Water Bill Escalating? One Of These Could Be To Blame!
Homeowners in 2013 spent about $150 billion on home improvements and repairs according to NAHB analysis of the most recent data. While this number has significantly decreased in the past by 34% from 2007 ($227 Billion), there is still a lot that homeowners need to worry about.
The problems with plumbing unfortunately don’t just lead to financial losses but they also affect the number of precious few resources that we have. This is why you might need to look for the causes and address them as soon as possible.
The following are some of the most common reasons behind rising water bills and a few tips regarding what you can do about them:
The Water meter
This is an important place to begin but you need to inspect the meter closely to figure out if there is in fact a plumbing leak. Here are some steps to take:
- Turn off all water using appliances including outdoor appliances.
- Open water meter’s cover and check the flow indicator
- If after the appliances are off the water meter is still moving then this indicates a leak. Keep checking periodically before calling a plumber.
General Leaks
If you are unable to figure out a plumbing leak by inspecting the water meter, you could inspect the following few areas:
- Pipes
- Water Heater
- Drains
- Faucets
- Showers
- Toilets
Fact: Toilets can waste up to 200 gallons of water in a single day and up to 1400 gallons per week!
How to Detect
While some of the signs of toilet over leaks are obvious, there are some sings you can use to detect one.
The Sound Check: A hiss-like noise means you may have a leak and this can be heard if you simply focus and hear. This is when you call your plumber.
The Color Test: Some food coloring and or dye tablet. Open the toilet’s tank and put in a few drops of color. After the dye is in, wait for some minutes and check the bowl. If you see color, the toilet is definitely leaking.
The issue is usually a problem with the flapper and is easy to fix and will not cost much to repair.
Leaking Faucets
This is another common issue that causes water wastage and the higher water bill will be. A leaky faucet can waste up to 3,000 gallons of water each year.
How to Detect:
The best part is that this can be a visual inspection. You need to take a look at faucets, shower heads and other fixtures. In most cases you can shut the water, unscrew the handle, and remove the faulty washer and simple replace with a new one.
We at Your1Plumber want you to get your money’s worth when you hire services to fix your home. Plumbing can severely damage the quality of life and cause damage to your property and even harm you. You can be sure of our quality because we are confident enough to offer 100% money back guarantee on our repairs.
Based in Boca Raton Florida, we offer a range of services from plumbing installation Boca Raton FL and leak repair services. Schedule an appointment today to get the most professional and experienced team of plumbers working for you.