Search guides

How to fix a meter leak

We'll confirm the leak is at the meter, identify which side, and tell you when to call the water utility or a plumber.

Troubleshooting · Home plumbing
15–30 min
What you'll need
  • Towel (to dry and watch for moisture)
  • Adjustable wrench (optional—only if utility allows snugging union nuts)
Step 1 of 7

Quick triage — pick your path

Quick triage — pick your path

Choose the option that matches what you see. You can jump straight to that section.

Show full guide

Steps

Goal: Confirm the leak is at the meter, identify which side, and know when to call the water utility or a plumber.

  • Locate the water meter—usually in the basement, garage, crawl space, or a meter pit.
  • Dry the area and watch where water appears. Good: Water at the inlet union, outlet union, or meter body—leak is at the meter. Proceed to Confirm leak.
  • Bad: Water from a pipe or fitting elsewhere—different leak. See How to find a water leak or Fix pipes that leak.

Confirm leak

Goal: Verify the leak is at the meter and shut off the main valve.

  • Shut off the main shutoff to reduce flow until the leak is repaired.
  • Dry each union and the meter body. Watch for moisture.
  • Good: You see which union or the meter body is wet. Proceed to Identify which side.
  • Bad: Cannot tell—call the water utility; they can confirm.

Identify which side

Goal: Determine whether the leak is on the street side (utility) or house side (plumber).

  • The inlet union connects the street supply to the meter. The outlet union connects the meter to your house pipe.
  • Inlet or meter body: Street side—call the water utility. See When to get help.
  • Outlet only: House side—check if the union nut is loose. Proceed to Snug outlet union.

Snug outlet union

Goal: If the outlet union nut is loose and your utility allows it, snug it—a quarter turn with a wrench.

  • Do not overtighten. Overtightening can crack the fitting.
  • Good: Leak stops. Turn the main back on and verify for 10 minutes. Proceed to Verification.
  • Bad: Nut was tight or still leaks—call a plumber for house-side repair.

When to get help

Call the water utility when:

  • The leak is at the inlet union (street side) or the meter body.
  • You cannot identify which side is leaking.
  • The utility owns the meter—do not disconnect or replace it yourself.

Call a plumber when:

  • The leak is at the outlet union (house side) and snugging the nut did not stop it.
  • The plumber can replace the outlet union gasket or fitting. The utility may need to be present for meter work.

Verification

  • No water drips from the meter unions or meter body when the main valve is on.
  • The meter area stays dry for at least 10 minutes after turning the water back on.
  • If moisture returns, call the utility or plumber back.

Escalation ladder

Work from the device outward. Stop when the problem is fixed.

  1. Confirm leak location Dry the area and watch where water appears—meter unions or meter body.
  2. Shut off main valve Reduce flow until the leak is repaired.
  3. Identify which side Inlet (street) vs outlet (house)—utility vs plumber.
  4. Snug loose union (if allowed) Quarter turn with wrench—only if utility allows; do not overtighten.
  5. Call utility or plumber Utility for meter/street side; plumber for house-side union that still leaks.

What to capture if you need help

Before calling support or posting for help, have these ready. It speeds everything up.

  • Which side of the meter is leaking (inlet, outlet, or meter body)
  • Whether union nuts are loose or tight
  • Whether main valve has been shut off
  • Steps already tried

Is the leak at the meter?

The meter has inlet and outlet unions. Dry the area and watch where water appears.

Dry the area around the meter. Watch where water appears. Meter: water at inlet union, outlet union, or meter body. Elsewhere: water at a pipe or fitting away from the meter. Good: leak is at the meter—proceed. Bad: leak is elsewhere—see how-to-find-water-leak or fix-pipes-leak.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Which side is leaking?

Inlet = street side (utility). Outlet = house side (may be plumber).

Shut off the main valve. Dry each union. Watch for moisture. Inlet or meter body: street side—call water utility. Outlet only: house side—check if union nut is loose. Good: you know the side. Bad: unsure—call the utility.

Inlet or meter body Outlet (house side)

You can change your answer later.

Call the water utility

The leak is on the street side or meter body. The water meter is typically owned by the utility. Call your water utility. Describe the leak and that you have shut off the main. They will schedule repair or replacement.

Done

Is the outlet union nut loose?

Some utilities allow homeowners to snug a loose union nut. Do not overtighten.

Feel the outlet union nut. If it turns easily, it may be loose. A quarter turn with a wrench may stop the leak—only if your utility allows it. Loose and snugged: test—if leak stops, done. Tight or still leaks: call a plumber for house-side repair. Do not disconnect the meter yourself.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Leak is fixed

Turn the main valve back on slowly. Watch the meter for 10 minutes. No drips—repair complete. If moisture returns, call the utility or plumber back.

Done

Call a plumber

The outlet union still leaks after snugging, or the nut was already tight. Call a plumber to replace the outlet union gasket or fitting. Do not disconnect the meter—the utility may need to be present.

Done

Call for help

If the leak is not at the meter, see how-to-find-water-leak or fix-pipes-leak. If you are unsure, call the water utility—they can confirm whether the leak is on their side.

Done

Reviewed by Blackbox Atlas

Frequently asked questions

Why would the water meter leak?
Common causes: worn gaskets at the inlet or outlet unions, corrosion, loose union nuts, or a cracked meter body. Union fittings connect the meter to the supply and house pipes; gasket failure or loose nuts cause most meter leaks.
Can I fix a meter leak myself?
In most areas, the water utility owns the meter and must perform meter repairs. You can shut off the main valve to reduce flow. If your utility allows it, you may snug a loose union nut—but do not disconnect the meter or replace gaskets without contacting the utility first.
When should I call the water utility vs a plumber?
Call the water utility for any leak at the meter body or on the street side of the meter. Call a plumber for leaks on the house side of the meter (the pipe between the meter and your main shutoff). The utility typically handles meter and street-side repairs.

Rate this guide

Was this helpful?

Continue to