How to Read a Gas Meter

A good way to monitor gas usage is by reading the gas meter and comparing it to the previous reading. If you know how to read the meter, you can check on the accuracy of an unusually high bill. It isn't difficult if you follow the simple steps.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paper
• Pencil
• Previous gas bill

1. Secure your last gas bill so that when you read the meter, you'll have a point of comparison.

2. Take a pencil and paper to record the numbers that you see.

3. Start reading the dial at the left. There are three to six dials. Each one goes in a different clockwise direction from the previous one.

4. Look at the arrow. If the arrow is between numbers, the number that you'll want to write down is the lowest number.

5. Look carefully to see if the hand of the dial is directly on a number. Check the dial to the right. Notice whether it has passed the zero. If it hasn't, you need to use the lower number for the first dial.

6. Subtract the reading from the previous gas bill from the number you wrote down, and the answer is how much gas you have used since the last reading.

Tips & Warnings

• The meter moves by the force of the flowing gas. The more gas used the faster it moves.
• Notice that each time the hand on the meter on the right makes a complete revolution around the dial, the hand on the meter to its direct left moves one number.