There are many reasons that your water bill could be legitimately increasing. But several things could be slowly causing it to rise, which are unnecessary but are going unnoticed around your home. Sure the cost of everything increases over time. But don’t let yourself be fooled into believing that your ever-growing water bill is just due to increased water costs. Instead, devote just a little bit of time to investigating where you could be wasting water and where you could have a water leak. This may very well be the cause of your water bill increase.
Eliminate Legitimate Options
Before you launch into a lengthy investigation around your home and yard, be sure that you have not made any significant changes to your water consumption in recent months. Think about things like washing the car at home rather than at a carwash, planting new trees or plants that required more water, or guests that stayed for an extended visit. All of these could explain an increase in your water bill for a month or two. But if that is not the case, it is time to discover where your water and money are going.
Check Appliances
You have several appliances in your home that use water, so that means that you have several hoses and pipes that provide that water. Check the water supply lines to your refrigerator, ice maker, built-in coffee maker, dishwasher, clothes washer, and water heater. Many of these supply lines are tucked behind the appliances or are in cabinetry that could make it difficult to notice a leak. But over time, the hoses can become brittle, crack, and leak water.
Dripping Fixtures
It usually is easy to hear and see a dripping faucet in the kitchen or a bathroom you frequently use. But the leaks that waste the most water are the ones in minimally used locations. Check the sink, shower, and toilet in a spare bathroom that gets little use. Also, check utility sinks in the basement or garage for a steady drip. And finally, take a look at all of the hose bibs or spigots on the outside of your house. These could have been leaking for months but have not been noticed when you were outside.
You will also want to check under the sink and toilet in the bathrooms that you use daily. It might be hard to believe, but you can easily overlook a small puddle on the bathroom floor, thinking it is from someone stepping out of the shower or water splashing from the sink. But the real culprit could be a leak in the water supply line to the toilet, the connection to the tank, or even a worn-out wax seal. And that damp moldy odor in the bathroom could be due to a slow leak under the sink that you would never notice unless you really go searching for it.
Hidden Leaks
We would all like to think that we are very observant. But to be honest, we don’t see many things in our own homes. You could walk past a discolored spot in a wall or ceiling for months before noticing it and wondering about a hidden water leak. The best solution to costly hidden water leaks and water damage restoration is a monthly inspection of your home. Dedicate 15 to 30 minutes to a walkthrough looking for stains on drywall, peeling paint or wallpaper, bulging drywall or flooring, and an odd damp odor. All of these are signs of water leaks hidden inside your home that are wasting water and damaging your house.
If you find any issues, fast action is essential. It is the only way to eliminate leaks and wasted water. And also to reduce the amount of water damage to your home and the cost to repair it. Some of the projects you can quickly complete on your own. Replacing a leaking washer hose or toilet supply line will take only minutes. But if you find evidence of hidden water leaks in your home, it is time to call (214) 388-4525. A Metroplex Leak & Line leak detection specialist will arrive quickly and provide you with the cost-effective solutions you need.
