If you’re like the majority of us, we run our homes on a tight budget. For most homeowners, you can estimate the utility costs to within a few bucks. Then it hits! An outrageously high water bill. The first thing that comes to mind is that we need to start cracking down on those long showers, especially if you have teenagers. Then you start watering the yard less and cut back on those at-home car washes. Then it finally dawned on you that you might have a water leak in your home. Next, you do a Google search, “How to check for a water leak in my home.” Now it’s time to start checking for a leak. Unseen water leaks come in all shapes and sizes. For example, you may have something as small as a leaky toilet or something as damaging as a slab leak.
The Steps To Fixing A High Water Bill
Step 1. Turn off all the water in your home. Make sure the dishwasher and washing machine are off. If something gets left on, the information will not be accurate.
Step 2. Check the spinning wheel on your meter. It could be a wheel or a triangular object that spins or moves. It’s called a check flow indicator. If it moves with all the water turned off in the house, you have a water leak.
DON’T STOP THERE!
Step 3. Find the shut-off valve to your landscape irrigation system and shut it off. Often it’s located in the front of the house toward the street.
Step 4. With the irrigation system turned off, re-check your meter. If the check flow indicator is still moving, then the leak is coming from your home. If it has stopped, then the leak is coming from your irrigation.
If the leak is in your home, here are some things to look for:
- Look for discoloring tiles, bulging laminate, wet spots on your carpet, or dark spots on the garage floor. Any of these could be the sign of a slab leak.
- Inspect the areas around your home for puddling. It could be the result of a pipe leak from the perimeter of your home.
- Check your toilets for leaks. As minor as this may sound, a leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons of water a day. Here’s a simple test to find a toilet leak. Remove the lid of the toilet tank. Put a couple of drops of food coloring in the tank. Wait approximately 15 minutes without flushing. If you see food coloring in the bowl, your toilet leaks.
- Check all your faucets, even a faucet that has a minor drip can waste a significant amount of water if not fixed.
- Check outdoor spigots, they are notorious for leaking.
If you have an irrigation leak, the approach may be less complicated. In most cases, the place of an irrigation leak is in the main water line. You can spot where the leak may be coming from by inspecting your grass area. If you see a dark green patch that sticks out, the leak is usually in that area. You may even notice puddling on your lawn.
Big Energy-Savings On Energy Star Certified Water Heater
Another way to reduce water consumption is to replace your old water heater. You can save as much as 34% on energy costs compared to heaters manufactured ten years ago. An Energy Star certified water heater could save thousands in energy costs over its lifetime. Installing a tankless on-demand water heater could bring even greater savings.
Take On The Challenge Of Lowering Your Water Bill
Don’t let one high water bill get you down. Consider it a challenge to get the water consumption back to normal. You may also want to consider low-flow toilets because flushing accounts for 30 percent of indoor water usage. Installing new low-flow fixtures and showerheads will save you even more since showers and baths account for 15 percent of water usage. You can reduce your water consumption significantly by switching to low-flow fixtures. When you need a hand with plumbing repairs or installations, Big B’s Plumbing has you covered. We are A+ rated with the Better Business Bureau with over a thousand top-rated reviews. Licensed, bonded, and insured #986152.
