Water is an essential feature for all modern-day homes when it comes to drinking, bathing, and even cleaning. Unfortunately, no homeowner wants to deal with a sudden increase in their water bill. Below, we’ll dive into why this may happen to you and what you can do about it.
Common Reasons for a Sudden Increase in Your Water Bill
The dry climate of the Helendale, Victorville, and High Desert region makes routine water conservation an absolute must for all. Have you found yourself asking, “Why is my water bill high?” You could have a hidden plumbing leak or other issue. Fortunately, routine professional plumbing inspections from our local plumber in Helendale are a great way to find and repair hidden water leaks in your home before they cause major damage.
Hidden Plumbing Leaks
Probably one of the most common culprits behind a high water bill in Helendale, CA is hidden plumbing leaks. These are leaks that develop in your water lines in locations that aren’t readily visible. For example, you could have a slight water leak in a water supply line running through your wall. Since the leaky area is out of sight, you may not realize there’s an issue until you receive a higher-than-normal water bill.
Running Toilets or Dripping Faucets
Two other contributors to an excessively high water bill are dripping faucets and running toilet water waste. When you have defective plumbing fixtures, they could be consuming water regularly even though you aren’t using them. While it may seem like a small drip, that water adds up over the month.
Worn-out gaskets and aerators are two of the biggest causes for dripping faucets. While it may seem like a slight drip at first, leaks will undoubtedly get worse and worse over time. Eventually, they’ll have a steady supply of water leaking out of your faucet. Running toilets are a large contributor to water waste, as they use a steady supply of water.
Irrigation System Leaks
Irrigation systems are popular with homeowners wanting to keep a beautiful-looking landscape. However, irrigation lines pose a big problem when it comes to water waste because they’re underground. In a home, you’ll eventually notice the effects of water leakage in the form of dampness or mold growth. However, irrigation leaks can continue for years before you notice the sinkage and water pooling on your property.
Old or Faulty Water Fixtures
Outdated plumbing fixtures can be a huge contributor to water waste. When these fixtures start to wear out, they can develop slight leaks that grow bigger over time. Sometimes issues like defective gaskets can even cause newer plumbing fixtures to unexpectedly leak water.
Leaky Appliances
When you really think about it, you likely have multiple appliances in your home that use water. These include things like your dishwasher, clothes washer, and your water heater. Over time, these units can develop leaks due to faulty water line connections, drain lines, or even housing corrosion. Be sure to thoroughly inspect each appliance to see if there’s water on the ground under the unit or water dripping from its hose connections.
Slab Leaks
Water supply lines commonly run underneath your concrete slab foundation. Unfortunately, when these lines develop a leak, it isn’t super easy to spot. In fact, a high water bill may be your very first indicator of a problem. Some other notable signs include damp spots on your floor, warm areas, and unexplained foundation cracks. If you’ve verified your home is using water and you can’t locate a leak anywhere, it may be hiding underneath your slab foundation.
How to Check for Leaks at Home
If you receive a water bill with a recent, unexplained spike in usage, you likely have a water leak. Locating the source of that water usage is the key to eliminating waste and lowering your water bill. Letting this issue go can lead to even higher water bills in the future, which goes against the conservation efforts of the state.
One of the best places to start looking for water leaks in your home is at your water meter. Be sure to turn off all your plumbing fixtures and water-using appliances. Write down the reading on your water meter. Give it about 15 minutes and check the meter reading again. If your water consumption has gone up, it’s a clear indicator of a plumbing leak somewhere in your home.
Once you’ve verified that you have a plumbing leak, it’s time to start checking your plumbing fixtures. Look for leaky faucets or running toilets. If you suspect you may have a running toilet but aren’t completely sure, there’s a trick you can use to verify your suspicions. Simply add a few drops of food coloring to the water in your toilet’s tank. Wait five to 10 minutes, and then check the water in the bowl. If the bowl water is now colored, you’ve verified you have a water leak.
When to Call a Professional Plumber
Anytime you experience a higher-than-normal water bill, contacting our plumbers is a great option. We offer professional plumbing leak detection in Helendale to find the root cause of your leak so we can repair it swiftly. We use state-of-the-art equipment like thermal imaging and acoustic listening devices to pinpoint the exact location of your water leak.
From repairing burst pipes in your wall to replacing worn-out plumbing fixtures, we do it all. With our help, you can fix the source of your unexpectedly high water bill and get your bill back in check for the future. The sooner you call us, the quicker we can locate and repair the source of the problem.
How Red Rocket Plumbing Can Help You Save Water and Money
Even small water leaks can waste hundreds of gallons of water per month. Additionally, that excess moisture can damage your home’s building components thanks to the mold growth that excess moisture fosters. Red Rocket Plumbing Company serves Helendale, Victorville, Apple Valley, and the surrounding areas.
Our routine plumbing inspections are the perfect way to locate hidden water problems before they worsen, potentially putting your home at risk. We suggest an inspection at least once a year for the average home. During this inspection service, our plumbers will examine every component of your home’s plumbing system. This can give you peace of mind about protecting the integrity of your home and greatly minimize your risk of an overly high water bill in the near future.
Routine plumbing inspections can reveal when existing fixtures, piping, water-using appliances, and other plumbing components are nearing the end of their lifespan. For example, our plumber can let you know that your tank water heater is 12 years old and likely to fail soon.
Instead of waiting for a leak to develop due to corrosion at the bottom of your tank, we can replace it now to avoid that unfortunate issue. By replacing outdated plumbing system components before they develop problems, you can reduce the likelihood of experiencing a major plumbing malfunction. Our team of fully licensed plumbers can assist with all aspects of your plumbing, even including your drain and sewer lines.
If you want to schedule a leak inspection or home water audit, simply contact Red Rocket Plumbing today.
