Are your toilets running long after you’ve flushed them? It’s worse than just an annoying noise, it could also be costing you money. A toilet that keeps running after flush can waste gallons of water every day. This is often a sign of internal leaks in the tank, such as a faulty flapper or fill valve. If your toilet won’t stop running, get it fixed immediately to avoid unnecessary water costs.
Hidden Leaks are an obvious cause of a spike in water usage, but what if you don’t even know the leak is there? Leaky pipes underground or behind walls can be difficult to notice because they are so well hidden. Sometimes there may be signs, such as hidden sign of a roof leak or pipes making noise when water is turned off, but sometimes the first sign is a water bill that’s suddenly higher with no explanation. Getting a leaky pipe fix or having a plumber inspect for hidden issues can prevent unnecessary water waste.
You know that tiny leak you decided to ignore because you don’t want to deal with it? It’s costing you money. Even a minor leak wastes a significant amount of water. Minor leaks are also likely to turn into major issues later, so you’re not only saving money on your monthly bills when you have leaks fixed, you’re also saving on future plumbing repair costs.
Make it a goal to shave at least a few minutes off of your daily shower. If you focus on making it a quick shower, you’ll be surprised how little time you really need. You can also save water and money by turning off the shower while you get sudsed up, then turn it back on to rinse.
Many people leave the water running while brushing their teeth, but if you turn it off while you brush, you save a significant amount of water. Avoid running water while brushing your teeth or washing your face. Turn off the tap when not in use.
Aerators are devices that you can have installed in your faucets to add air to your water stream as it comes out of the faucet. This results in the use of less water without a reduction in pressure, so your experience won’t change but you’ll see your bill costs going down.
You can also install low-flow showerheads to reduce the amount of hot water you use on a daily basis and reduce your monthly costs. Low-flow showerheads can decrease your hot water usage by up to 40%.
As hot water tanks age, they become less efficient and prone to leaks. If your water bill has gone up recently and you have an older hot water tank, check the tank valves for signs of a leak. Even if you don’t see a puddle or a leak, condensation on the tank often indicates a small leak.
If you have recently installed or changed the settings on a water softener, this could be causing the spike in your water bill. Every time a water softener regenerates, the unit is 687 flush with fresh water. The more frequently your water softener regenerates, the more water it uses. Check the settings on your water softener and make sure that it isn’t regenerating more often than necessary.
If you have older appliances, they could be costing you a lot of money! As appliances like boilers and hot water tanks age, they run less and less efficiently, which means they need to use more energy in order to do their job. Upgrading to new, efficient appliances is an investment that will save you a bundle of money in the long term.
Still wondering, “Why is my water bill so high?” Contact Butler Plumbing, Heating, and Gasfitting today at 780-432-3947 for professional plumbing inspections and repairs. Book your service now!