Budgeting for your bills each month is a great habit to get into. Perhaps you’re the type of homeowner who anticipates to the dollar what your monthly utility bills should be.
So when you notice a significant jump or spike in what you typically pay each month for water or sewer usage, it can be alarming. Luckily, for every increase, there’s often a valid explanation. Figuring out what the culprit is quickly can help you reduce the surprise bills month after month.
Here are the potential reasons for the high water bill you just received:
Changes in Pricing or Consumption
Your family’s water habits and usage play a significant role in your billing and pricing every month. Has anyone in your family tried to beat the heat with more showers per day? Are you always running the dishwasher only half-full?
Usage can change seasonally, or even monthly, depending on personal habits. Check your family’s routines to ensure the uptick in pricing doesn’t correspond to changing water habits.
Likewise, keep a lookout for any information from your water or sewer company about rates changing or going up. Rule out pricing issues before proceeding to check for leaks or other problems in your pipes or fixtures.
Underground Leaks
When walking across your yard on a hot, dry day, you notice a random wet spot with no sprinkler in sight. Or, you check your water meter in the morning and record the numbers you see, then check again when you return home in the evening, only to notice that the number seems off.
In some instances, underground plumbing has issues that cause leaks to occur and can be challenging to detect. If you’ve noticed these problems and have a high water bill, you should contact a plumber like Dixie Electric, Plumbing & Air to conduct an inspection.
However, other issues could be a more simple DIY fix, such as a leaking faucet or running toilet.
Leaking Faucets
Leaking faucets and showerheads cost many homeowners hundreds of dollars a year if not taken care of. If you continually hear a “drip, drip, drip” sound when all else is quiet, put this at the top of your list to address and repair or replace.
Check the base of your sink or shower for excess water when no one has used it in a while. A visual inspection will let you know if this is the high water bill culprit, and it can be a relatively easy fix.
Leaking or Running Toilets
In this instance, you would most likely be able to see or hear the leaking culprit: a constantly-running toilet. Many times, there are simple repairs to this issue, particularly if the toilet flapper or valve needs replacement.
You can also conduct a dye test. Place a few drops of food coloring in the tank and watch. If a leak is present, the dye will slowly run into the toilet bowl without flushing or tampering.
You can attempt a DIY-repair, but if you’ve exhausted all other options and still hear a running water sound or a leaking sound coming from your toilet, you should call in pros like us.
Broken Meter
If any of these other issues don’t seem to be the cause of your high bill, check to see if your meter is working correctly. In a few rare instances, it’s the water meter itself that is broken.
Find out when the water company reads your meter, then take time each month to record the meter reading yourself manually. If you do this for a couple of months, and if there is a discrepancy, you will notice it. Then, call your water company and let them know about the issue.
High Water Bills Don’t Have to Be A Head-Scratcher
If you’ve exhausted all options for what could be causing your high water bill, give us a call. We would be happy to send out one of our technicians to inspect your plumbing and confirm the cause so that you can get back to a steady, predictable water usage level.
Call Dixie And It’s Done!
At Dixie Electric, Plumbing & Air, your satisfaction is guaranteed. For plumbing, electrical, or heating and air services, our highly trained technicians will do it right the first time, on time, every time. For coupons and discounts on all the services Call Dixie has to offer, click here. To schedule a service with Call Dixie, call 334.328.3570 for Montgomery, or call 334.246.4914 for Auburn. You can also schedule an appointment online.
For emergency service and immediate assistance, please call our 24/7 service line at 334.328.3570.
