When you’re a homeowner, there are quite a few bills that you’ll have to pay each month. From the electric to your phone, the list goes on — but it’s important not to forget about your water bill. Usually coming in at the lowest amount, it’s typically the least jaw-dropping bill to pay — until you start to see a sudden increase in how much you owe.
While you may have used a tad more water this month than last, some other factors come into play that you might not even be aware of. If your water bill has randomly increased, here are some possible reasons why that might have happened:
Hidden Pipe Leak
Believe it or not, there’s a chance that your home might have a hidden pipe leak — and you might be missing the subtle signs. When plumbing is installed throughout a house, various pipes are hidden behind the walls and ceilings to not only hide their appearance but to help lead to multiple rooms and fixtures more seamlessly.
And the minute that there happens to be a pipe leak, there’s a chance it won’t be caught until it’s too late. However, there are some common signs to look for if this happens:
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Water stains on the floor and/or ceiling.
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Random formations of mold and/or mildew in the area.
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A foul odor from the mold/mildew.
Of course, the minute you suspect that your home may have a hidden leak, it’s essential to contact a plumber right away to not only assess the ~mysterious~ water stains and mold formations, but to fix the problem at hand if you do have a hidden pipe leak.
Leaking Faucet
Do you happen to have a pestering faucet in your home that drips nonstop, even after you’ve shut it off? Most homeowners who do have a leaking faucet, no matter the severity of the leak, will usually leave it alone and let it continuously drip. While this seems to be something minuscule, that dripping will add up to a more significant problem down the line: increasing your water waste.
If you think about it, leaving a faucet leaking for quite some time will eventually increase your water usage, ultimately increasing your bill — it’s that simple. While the repair for a leaky faucet is much more of a quicker fix than a hidden pipe leak, many homeowners would rather forego the repair. However, repairing a leaking faucet should be as important as replacing a flat tire on your car. And just like a hidden pipe leak, the sooner the repair is made, the chance of eliminating a potentially bigger problem will be greater.
Running Toilet
After reading about leaky faucets, you might have seen this next one coming. Just like a leaky faucet with water dripping non-stop, a running toilet does exactly what the phrase implies: the water inside continuously runs, even when not in use. When you have a running toilet on your hands, wasting water by the minute, here’s what might have caused that:
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Flapper chain might have been installed incorrectly or could be the wrong size.
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The flush valve or toilet handle might need to be replaced.
Another way to check if your toilet is continuously running is to place some food coloring in the tank. After about 10 minutes of dispersing the food coloring, check the bowl of your toilet to see if there’s any color. If you see color in it, then you have a running toilet on your hands — which is usually a simple fix by a professional plumber.
Do you Suspect that you have a Plumbing Problem in your Home?
For nearly three decades, our expert team of plumbers in Skokie have provided the highest quality services. Accepting calls 24/7, you can depend on Aqua Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Services Inc. to come to your rescue! To schedule your appointment, call us at or click here to schedule it online!
