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Why is My Water Bill So High?

If your water bill is higher than expected this month, it may simply be that you’re using more water. Homeowners find that their water usage increases during times when they’re at home for longer periods of time (like during a holiday staycation), when guests are visiting, and after sprinklers are started up for the summer season. However, if your water bill has jumped up dramatically all of a sudden without a clear seasonal cause or remains higher than expected over a period of several months, a plumbing issue is likely to blame.

When our experienced plumbers are called out to investigate the cause of unexpected water usage, they typically find that one of these culprits is to blame:

Dripping Faucet

Water dripping in a sink, tub, or shower from a broken faucet may just seem like a nuisance, but over time it can be very costly as well. This wasted water inflates a homeowner’s bill and damage the area around the leak. Additionally, if the drip is from a hot water faucet, it can drive up energy usage as well because it depletes hot water reserves, causing a hot water heater to run more frequently than it should.

Running Toilet

Similarly, a toilet that keeps running after it’s flushed is wasting water – a LOT of water! A running toilet can waste more than a gallon of water every hour, which adds up quickly. The result is an inflated water bill that could have been prevented with a minor fix. The good news is that most toilet repairs can be completed using fairly inexpensive parts. If your toilet is broken, get it fixed by a local plumber right away to avoid throwing money away.

Hidden Interior Leak

A dripping faucet is an obvious waste of water, but what about water waste that you can’t see? If a pipe is leaking behind a wall or in a basement, it can go undetected for a while if it’s just a small leak. Often times, these are not discovered until after major problems have arisen. Typically, these problems are drywall damage, mold growth, and floor and baseboard warping. However, more serious damage can also result as well, compromising the structural integrity of the home. If you smell a wet smell, see wet spots, feel damp or spongy building materials on floors and walls, these are signs that a leak is hiding somewhere in your home. Call a top-rated plumber immediately to investigate the source of the leak and fix the plumbing problem right away!

Cracked Irrigation Line

If you have a wet spot in your yard, it could be the result of a cracked or disconnected sprinkler line that’s allowing water to pool near the source of the break. A broken sprinkler head is often easier to diagnose because water will shoot out of where it should be spraying, but a broken underground irrigation line can lurk anywhere where sprinkler plumbing is buried. A plumber can determine if you have an irrigation issue or a more serious plumbing issue.

Leaking Sewer Pipe

A cracked or broken sewer line is one of the most dangerous (and costliest) plumbing issues that homeowners can face. If your water bill is particularly high and there is a foul smell coming from your yard or you see dirty water pooling, call an emergency plumber immediately! A broken sewer line can expose your family and neighbors to contaminated water, creating a hazardous situation.

Additional resources:
The Long-Term Effects of Home Water Damage
Is Your Hot Water Tank Leaking?
Yard Wet Spots from Plumbing Problems
Do You Have a Leak?
Toilet Problems 101
Diagnosing Outdoor Plumbing Failures
Is It a Broken Sewer Line?
Fixing a Leaking Faucet
Leaky Shower Repair
How to Repair a Leaking Kitchen Sink
Fixing a Running Away Toilet
Roots Growing in Sewer Pipes
When Frozen Pipes Burst in the Winter
Finding a Water Leak
Leaking Toilet Tank
Fixing a Dripping Faucet
Stop your Shower Faucet from Leaking
How to Fix a Shower Head that Leaks