Plumber Tips: Why Is My Water Bill So High? | Irving, TX

Photo By LSOphoto at istock

There are a lot of costs associated with owning a home, including several bills you have to pay every month. For the most part, you can expect these bills to hover around the same amount, but that’s not always the case. Homeowners all over the country have to deal with high water bills from time to time, and there are several things that can lead to them. If you notice your water bill is suddenly much higher than it normally is and you’re thinking about calling a plumber, here are some of the potential causes.

Water Usage

The first thing you need to think about if your water bill is higher than it normally is whether or not you’ve been using more water. The most common cause of an increase in your water bill isn’t a problem a plumber needs to fix, it’s a change in water usage. Whether you’re watering your lawn and garden more during the spring and summer or taking longer hot showers during the winter, there are a lot of things that can change about your water usage.

If you’re simply using too much water, you might want to consider investing in water-saving fixtures and appliances for your home. Older faucets, toilets and appliances can waste a lot of water, so you can seriously reduce water usage by upgrading. Water-saving aerators and showerheads make this even easier since you don’t have to replace entire fixtures.

While a plumber can help you reduce your water usage, it’s also up to you to change your habits. If you’re spending too much on your water bill, take a look at your daily water usage and take steps to cut back where you can.

Burst Pipes

Perhaps the worst problem you can have in your Irving, TX, home is a burst pipe. Not only can burst pipes cause a lot of water damage, they can also rack up a huge water bill because of all the water they waste. During the winter, it’s important to keep an eye out for sudden changes in your water bill and any other signs of burst pipes.

The best way to prevent burst pipes is to have a professional help you make sure your pipes are properly insulated. Sometimes you might need to simply insulate a wall better, while other pipes may need to be wrapped in heat cable. When a pipe freezes, the water inside that pipe expands and causes it to break. This results in several gallons of water being spilled out of the pipe each minute once things thaw out.

Leaks

Even if you don’t have a completely burst pipe, a leak can still cause a big increase in your water bill. If your water bill is higher than it should be and you’re not seeing any signs of problems that could cause it, you should have a plumber inspect your home for leaks. It could be that you’ve got a leak in a spot that’s hard to get to.

The tough part about leaks is that even a small leak can cost you a lot of money. While you might not notice serious water damage or a huge increase in your plumbing bill, a leak could cost you upwards of $100 monthly depending on how big it is. You can prevent this from happening by having a plumber install a smart leak detection system that alerts you at the first sign of a leak.

Running Toilet

While leaks are one of the most common causes of a high plumbing bill, there are worse problems you can have. As a matter of fact, running toilets are one of the biggest problems when it comes to how much they cost you on your monthly water bill. Believe it or not, plumbers estimate that a running toilet can cost upwards of $2,000 per month depending on the toilet.

Normally, your toilet only runs when you flush it and the tank needs to be refilled. If there’s a problem with the flapper that keeps the water in your tank once it’s full, your tank will simply keep refilling continuously. Sometimes, a running toilet is caused by something bigger than the flapper, in which case it might be best to buy a new toilet. In any case, having a plumber fix your running toilet will cost you a lot less than paying a massive water bill each month.

Dripping Faucets

When you think of a leak causing a water bill increase, you probably think of water gushing out of a pipe or fixture. The truth is, even a tiny leak can cost you a good amount on your monthly bill. If you notice a faucet in your home dripping after you’re done using it, you’re wasting a significant amount of water that’s costing you money.

A dripping faucet is a small leak, but it can still cost you $20 or more each month. If you’ve got a light trickle of water or a big drip, your bill may go up even more. As soon as you notice a faucet in your home dripping or leaking when it should be off, you should call a plumber to save water and money.

A Helping Hand

If you notice a sudden spike in your water bill, that’s a good indicator that you’ve got an underlying plumbing problem. The best thing you can do is call a plumber to check things out so you minimize water waste and prevent water damage.

Taking care of your plumbing system isn’t easy, but Tioga Plumbing & Electric is here to help. Whether you need plumbing repairs, maintenance or installation for your Irving, TX, home, we’ve got everything covered. Give Tioga Plumbing & Electric a call at (469) 789-1292 today to schedule an appointment or find out more about high water bills.