An unusually high water bill is most often caused by a change in water use or a leak. Often times we do not realize how the simplest things like five more minutes in the shower, a leaking toilet, or other small change can use so much water. You may be able to determine the reason that your bill is higher than expected if you answer “yes” to any of the questions below. If you complete the checklist and have determined the cause of your high bill, you will want to take the necessary steps to correct the issue as soon as you can to prevent another high bill.
Before You Begin:
- Make sure all of the water faucets and water using appliances in your home are shut off.
- Locate your water meter. If you are not certain where your meter is located, you can contact our office for the location.
- Read the register on it like you would a car odometer from left to right.
- Check the leak indicator. It is the red triangle on the face of the meter. The leak indicator will spin if there is water going through the meter.
- If the leak indicator is indicating water usage, locate your house valve and turn it off. If the meter stops spinning, the leak is in or under your home. If the meter does not stop spinning, the leak is between the meter and the house.
If you have a leak use the following to help identify it:
If the leak is inside your house:
Bathroom Checks:
- Perform a dye test in all your toilets. Take the lid off of the tank and place some drops of food coloring into the tank. Wait at least 30 minutes. Do not flush the toilet while waiting. Now that the dye has been in the tank of the toilet for at least 30 minutes, look in the bowl of the toilet. If it is any shade of the dye, there is a leak. The most common toilet leak is the flapper. Another cause is the fill valve. If the fill valve is the cause, there will be water draining into the overflow tube when the tank is full. You can also shine a flashlight into the overflow pipe to see the water easier.
- Faucets: Listen and look for drips and turn on to check for water going down the back of the faucet. Dripping faucets can waste hundreds of gallons of water a month depending on the severity of the drip. Worn out washers are the main cause of these leaks.
- Shower heads: Listen and look for drips and turn on and look for drips or stray sprays that are not coming out of the head itself.
- In the Tub: Listen and look for drips from the faucet and the handles.
- Under the Sink: Check for wet or damp areas under the sink.
Laundry/Utility Room/Garage Checks:
- Clothes Washer: Check for wet or damp areas under or around the washer.
- Washer Supply Line: Check for any drips from the hose between the wall and the washer.
- Water Heater: Check for any wet or damp areas around the water heater. Also, check for any leaks from the pressure valve, located near the top of the tank.
- Water Softener: Listen for the sound of running water. This could indicate that your softener is stuck in recycle/regeneration mode. Place your softener in bypass mode to see if the meter stops moving.
Kitchen Checks:
- Faucets: Listen and look for drips and turn on to check for water going down the back of the faucet. Dripping faucets can waste hundreds of gallons of water a month depending on the severity of the drip. Worn out washers are the main cause of these leaks.
- Sprayer: Check to make sure that there is no water leaking from the sprayer hose.
- Under the Sink: Check for any wet or damp areas under the sink.
- Dishwasher: Check for any wet or damp areas around the dishwasher.
- Refrigerator (Ice Maker/Water Dispenser): Check for any wet or damp areas around the back of the refrigerator.
- Outside Hose Spigots: These often come off piping inside the house. Listen and look for drips at and around the spigot. If there is a hose connected to the spigot, disconnect the hose and then look for a drip.
MISCELLANEOUS CHECKS:
- Fire Suppression Systems: Check sprinkler heads to make sure they are not dripping.
- Walls: Check for moisture or mold on walls, floors, and ceilings. This could indicate a leak in the pipe behind wall.
If the leak is outside your house:
- House Service: Walk from the meter to the shutoff valve at your house. If you notice a we area or a greener/thicker patch of lawn in your yard there could be a break in the line underground.
- Irrigation System: Turn your system on and let run a full cycle. Check for any broken sprinkler heads. Make sure only one zone is on at a time. Check your timer to ensure that it is scheduled for the correct days and times. Check your timer for any additional schedules that could also be running. If you notice a greener/thicker patch of lawn in your yard, the sprinkler head could need replacing, or there could be a break in the irrigation line underground.
- Swimming Pool: If your pool has an auto fill valve, check it to make sure it is functioning correctly.
Take care of leaks as soon as they are identified; it saves water, money, and limits the amount of water damage. Smaller repairs can often be made by the homeowner, while other repairs may require a licensed professional.
Other Considerations and Suggestions:
- If you have added water to your swimming pool recently, this could cause a high bill.
- If you have been watering new landscaping, either by hand or with your irrigation system, this could cause a high bill.
- Guests: Have you had anyone stay at your home for an extended period of time?
- If you have been washing your car, boat, or pressure washing your home, this could cause a high bill.
If you leave your home for an extended period of time, you may want to turn off your house valve. This will prevent the home from flooding if a serious leak develops while you are away.