Here are 10 possible causes of your high water bill. A sudden high water bill is concerning due to the financial costs and the fact that it indicates that your water is possibly being wasted somewhere.
When you notice your water bill has increased, it’s essential to discover the cause and correct it as soon as possible.
A running or leaking toilet wastes around 200 gallons of water per day and add hundreds of dollars to your water bill, so it’s important to catch it quickly!
How to check for a running/leaking toilet:
Hose bibs are often forgotten about because they are outside. Out of sight out of mind situation, but if your water bill has suddenly risen, it’s definitely important to check all hose bibs for leaks.
If you discover that your hose bib is leaking, try shutting the faucet off all the way. If that doesn’t stop the leak, then you may need to replace the hose bib.
A faucet drip can waste 20 gallons of water a day or more, so don’t ignore dripping shower heads or faucets in your home.
Tighten any loose faucets/shower heads or replace the seal if needed.
Washing machine and dishwasher leaks can be difficult to spot because you need to check under the appliances for water.
Also, make note that if your washing machine and dishwasher are older models, they likely are not high-efficiency and use more water than the newer models.
The change of seasons can cause an increase in water consumption. Water bills are commonly higher in the summer months for many reasons:
Adding new water-consuming appliances like a pool, sprinkler system, freezer, etc. can drastically affect your water bill.
When looking for new appliances for your home, try to purchase high-efficiency appliances to minimize the impact on your water bill!
Water softeners backwash themselves regularly to regenerate, but sometimes the backwash valve gets stuck open causing water to be continuously drained into your sewer system.
If your water softener seems to be stuck constantly regenerating, give us a call and we’ll get it fixed quickly!
Have there been any recent changes to your living arrangements? More guests, gatherings, or parties? Are the kids home for summer break?
Make note of any changes to the number of guests that frequent your home because even a small change in guests can cause a noticeable impact on your water bill.
Go into your basement and take a look around at all of the pipes and check for any leaks. If you notice a leak it’s important to have it resolved right away before damage occurs to your home.
If you have exhausted all options for determining the cause of your high water bill, your water meter may be malfunctioning. Contact your water company to have your meter inspected or contact us for support!
