At the end of the month when it’s time to pay the bills, you’re not looking for any surprises. If you look at your water bill and notice it’s increasing, you will probably wonder why. There are several reasons as to why your water bill is rising that are not obvious. The good news is once you can identify these reasons, getting your bill back down is easy. Let’s take a look at the five most common reasons water bills increase unbeknownst to the homeowner:
1. Running Toilets
Some older toilets use as much as seven gallons of water per flush. Commodes use more water than any other fixture in a home. When they’re not working correctly, the water usage increases. When your water bill is surprisingly high, the first place to check should always be your toilets. Toilets that are not working properly will run non-stop. Running toilets are the most common source of increased water bills. If your toilet’s water tank can’t refill because of a seal issue, it’s going to keep running and trying to refill. This result in a lot of wasted water.
2. Hidden Leaks
Hidden leaks are another notorious cause of rising water bills. A hidden leak, by definition, is usually a leak not visible to the naked eye; so it just keeps leaking, adding to your water meter. Even worse, a hidden leak can damage your home. Hidden leaks can lead to mold growth, water stains, rot, and flooding. If you suspect a hidden leak you might consider hiring a Las Vegas plumber who can check your water pressure and then know where to look.
3. Ignored Drips
They don’t seem like much at first, but over time a drip adds up. One dripping faucet left unrepaired for a month can end up expelling hundreds of gallons of wasted water. Drips are not just annoying-they’re expensive! If you are unable to remedy the drip yourself, hire a professional plumber to help you out. Plumbers are good at sniffing out problems like locating and fixing a leaky faucet, solving the pesky problem of no hot water in the shower, and dishwasher leaks, just to name a few.
4. Not WaterSense Approved
The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) created the WasterSense Program to help promote water conservation efforts. If your appliance comes with a WaterSense label, it means it is 20% more efficient than comparable products. The efficiency is achieved through ecologically-friendly technology. Measurable results are available, so you can compare appliances yourself. If you’ve changed out an appliance with one that is not WaterSense approved that could be the culprit for your rising water bill.
5. Situational Factors
A rising water bill can also be the result of other factors like hosting a guest or family member for an extended period of time. According to the USGS Water Science School , one person uses about 80-100 gallons of water per day in the U.S. You can easily see how additions to the family can spike your water bill. Ultimately, if you’re not sure why your bill is rising contact a trusted plumber and chances are they’ll be able point you in the right direction.
If you need help, call the Las Vegas plumbers homeowners trust to deliver phenomenal service: Pure Plumbing. We offer 24 hour emergency plumbing services; even if it’s a holiday weekend, or late at night, we will help you keep your plumbing pure.
