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8 Causes Of High Water Bills

A Leaky Faucet or Valve 

The leaking from any type of faucet in your home that drips at a rate of 1 drip per second can account for about 20 litres of lost water in a day! This will definitely increase your water bill. The typical causes for a leaky faucet include corrosion, mineral deposit on the internal parts, or defective gaskets, o-rings, or washers. 

A Running Toilet

Depending on the type of toilet, it can use between 6 – 32 litres a flush. Over the course of a month, all that flushing accounts for over 25% of a household’s indoor water use. To determine if you have a running toilet, place several drops of red food colouring in your toilet tank. If the water in the bowl changes to red without you flushing it, you have a leaky toilet. If a toilet is leaking, it could waste up to 330 litres a day. That’s the average daily water usage per person in Canada! You may need to replace the flapper or flush valve inside the toilet tank.

Seasonal Water Consumption

Homeowners notice spikes in their water usage and their bills during the summer. It may vary for others, but the water used to fill a swimming pool or a hot tub could be what’s causing the surge in your bill. During the summer, you may be using lots of water taking extra showers due to the heat, and watering your lawn and plants frequently. 

Water Softeners With High Recharge Rate

On your water softener check for any overflow or leaks, and also be sure to check its settings to see how many times a week it’s regenerating and whether it’s running efficiently. You can test it out by putting the water softener on bypass and seeing if your water meter stops running.

Leaky Washing Machine

Your washing machine may be leaking. If your washing machine leaves behind a trail of water on the floor, it can not only be doing damage to your pocket, but to your flooring as well! If it isn’t obvious, you should check behind and underneath your washer to make sure no water is escaping with those missing socks. 

Leaky Dishwasher

What you’re looking for to know if your dishwasher is leaking is any wet, warped or discoloured stains on your floors, walls, and cabinets. A leaky dishwasher can be costly and damaging. Although, contrary to popular belief and despite the occasional leak, a dishwasher is more energy efficient than washing by hand.

Outdoor Leaks

You definitely need to pay attention to what’s happening on the exterior of your home as well. Check whether the sprinkler system is malfunctioning or if your garden hoses are leaking. Look at your driveway, curb, or street for evidence of water flow. Depending on the size of the leak, you may be looking for a stream of water or a puddle that never dries up.

Underground Leaks

Difficult to detect on your own, most of these leaks are uncovered by a surprisingly large water bill. This is why it’s a good idea to track your water usage.

If an underground leak exists, it is highly likely that the leak exists somewhere in the main service line between the water meter and the main shutoff valve of your home. Leaks can be caused by a variety of issues. Environmental causes include shifting soil, which can erode around pipes over time and put pressure on underground water pipes. In other cases, the age of the home is the cause–the supply pipes are damaged or worn out. For this issue, you should call a professional plumber to look into the leak.

For any additional questions or inquiries about why your water bill is so high, or any inquiries about leaks within your home in Hamilton or the Greater Hamilton Area please don’t hesitate to contact us today!

 

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