leak indicator | Moves with any flow, even a drip |
| Main register | Total cubic metres used |
| Sweep hand | Fractions of a cubic metre |
A pinhole in copper rarely stays alone. Where one opens, the pipe beside it is usually thinning too.
Step by step
- Turn off every tap, appliance and irrigation system.
- Watch the leak indicator for a few minutes. If it moves, water is flowing somewhere.
- For a slower test, note the numbers, leave every fixture idle for a couple of hours, then compare.
- Close the stops on each toilet and recheck; if movement stops, a toilet is the leak.
- Close the valve to outdoor taps and recheck.
- If the meter still moves with everything isolated, the leak may be in the walls, under the slab or in the service line.
Look for warm spots on basement floors, which can indicate a hot water leak under the slab, and listen at the main for hissing when everything is off.
Handing it over to us
Call if the meter moves with all fixtures isolated. See leak detection, service line repair and running toilets.
Markham note: village-core houses tend to hide cast iron and galvanized behind plaster, while Cornell and Box Grove builds run PEX to a manifold. We ask the year your house was built so the right fittings ride along on the truck.
Straight from the phone log
Can the city check my meter?
The City of Markham handles meter issues. Contact them if you suspect the meter itself.
How much water does a leaky toilet waste?
It can be a lot over a billing period; a dye test is the quickest check.
Ready to get it fixed?
One call, a clear explanation, and work finished tidily before we leave.