Over the summer, you probably noticed that your water bill got higher. As you filled your inflatable pool or turned on the sprinkler between our Wisconsin summer storms, you knew to expect that your bill would be a bit higher. But now that things are cooling down and we’re using less water outside, a high water bill could be a bit shocking! If you find yourself in this situation, here are some first steps in trying to find the plumbing problem…
Here are some first steps in trying to find the reason for your higher water bill
- Check your pipes and faucets
- Check your toilet
- Are you using water unnecessarily?
- Call a professional
We will go over what some of the issues might be and how you can address them to decrease your future water bills.
Check your pipes and faucets
If you notice that your water bill is shockingly high, it could mean that you have a small, or large, leak in your house that is constantly running. You’ll want to go around your house and check your faucets for any leaks that could be occurring. This is where you can also see if your faucets are dripping while not in use.
As you go to check everything in your home, make sure that you are looking and listening under your sinks to see if anything is happening where you can’t directly see. These hidden leaks are one of the main reasons why your water bill is higher than you thought it would be. This is where you’ll want to look at the areas that you don’t usually check such as in the basement or outside.
Check your toilet
Like leaking faucets, a toilet that has a leak is another leading cause of high water bills. Usually, you will be able to hear if you have a leaking toilet, but sometimes it isn’t that easy. This leaking could mean that you have a deteriorated flush valve that needs to be replaced. You can test this by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If after 15 to 20 minutes you look in the bowl and see color, this could indicate that you have a leak.
A leaking toilet can waste thousands of gallons of water per month, which can cause your water bill to double. By taking the time and money to fix this problem, you can save yourself a lot of money in the future.
Are you using water unnecessarily?
There’s never a bad time to take stock of your home’s water usage. Sometimes it isn’t a leak that is causing the high water bills. Oftentimes, you could be watering your lawn and leaving on the sprinkler when it is no longer needed. Or, you might not have turned an outside faucet off completely, causing it to run and leak unintentionally.
Make sure that you are only using water when it’s needed. You don’t want to be running it for too long, racking up your bill instead of saving yourself money.
Call a professional
If you notice any of these issues occurring after seeing that your water bill is higher than expected. Make sure that you contact a professional plumber to get help to solve the problem. Professional plumbing experts like the team here at Watters Plumbing would be more than willing to help you to fix leaks or drips that are occurring to save you money in the long run! They also would be able to notice any other issues that are happening in your home that you may not have caught yourself.
Overall, make sure that you are checking your water bill and noticing if the price is changing. If it is, look for the changes that you need to make to your own habits, or see if it is an issue being caused by leaks and running water from faucets. As the weather begins to cool down and we look ahead to the cold Wisconsin weather to come, this is the perfect time to check in on your home’s plumbing systems so you’re all set up for a cozy, safe winter!
Contact us so we can help you out!
If you are noticing a higher water bill than you expected, call us! At Watters Plumbing, we’re always here to help with 24/7 emergency service, home inspections, and leak repairs. Let us know how we can be of service!