Have you ever received your water/utility bill and had quite the shock at how much higher it was compared to the month before? This can be a huge indicator that something isn’t running properly.
Not only does a high-water bill hurt your wallet, but it can also reveal a significant waste of a precious resource; therefore, it is natural to be motivated to track down the reason behind the high bill and correct it as soon as possible. We have compiled some of the common reasons for a high-water bill to help you narrow down the issue.
Leaky Faucets
Does your sink faucet or shower head have a steady drip when the water nozzles are turned off? This could be your cause for an outrageous water bill. Many times, the issue is just a faulty rubber washer in the faucet handle.
Leaky/Running Toilets
A running or leaky toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water in one day. That is a considerable amount of water when thinking about conserving a precious resource or a water bill that emptied your pocketbook.
Not sure if the issue is coming from your toilet? You can check it a few ways:
- Listen to the water running through your toilet. If it sounds like something is running or you hear an odd hissing noise, you may want to get your toilet checked out for a leak.
- You can test your toilet using food coloring. Take the toilet’s tank lid off and put in a few drops of the food coloring. After about 15-20 minutes, check the toilet bowl for the dye. If there is coloring in the toilet bowl from the dye, then there is a leak allowing the tank water to flow into it.
Toilets account for the most water use within a home; therefore, if one is running or leaking, it should be fixed as soon as possible. Faulty flappers in the toilet tank are a common source of the issue and can be easily fixed by a quick trip to the home improvement store.
Irrigation Leaks
A line crack or loose joint can cause a leak in your outdoor watering system, even when it is powered off. These leaks can be a little trickier, especially if the irrigation lines are buried and out of sight. One of the best indicators that this is where your problem lies is an unusually damp patch in your yard or an area of grass that is way lusher than its surrounding areas. Irrigation leaks are better left up to the professionals to fix.
Lateral Line Leaks
In some instances, a high-water bill can indicate that the pipes carrying water from your metered connection into your home may be cracked or have a loose joint. This could be due to the pipe’s age, seismic activity, animal interaction, tree root intrusion, etc.
This is usually very severe, and you should contact a professional if you haven’t been able to track down the water leak via the above issues.
The Plumbing & Cooling Nerds can help you save money on your water bill
The extra expense from a water leak can be burdensome. We are here to help evaluate the issue, track down the problem, and fix the leak/ get your water bill back to a manageable amount. Call Plumbing & Cooling Nerds at (239) 215-3330 or send us a message through our website.
