Compare actual readings, their units and the elapsed time. A measured difference describes water use; it does not locate a leak or distinguish an indoor fixture from irrigation.

Read the bill before assuming a repair
Check the water supplier and compare the current reading period with earlier bills. A household change or irrigation use may affect consumption. City of Tampa publishes guidance on high bills and household leak checks; customers of another utility should use that supplier’s instructions.
Record only safely accessible readings
Write down the time, displayed units and the reading exactly. Do not open sealed equipment, force a meter-box valve or work in unsafe conditions. The worksheet calculates the difference from your inputs; it does not remotely test the meter.
Keep known use and uncertainty visible
Record any known use during the interval. If the second reading is lower, check the input and whether a rollover occurred rather than treating it as negative use. A blank, invalid or reversed reading should not produce a confident consumption figure.
Use the result to ask a focused question
For billing or meter concerns, start with the responsible utility. For a suspected private leak, provide the readings and observations when asking about a plumbing assessment. Confirm the ownership boundary and diagnostic charge. A repair or calculated difference does not guarantee a bill adjustment.
Compare two meter readings
Read the same register before and after a period with no water use. Include irrigation, appliances and automatic equipment in that pause. The EPA suggests a two-hour comparison. Enter up to six decimal places.
Entries stay in your browser and are not sent to this website. These tools organize observations; they do not diagnose a property or quote a service.
Take the next step for this problem
Water-line leak assessment & repair in Tampa ↗
For address-specific utility and access context, visit Tampa or your locality guide. Confirm appointment availability and any assessment charge.
Related homeowner guidance
Official resources
- City of Tampa household leak checks ↗
- City of Tampa Water FAQ ↗
- Hillsborough County wastewater connections ↗
- Hillsborough County construction and permit guidance ↗
- Florida license verification ↗
Use official resources for utility and permitting questions at the property address.