If you rent or own a house or apartment, receiving and paying a handful of utility bills at the end of every month is likely an expected occurrence for your household. Since the cost of your utility bills is based on your usage of electricity, gas, water, etc., the amount of each bill varies slightly for most people from month to month. It is unlikely that your monthly utility bills will change very much over time as long as your household size and the usage habits of each member of your household remain relatively stable. We can help you to solve high water bills.
Getting an unusually high utility bill at the end of the month can be a nasty shock. There are many reasons why your water bill might be significantly higher than it normally is on a monthly basis. Keep reading to learn more about some of the most common root causes of unusually high water bills—and how to fix these potential problems to get your monthly water bill back down to a reasonable amount.
1. Turn Off Your Main Water Supply
A faulty gauge is one of the most common causes of excessively high water bills. Fortunately, checking to see if your water meter is running accurately is fairly simple.
The first step is to check the number on your water meter—which is usually located somewhere right outside your residence, like around the side yard of your home. Write the number down somewhere, then cut off the main water supply to your house entirely. Leave the water turned off completely for an hour, then check the water meter again.
If the number is higher than the number you wrote down or the little red dial on the meter shows that water is currently running in your home, that’s a pretty good sign that your water meter is inaccurately measuring your household’s water usage and needs to be fixed or replaced ASAP.
2. Inspect Your Sprinklers
Broken sprinklers are another common cause of exorbitant monthly water bills. Leaking sprinklers can waste a ton of water, which can in turn majorly drive up the cost of your water bill.
Inspecting sprinklers can help solve high water bills
Inspect your sprinkler system thoroughly and test it regularly to make sure it is functioning properly. Keep your eye out for other, less obvious signs of broken or leaking sprinklers as well. Red flags of leaking sprinklers include unexplainable puddles or patches of soggy grass, damp concrete, and seemingly random brown spots in your lawn.
3. Listen for Running Water
Leaks in your home plumbing system can be sneaky. They are not always obvious. One of the simplest ways to find a water leak in your home is to turn off all water-dependent appliances in your home and then listen for the sound of running water.
Hearing the sound of rushing water when your faucets, dishwasher, washing machine, etc. are all turned off is a telltale sign of a water leak that is likely driving up your water bill.
4. Manage Water Usage
There are several unexpected problems that can majorly increase your monthly water bill. However, it is also possible that your water bill is high because your household is simply using a high amount of water.
If you have ruled out all other potential problems and are still stuck with a high water bill, employ strategies to manage your household’s water usage instead. Simple strategies such as taking shorter showers, limiting your use of dishwashers and washing machines, and replacing your lawn with water-smart landscaping like succulents can do wonders for cutting down the cost of your monthly water bill.
5. Get Professional Help
There are many problems that can lead to abnormally high water bills. Trying to effectively diagnose the issue yourself can be time-consuming and frustrating. In many cases, the diagnosis and treatment of whatever problem is causing your high water bills is a job that is best left to professionals.
Accurate Leak Locators and Plumbing is a professional plumbing service and leak location company that serves residential customers throughout the Inland Empire, Orange County, Los Angeles County, San Diego County, and beyond. Their team of certified professionals has over 30 years of experience in the industry and are trained specifically in the latest high-tech plumbing skills and techniques.
Accurate Leak Locators and Plumbing offers an extremely wide range of plumbing services. If you are hoping to solve the problem of a high monthly water bill, this professional plumbing company can help. Accurate Leak Locators and Plumbing offers affordable and comprehensive water leak testing services to safely check for any leaks in your home plumbing system that might be significantly increasing your water bill.
If you’re located in Southern California, give Accurate Leak Locators and Plumbing a call today to take the first step in the right direction toward lowering your monthly water bills.
