The rise in water rates is causing a lot of homeowners to take notice and consider ways that they can save money. However, it’s difficult for many people to know how much their home might be leaking or what the best type of repair would likely cost. In this article, we will explore some potential solutions and help you pinpoint where your home could use an improvement.
How Much Water Do People Use In Their Homes?
The average person uses a significant amount of water every day for things such as washing hands, taking showers, and flushing toilets. In fact, according to the United States Geological Survey, each individual in the United States consumes roughly 80-100 gallons of water per day on average.
This may seem like a lot, but it’s actually not that much when you compare it to other things. For example, an average-sized pool contains 22,000 gallons of water, and the average washing machine uses 45 gallons per load.
Unfortunately, using all that water presents opportunities for leaks to appear in your plumbing. It’s possible that you have an unnoticed leak in your house if your average daily usage is very high. This can have a big impact on your water bill.
Why Your Water Bill Is So High
Here are a few reasons why your water bill is so expensive.
- Toilet flappers that leak. The flapper is the huge rubber stopper at the bottom of the toilet tank behind the bowl and has nothing to do with the roaring ’20s dancers. If you hear leaking from your toilet, it’s most likely the flapper. A toilet dye tablet or a tiny bit of food coloring poured into the tank can do the trick. Wait around 30 minutes before inspecting the toilet bowl for colored water. You have a leaky flapper if you have colored water.
- Toilet overflow leaks. The ballcock valve has to be adjusted if the water in the tank is spilling into the top of the overflow pipe. Shaking some pepper or baby powder into the toilet tank walls is a simple technique to see whether this is occurring. The excess is seeping if the powder goes to the center. Adjust the screw to halt the leak if the float arm is plastic. Adjust the sliding clip or bend the arm until the water level is 2″ below the top of the overflow pipe as an alternative.
- Bibs and faucets for the outside malfunction. Outside bibs and faucets might malfunction due to extreme temperatures. Look for any leaks in the area. Also, double-check your automated sprinkler settings. They might be running for an excessive amount of time.
- Sinks that are dripping. The most common cause of leaky faucets is a worn or badly installed washer.
- Ice machine that is overworked. To create ice, refrigerators utilize a water line. Because it is faulty, the automated ice maker sometimes pulls too much water.
- Tank for hot water. The location of your hot water tank is most likely in your basement. Look to check whether there is any water trickling down the tank’s side. This might signal that the pressure valve is malfunctioning and needs to be repaired.
- Dishwashers and washing machines are both useful appliances. It’s a terrible indicator if there’s water on the floor surrounding any of them. Look for any connections that are leaking.
- Sprinkler system and outside service line. A leaky service connection or sprinkler line might cause soft and moist places on your grass.
If your high water bill is making you sweat, there may be some easy things you can do to cool off.
How To Lower Your Water Bill
Check the water meter, which is normally located in the basement near the water heater or main shut-off value, to see whether you have a leak in your house right away. To see whether you have a leak, do the following:
- Make sure there is no water in the system.
- After then, have a look at the meter. Water is flowing someplace in your house if the red dial is moving.
- Turn off the water to all of your toilets one at a time if the dial is moving, and check the meter after each turn-off. You’ll be able to identify which toilet is leaking if it’s leaking.
- If the dial continues to move after all of the toilets have been turned off, check your faucets and hose bibs as well.
- After you’ve done using all of your water for the evening, take a reading.
- In the morning, check the meter. You still have a leak if it’s higher. To figure out where it’s coming from, you should consult an expert.
By repairing leaks in their houses, homeowners may save an average of 10% on their water costs.
If you have a high water bill and can’t discover the cause of the leak or need assistance with the repair, a plumber can assist you. They can locate the cause of the leak so you may save money on your next water bill and protect your house from any water damage.
WECalc, or the Water-Energy-Climate Calculator, calculates water use and makes individualized suggestions for lowering it. You may get your unique water consumption recommendations by filling out a quick online form that will offer you results right now.