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Sudden Raise in your Water Bill?

Have you noticed a sudden spike in your water bill and cannot figure out why? The average American household uses between 80-100 gallons of water each and every day. If your water consumption seems significantly higher, there are two probable reasons here. Either your home water consumption is so wasteful and excessive or there is a major leak in your home. Ok, let’s assume you do not have a family of 10 taking showers 3x a day!

Finding The Leak(s)

Sometimes leaks are hidden and not very obvious. Here’s an easy way that can help you find out if there is a leak:

  • Turn off all the faucets and sinks in your home.
  • Turn off the water to all of the toilets in your home one by one.
  • Check your home or buildings (if you live in a condo or apartment) water meter. If the red dial is moving, it means there is a leak somewhere.
  • If the red dial moves after turning off all of your toilets then the leak is elsewhere.
  • Check the faucets and fittings again.
  • Take a meter reading before you go to bed for the night.
  • Check the meter reading the next morning. If you find a difference, then there is a leak somewhere in your home. Seeing as you can't find the leak at this point, it is always the best bet to call in a plumbing professional to track it down. Most plumbers nowadays have thermal imaging cameras that can detect leak detection.
Your home toilets account for about 35% of the indoor water usage for the average home in America. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that they can pose a risk for a major leak. A running or leaky toilet can waste up a 5,000 gallons per month and add hundreds of dollars to your water bill. This actually happened to me moving into a new home. The old owner never took care of a leaking toilet and I got stuck paying a ton each month until I emailed the town board and was told to make sure nothing is leaking...in which it was. Once this leak was fixed, yes the bill dropped dramatically! Take note upon moving into a new home to check that there are no current hidden water leaks.

Leaking faucets and sinks are another cause of high water bills. The bigger the leak, the more water will get wasted and the higher your water bill will be.Thankfully, a leaky faucet is rather easy to see and repair.


Reducing Your Water Consumption

Water is essential in life. Every person on the planet requires the same basic daily amount for survival. That amount can vary slightly based on environmental factors as well as the size and condition of the individual but generally, it’s around two litres, or around half a gallon. Keep in mind, that’s just the quantity a person needs to drink in order to stay alive. 

On top of finding and repairing any water leakage in your home, you should also reduce your total water consumption. Try recycling water wherever you can. It not only helps reduce your water bills, it is also the environmentally responsible thing to do these days. Make sure appliances like your water heater, washing machine and dish washer are serviced regularly. You can contact your local plumbing company to check your appliances for leaks if needed.

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Location: Brookfield, IL, USA

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