Have your water bills been unseemly high lately? Do you feel like you are stuck in a rut that you can’t quite dig yourself out of, leaving nothing but the option to just deal with absurdly high water bills every month? If this resonates with you, don’t despair! Blue Ash Plumbing & Drain is here to help enlighten you with 10 potential reasons why your water bill may be so high. To help pinpoint the culprit of your high water bill, ask yourself the following questions:
- IS THE SEASON A FACTOR IN YOUR WATER CONSUMPTION?
Many homeowners use a swimming pool to cool off in the hotter months of the year, so if this is the case for you, this may very well be the source of your water consumption woes. However, if you don’t own a swimming pool, consider what other water sources may be a prominent factor in your higher water consumption. Perhaps you’ve used multiple kiddie pools to cool down your children or dogs. Or maybe you’ve been enjoying some outdoor water items, such as splash pads. Another factor could be your lawn sprinklers or if a garden hose was left on. This will most definitely result in a spike in your water bill! - IS YOUR FAUCET OR VALVE LEAKING?
Next, a leaking faucet or valve within your home will absolutely result in higher water usage and, therefore, reflect on your water bills. A leaking water faucet that drips at a rate of one drip a second can quickly add up to as much as 20 liters of water consumption a day! So, be sure to confirm that all faucets are turned off completely and that no faucets or valves are leaking! - IS YOUR TOILET CONSTANTLY RUNNING OR LEAKING?
Typically, a home’s toilet flushes take up to 25% of the home’s indoor water consumption per month. This makes sense since each flush uses up about 1.6 gallons. However, if a toilet is leaking, it could use up as much as 200 gallons per toilet per day! Additionally, a toilet that is constantly running can use up to an extra 30 gallons a day. So, if your water bill is exceptionally high, it’s imperative that each toilet in your home is ruled out as a possible cause. - IS YOUR HOT WATER HEATER OLD OR LEAKING?
For our third point, go ahead and inspect the base of your water heater to ensure no puddles or leaks are accumulating around it. Furthermore, if your water heater is old, it’s viable that it has given out and may need to be replaced. - IS YOUR WASHING MACHINE LEAKING?
Now, how about your washing machine? Has that been ruled out yet? Washing machines often go overlooked – especially if no puddles have formed in front of the machine. Thus, it would be wise to perform a quick check of the back of the washing machine. Sometimes, leaks can go unidentified due to those notorious missing socks and other MIA laundry items soaking up the leaking water behind the washing machine. - IS YOUR DISHWASHER LEAKING?
Let’s not forget about the dishwasher. This is a little bit trickier to discover a leak as dishwashers are generally encased inside the kitchen counters and cabinets. However, dishwasher leaks can be pinpointed by identifying warped, discolored, or moist water stains on the surrounding floor, cabinets, or walls. - IS YOUR WATER SOFTENER RECHARGED AT A HIGH RATE?
Not everyone has a water softener in their home. But if you own one, you will want to check for leaks or overflow. On top of that, the settings should be double-checked to ensure it is regenerating weekly at a reasonable rate. If you’d like to test it further, you can set the water softener on “bypass” and check your water meter to see if it stopped functioning. - IS YOUR FURNACE HUMIDIFIER ON A HIGH SETTING?
Your furnace’s drain line may have gotten backed up. Sometimes, loose debris, particles, or mineral deposits will clog up these drain lines, allowing for a leak to manifest. Prevent this from happening in the future by making sure your furnace’s drain line stays clean and clear of obstructions. - IS THERE AN OUTDOOR LEAK?
Moving down our list of possible leaks – let’s take it outdoors! Outdoor leaks are often easily undetected for a long time due to their location. Make sure all outdoor faucets and valves are turned off. You should also confirm that there are no holes in your garden hoses. In addition, you may scan your driveway and curb to seek out a steady stream of water or perhaps a puddle that could potentially aid you in locating the outdoor leak. - IS THERE AN UNDERGROUND LEAK?
Lastly, it’s important to point out how underground leaks are ever so precarious to track down. This is where consistently keeping track of your household’s water usage can benefit you.
High water bills can be so discouraging. But you don’t have to settle and keep paying ridiculously high water bills without at least knowing why. It would be good to note that an average household of four generally uses up to 200 gallons of water daily, equating to an estimated 50 gallons per family member each day. Therefore, saving water and preventing water leaks is crucial to lowering your water bill. If you’d like more information on how to reduce your home’s water consumption, or perhaps you need a little more assistance with locating the source of your high water bill, don’t hesitate to contact your Blue Ash Plumbing & Drain local professionals at (513)-995-4898, or schedule an appointment online by clicking here! We would love to work with you and help alleviate any stress caused by your home plumbing problems.