As a plumbing company that serves Burlington County, not only do we know that a high water bill often starts burning a hole in your pocket, but it can also indicate a significant waste of water. When your water bill is high, it’s important to find the cause and correct it as soon as possible.
Water consumption is usually higher during the summer due to watering of lawns, pools, and gardening. Typically, an average family uses 4000-5000 gallons of water per month.
Here are six reasons that may contribute to your high water bill:
- Leaky/running toilets can waste up to 200 hundred gallons of water per day if left unrepaired. In most cases, these leaks are caused by a faulty flapper in the toilet tank.
- Dripping faucets are easy to spot and fix. The most common cause of a faucet leak is a faulty rubber washer in the faucet handle.
- Changes in water use can impact your utility bill. Kids home on summer vacations and having house guests can increase water usage.
- Irrigation leaks for your landscaping could be to blame. A line crack or loose joint can allow water to leak even when the system is off.
- Underground leaks can occur in harder to find places, such as under the house or in the service line between the water meter and home. Check outdoor spigots and crawls space, and look for wet spots in your yard, which can indicate a leak.
- New water-consuming equipment such as pools, sprinkler systems, washing machines, freezers, and other new equipment can cause a sudden increase. To minimize the impact, try choosing appliances that are high-efficiency.
Here are some tips to conserve water inside and outside of your home that can help lower your water bill:
- Insulate your water pipes because you’ll get hot water faster
- Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily
- Wash clothes when you have a full load as this can save up to 600 gallons a month
- Keep your shower to less than five minutes because this can save up to 1,000 gallons a month
- Don’t use running water to thaw meats and frozen foods. Instead, defrost food overnight in the refrigerator
- Try not to wash dishes by hand as this consumes 4-5 times more water than dishwashers
- Don’t keep water running while brushing your teeth or shaving
- Water summer lawns once every three days and during early morning hours to minimize evaporation
- If you have a pool, use a pool cover to reduce evaporation and prevent refilling
- Don’t purchase water toys that need a constant flow of water
To learn more about how our plumbing heating and air conditioning company in South Jersey can keep plumbing issues at bay, please give us a call at 866-953-8728.