Plumber question with regards to water meter

[Desert Gal]

We have a water meter which shows a dial moving (indicated water running).
30 feet away from the water meter to it's LEFT is the shut off valve to the house.
30 feet away from the water meter to it's RIGHT is the shut off valve for the irrigation.

When I shut off EITHER the house main or the irrigation; the meter will stop running (independent of each other).
This does not make ANY sense to me! Has anyone heard of this?

The water company said that it might be a leaking service line. Has anyone heard of this?

 

[SamirD]

Try shutting off the irrigation line and see if you have water at the house. If so, you can leave it off and see what your next bill looks like. And then after a few months report the problem, lol.

As far as why the meter stops running, it makes sense if both valves are off, so I would start there. Then I would turn on something at the house and see if it runs. Then I would again turn both off and turn on the irrigation system and open that valve and see if the meter runs.

If there is a leak, the meter should run no matter which valve is turned off.

 

[MtnMan]

Or two leaks?

I'm guessing you have a little red triangle that is turning, indicating flow. Count how many times it turns in a minute, then close one of the valves and count again. I suspect you may find it is less.

 

[Desert Gal]

Or two leaks?

I'm guessing you have a little red triangle that is turning, indicating flow. Count how many times it turns in a minute, then close one of the valves and count again. I suspect you may find it is less.

Yes the triangle indicates flow when both the house main and irrigation valve are open. When EITHER valve is closed, or both... the triangle stops! This makes no sense to me.

 

[Desert Gal]

Try shutting off the irrigation line and see if you have water at the house. If so, you can leave it off and see what your next bill looks like. And then after a few months report the problem, lol.

As far as why the meter stops running, it makes sense if both valves are off, so I would start there. Then I would turn on something at the house and see if it runs. Then I would again turn both off and turn on the irrigation system and open that valve and see if the meter runs.

If there is a leak, the meter should run no matter which valve is turned off.

First, thanks for your response.
We have done that. The meter stops when either or both valves are turned off. Both lines are separated after the meter. This makes no sense.

Yes, I agree with you. The water co. stated that their may be a "service" line between both, which is causing the meter to run. I have not heard of this in my years! Anyone?

 

[PowerEngineer]

I agree with you that what you describe doesn't seem right, so perhaps something taken as true may not be.

It might be a good idea to verify the functions of both valves. I would try closing the house valve and then verify that the water to the house is actually shut off and that the water to the irrigation system is still on. I would then do the same for the irrigation valve (irrigation shut off with house still on).

Good luck!

 

[skyking]

I'll draw a mental diagram for you.
Where you think is a Tee is not.
It goes
meter to house shutoff
After that there is a T!
one side goes to house
other side to that irrigation shutoff.

Leak is in irrigation side of system