Sensus Digital Water Meter How to Read

Is your domicile the blazon that needs its own dam to keep up with h2o demands, or is water used sparingly in your household? Whether you lot're taking a shower or washing the dishes, nosotros all use water in our day-to-day lives, and someone must foot the bill. While water bills aren't a surprise to many Aussies, the way we're charged can be.

In this article, we cover everything you need to know nigh water meters in Commonwealth of australia. So, if you're wondering where those precious drops are coming from, and how it's all calculated, and then look no farther as we swoop into the nitty gritty of residential water meters.

Skip alee to:

• What is a water meter?
• Where is my water meter located?
• How to read your water meter
• Who reads your water meter?
• Understanding your water bill
• Why is my h2o bill so high?

What is a water meter?

A water meter is an instrument that monitors water consumption at homes and businesses. Similar to a gas meter, water meters record a belongings's water usage for billing purposes. Most residential properties will have a water meter installed that measures water usage in kilolitres (KL) or cubic metres (M³) with 1KL and 1M³ equal to one,000 litres.

How does a h2o meter work?

H2o meters are built to record h2o that flows through your holding from a detail supply system. In that location are cogs and spindles inside your water meter that rotate when a specific volume of h2o has passed through the meter, which is then measured by a scattering of dials with numbers on them to reverberate the corporeality of water used.

Types of water meters

Like electricity meters, there are two types of water meters generally constitute on properties. The virtually common types are conventional meters, known as analog meters, which vary depending on the brand, model and size. On the other hand, there are more technologically advanced meters which are chosen digital water meters.

• Analog water meter: Found in nigh households, these water meters ordinarily take black, white or crimson numbers displayed on the panel. Some common brands include Elster, GVT, Itron and RMC.
• Digital h2o meter: Has an attached communication device that allows readings to be recorded remotely, which is so sent directly to the water supplier for billing purposes.

Some properties in certain areas may also be continued to a recycled water meter, which is measured and billed separately from a normal meter.

Where is my h2o meter located?

Your water meter volition commonly be located at the front end of your business firm near the nature strip or sidewalk, and will be found at basis level inside a meter box. Withal, some water meters may be located to a higher place footing. For those who live in apartments or townhouses, your water meter will likely be plant at the front end of your circuitous, just not all unit blocks volition have individual meters for each lot.

How many water meters are at my firm?

The amount of h2o meters at your property will depend on where yous alive and what type of meters are bachelor in your surface area. For example, if you live on a recycled h2o network, you may have an additional h2o meter that charges you separately to your regular meter. Once again, information technology'due south all-time to cheque your address with your water supplier or refer to the breakdown of charges listed on your terminal h2o bill.

How to read your h2o meter

Depending on the type of water meter at your premises, you'll need to open the meter box and elevator the chapeau which shows a sequence of numbers in i colour side by side to numbers in another colour. If yous accept an RMC water meter, the numbers in the peak display testify kilolitres, while the circular dials are litres which are read clockwise. In the example below, this Elster water meter reading is 397KL in white and 269L in reddish.

The Itron water meter below reads 477KL and 34L. As you lot tin can see, the reading looks much different to the Elster water meter, even so both meters have kilolitres displayed in one color, while the litres are shown in another color.

Tin can you submit a h2o reading?

Yep, y'all can submit a water meter reading to your water supplier, provided you've given them some details, such every bit the date of your reading, your unique serial meter number, too as the reading itself. Almost water companies will prompt you to submit a h2o reading by leaving a carte du jour in your letterbox stating they could non admission your meter. H2o readings can usually be submitted online, over the phone or by posting the self-reading carte dorsum to your h2o supplier.

Who reads your water meter?

Normally, a contractor from your water supplier or retailer volition read your meter on an approximate date that's found on your bill. This usually takes identify every iii months or quarter, but will vary between water suppliers. Wild atmospheric condition, locked gates, operational factors and dogs on properties can impact h2o meter readings, then billing periods may vary from time to fourth dimension. For instance, i billing menstruation may state 90 days, while another may be charged for 85 days.

Why is my water meter reading estimated?

Estimated water meter readings take place when a meter is inaccessible, due to a locked gate or a dog on the premises. Other reasons may exist because the h2o meter is damaged or faulty and is unreadable, or the contractor cannot locate the water meter. Guess readings are usually based on the property's previous water usage, as well as the next nib'due south water usage which has had an actual reading take place.

Why is my water meter covered?

Water meters are covered to prevent them being exposed to weather and other elements. Meters are commonly establish in an enclosed box that'southward underground which is connected to the water mains, allowing water to be supplied direct to your property. Always wear protective gloves when you lot open a water meter box as they are known to house spiders, snakes and other creepy crawlies.

Understanding your water bill

Whether y'all're billed monthly or quarterly, your h2o nib statement will have quite an all-encompassing breakup of fees and charges for water usage and supply. Some of the key account data to look out for is:

• Account number: An identification number for your water billing business relationship.
• Beak number or reference: The specific reference ID of your pecker.
• Property address: Your water meter's billing address.
• Nib due date: The payment appointment your issued water bill is due.
• Billing menses: A monthly, quarterly or bi-annually catamenia of your water charges.
• Estimate date of side by side meter reading: The next estimated date your water supplier will read your meter.
• Full amount due: The total amount payable to your h2o supplier.
• Previous beak corporeality: The total amount you paid on your concluding bill.
• Usage habits: Historical h2o usage information that compares with current usage.
• Account details: Details of your water meter/s on your property, including readings.
• Fees and charges: A thorough listing of costs for water usage and stock-still supply charges.
• Payment options: All of the bachelor means to pay your bill.

If yous'd like to get a sense of what the average h2o bill looks like, and then read our guide here.

Why is my h2o bill so loftier?

At that place are various factors to consider if you've received a larger than expected water nib. Water leaks can be a common cause of high h2o bills, yet it may be due to h2o rates increasing in your local expanse, or lifestyle factors that increment demand for h2o usage. If a leak is suspected, plough off all h2o at your premises and avoid using whatever water for an hr. Check the meter and take note of the dials past jotting down a reading. Come back in one case an hr has passed to see if the dials have moved.

Additional reading:

• H2o Rates in Sydney
• H2o Rates in Brisbane

How to lower your water bill

Then, with a bit of general knowledge on how h2o meters work, you could be in a better position to cut back those dreaded water costs. Being familiar with your h2o meter shouldn't be a hard chore, and past recognising when and where you lot use water the most, you may see a pleasant alter in your next bill, provided your household has made the right adjustments.

With the cost of living getting more than expensive, it may be time to become proactive well-nigh your utilities and seek out means to not simply lower your water bills, but as well your electricity bills. If you haven't compared free energy deals in a while, you could be missing out on some serious bargains.

Image credits: Yevhen Prozhyrko/Shutterstock.com, Wikipedia Commons, gmstockstudio/Shutterstock.com

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Source: https://www.canstarblue.com.au/home-garden/water-meters/

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