Water is a major utility in any community, making it a significant concern for homeowners, renters, and commercial property owners alike. A high water bill is troublesome not only because of the financial cost, but also because it indicates that precious water may be going to waste somewhere. When your water bill is higher than normal, it’s important to track down the cause and correct it as soon as possible. With this in mind, here are a few common reasons for a high water bill, and what you can do to address them.
Leaky/Running Toilets
Running Toilet? Shut Your Flapper and Catch That Leak.
Toilets account for a high percentage of the indoor water use for the average St Lucian home. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that they pose a major leak risk. A running or leaky toilet can waste up a staggering 6,000 gallons per month and add to a hefty water bill.
There are two common methods of checking for a toilet leak:
* The Sound Check: Simply walk up to your toilet and listen. If you hear an odd hiss-like noise, you may have a leak and will want to check the tank flapper, water line connections, and seals further.
* The Dye Test: For this test, you’ll need some food coloring or a dye tablet. Take the lid off of your toilet’s tank and put in a couple of drops of coloring (or a dye tablet). After you’ve put the dye in the tank, wait for 15-20 minutes and check the toilet bowl for dye. If dye is present, then there’s a leak allowing tank water to flow into the bowl.
In most cases, these leaks will be caused by a faulty flapper in the toilet tank. This is a relatively easy fix that only requires a short trip to one of our stores and a few minutes of work.
Leaky Faucets & Fixtures
Don’t Ignore a Leaky Faucet
Leaky faucet fixtures are another common cause of high water bills. The heavier the leak, the more water gets wasted, and the higher the water bill will be. For example, a faucet that’s leaking about one drip per second can waste about 17 gallons over the course of a day. Thankfully, a leaking faucet is relatively easy to spot and fix.
A simple visual check of your faucets, shower heads, and other fixtures is all it takes to identify a leak at the fixture. The most common cause of a faucet leak is a faulty rubber washer in the faucet handle. In most cases, you can shut off the water to the leaky faucet, unscrew the handle, remove the bad washer, and replace it with a new one.
Lateral Line LeaksIn some cases, one of the underground pipes feeding water from your metered connection to your home may have a crack or loose joint. The causes of these leaks vary, but things such as pipe age, seismic activity, tree root intrusion, and animal activity are often contributing factors.When trying to tell if the leak is in your lateral line water supply pipe, the amount of extra water consumption noted on your utility bill can serve as an indicator.For these leaks, the best solution is to contact a professional. A professional can recommend the best solution for the problem.
Old, Outdated Fixtures & Toilets
Modernize your outdated fixtures and toilets
Many homes on island have old plumbing fixtures. In recent years, there have been numerous efficiency improvements made to common water fixtures, such as new-model aerators for faucets, low-flow water-saving toilets, and water-saving shower heads.
This rarely shows up as a sudden problem—it’s usually something that comes with the house and has you paying higher than expected water bills from day one. Check your home’s faucets, toilets, showerheads, and other water-using equipment for WaterSense labeling, or date of manufacture.
Cultivate Good Water Habits
Stop Being a Water Waster
All the water that goes down the drain, clean or dirty, ends up mixing with raw sewage, getting contaminated, and meeting the same fate. Try to stay aware of this precious resource disappearing and:
* Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving
* Always wash laundry and dishes with full loads
* When washing dishes by hand, fill up the sink and turn off the water.
* Take shorter showers or, as the old joke goes, shower with a friend
To put things in perspective, take a quick look at your next water bill when it arrives. It probably won't be costing you too much, but the average household consumes multiple thousands of gallons each month. See if you can make this number go down. If you're the graphing type, go nuts.
Shop with us today or call us at Corinth Main Road 758-450-7247 / Babonneau 758-450-5759 / Monchy 758-450-7248 / Vide Boutielle 758-450-7368. Our plumbing consumer sales representatives are available to assist you with all of your home plumbing repair and replacement needs.
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