We spend a lot of time talking about utility bills when it comes to heating and cooling, but what about your water bill? Does it seem unusually high? Let’s examine some of the reasons for that, what you can do about it, and when it’s time to call in Dixie Electric, Plumbing, and Air for professional help:
Leaking toilet
The toilets in your Auburn, Opelika, or Montgomery, AL home generally account for nearly a third (31%) of water usage. A leaky toilet can waste 6,000 gallons of water every month. That’s a sizable chunk of change. There are two ways to check your toilet:
- The ear test—Just listen for the sound of running water or maybe a hissing sound.
- The dye test—Put a couple drops of food coloring in the toilet tank then wait for 15-20 minutes. If the water in the toilet bowl turns color, you have a leak.
Usually the cause of the leak is the flapper in the toilet tank and is a pretty easy fix with a trip to the hardware store.
Faucets & fixtures
You may not think a dripping faucet is much of a water leak, but it adds up quickly. A drip per second can result in about 17 gallons of wasted water every day. If you have two or even three fixtures leaking it can definitely be a factor in a high water bill. If you are a little bit handy you can likely fix the problem by replacing the washer in the faucet.
Irrigation
Not all water leaks happen inside the house. If you have an underground irrigation system and suspect a leak, look for wet spots in the yard or maybe an area where the grass seems to be really green and lush. Many times, this is going to require one of our plumbers to locate the leak and fix the problem.
Supply line
If your high water bill is really spiking upwards it could be a leak in the supply pipe (also called a lateral line) between your water meter and the house. Just like an irrigation leak it’s underground, but it may be easier to locate because the amount of water is much greater. Look for a muddy area between the meter and the house. The only choices are to dig a new trench and repair/replace the pipe or insert new pipe inside the old one (re-piping).
Outdated equipment
If the toilets and fixtures in your house are old, they could be water wasters. Water-saving toilets, low flow showerheads, and modern faucet aerators can save a significant amount of water every month.
Bad habits
Sometimes WE are the cause of those high water bills. Consider some of these common mistakes:
- Top loading washing machines use 200% more water than modern front loaders
- Overwatering lawns and landscaping
- Unnecessarily long showers (keep it to 5 minutes or less)
- Washing dishes by hand with the water running uses 4 to 5 times the water of a dishwasher
- Keeping the water running while brushing your teeth or shaving
Call Dixie, and it’s done
Let’s work together to shrink those high water bills. You take care of the easy stuff like the household water leaks, and when you need help call in Dixie Electric, Plumbing & Air. For more great information be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
