Why is my water bill so high?

Your water bill is high. Again. You know you’re not using nearly as much as the water company says you are, and, more importantly, is asking you to pay for. There are no new people in your house. You didn’t just fill your pool. You’re not showering 10 times a day. So why is the bill so high? Here are a few questions to ask before calling the water company.

Are you neglecting that leaky toilet?

We’ve written about leaky toilets before. We know how much of a pain they can be to fix, and how some members of your family may be better at ignoring the noise of your leaky toilet better than others. Consequently,  if you find yourself having to jiggle the handle every time you flush, you’ll need to get that fixed because a leaky toilet runs up your water bill and wastes hundreds of gallons of water per day.

Is your faucet dripping?

Much like a leaky toilet, a leaky faucet can certainly cause your water bill to skyrocket as well. If you know your faucet is leaking and you can’t figure out how to fix it call a plumber. It will save you money in the long run. The longer you ignore it, the more you’ll have to pay the water company.

Is it the middle of the winter and you don’t want your pipes to freeze?

If you live in a cold-weather city like, let’s say… Pittsburgh, you may feel the need to run your water throughout the day, or overnight, to avoid your pipes freezing. If your pipes are properly insulated with tape you shouldn’t have to worry about running your water, but if this is something you do every winter,  you won’t be shocked when the water bill is a bit higher. Ultimately, it’s a small price to pay compared to repairing a burst pipe, or having to go out and try and thaw those frozen pipes in freezing temperatures.

Check your pipes. Check your water heater.

There are a lot of pipes that aren’t as visible as the ones under your kitchen sink or toilet. Take a crawl around to  see if any of these obscure pipes are leaking. Small leaks can cause big increases, so it’s best to take a peak and see if you have a leak once in a while.

Also, make sure your water heater isn’t leaking either.

Contact Terry’s Plumbing

At Terry’s Plumbing, we help homeowners with all of their plumbing related issues, including replacing their pipes and completing their home improvement projects. To make an appointment, contact us today at (412) 364-9114.