Where Could Your Home Be Leaking Money

Are you boiling over high water bills? Here are some simple steps you could take to simmer down.

In the US, the average person uses about 80 gallons of water a day. If your daily consumption seems out of the norm, you could have an undetected leak in your house.

You can determine if you have a leak by checking your water meter.

• First make sure no one is using the water.
• Next, look at the meter. If the red dial is moving, that means that water is running somewhere in your home.
• If the dial is moving, turn off the water to all your toilets one at a time. Check the meter again after each one is turned off. If a toilet is leaking, you should be able to tell which one it is.
• After that, if the dial is still moving and all the toilets are off, check the faucets and hose bibs the very same way.
• At night, after you’ve finished using your water for the evening, take a reading.
• Then, read the meter in the morning. If the reading is higher, you still have a leak and at this point and you should contact a professional, like the Eastern Plumbing team, to determine where the leak is coming from.

Here are some other things you could check that could be leading to a high water bill. By checking and fixing these types of leaks, you could save money on your next water bill.

The toilet flapper

The flapper is the large rubber plug, behind the bowl, at the bottom of your toilet’s tank. If you hear any dripping from your toilet, it’s likely the flapper. You can put a small amount of food coloring or a toilet dye pill into the tank. Wait 30 minutes, no flushing, then check in the toilet bowl for the colored water. If you have colored water in the bowl, you’ve got a leaking flapper.

Your toilet overflow

In the tank, if water is leaking into the overflow pipe, the fill valve could need to be adjusted.

Outside bibs and faucets

Outside temperatures could cause your bibs and faucets to fail. Check for leaks around them. You may also want to check the settings on automatic sprinklers, as they could be running too often or for too long a period of time.

Dripping faucets

If your faucet is dripping, more times than not, the problem is from a worn fitting.

Water heater

Check to see if the tank is leaking. Is there any water dripping down the side? If so, that could indicate that the pressure valve isn’t working properly and needs to be replaced.

Dishwasher and/or washing machine

Water on the floor around either of these appliances is a bad sign. Check your connections for leaks.

If your water bill is high, and you can’t find the source of your leak or if you need help fixing the leak, call the professionals at Eastern Plumbing. We can help you find and repair your leaks so you can save money and prevent damage to your home. Our licensed plumbers are available 24/7, and we service Pitt and surrounding counties including Beaufort and Craven.