Water – This is a critical resource that can be expensive to manage and maintain for both renters and homeowners. Large water bills are not only inconvenient because they can be costly, but because it means that precious water is being lost.

Environmental Protection Agency estimates that leaks in residential plumbing could lead to a loss of around 10,000 gallons of water each year. 10% of houses also lose 90 gallons or more per day.

If your water bill is high, it is crucial to identify the problem as soon as possible and fix it. These are the top causes of high water bills and what you can do to fix them.

Here are 10 reasons to pay a high water bill

Toilet Leaks

American households use 31% of all water they consume in a given day. It’s not surprising, then, that toilets account in significant part of this consumption, consuming approximately 6,000 gallons per year and costing you hundreds of dollars to run your water bill.

There are two methods to find a toilet leak.

• If you hear an unusual sound, it is possible to find a leak in your water supply. Simply walk up to your toilet and listen for a hissing noise. If you hear this sound, make sure to inspect the tank lid, water lines connections, and seals.
• Use a powdery color: This can be used as a way to determine if there is a leaking toilet tank. It involves adding a few drops to the tank. Then wait for 15-20 minutes to see if any dye is visible below the bowl. Water will flow into the bowl if there is a leak.

Most often, leaks in toilet tanks are caused by a loose flapper. This is an easy fix that requires only a quick trip and a little labor.

Fixtures and a Leak Faucet

Leakage in fixtures or faucets could cause significant increases to your water bills. The severity of the leak, and the speed at which it occurs determine the amount of water that is lost. A faucet that leaks about one drop per minute might result in 17 gallons being wasted each day.

Leaking faucets are easy to find and fix. Turn off the water supply while you inspect for leakage.

Leakage can be found by a visual inspection of the faucets and shower heads.

Leakage of faucet handles is most common due to a defective rubber washer. Turn off the water supply to the faucet. Once the faucet is turned off, remove the handle.

Dishwashers and washing machine that leak

You may want to repair your washing machine if it’s leaking.

They are hidden in corners or closets, so homeowners often don’t notice them. You should look under the equipment for signs of leakage. A high-efficiency washer may be worth your consideration. Some units can use as much as 50% less water than the previous models.

Irrigation Leads

Some leaks can be found indoors. Even if the irrigation system is turned off, a weak junction or line break could allow water to escape.

Leakages in irrigation systems can be hard to spot, especially if the lines are underground. These leaks can be identified by looking for areas in your lawn that are particularly lush or moist in comparison to their surroundings. Keep in mind, however, that these signs are the same as lateral line leak signals.

You may need to hire a professional Glendale, CA plumber to find the leak and repair/replace the damaged irrigation lines.

Lateral Line Leaks

A crack or loss joint in one of the underground water pipes that supply water to your home can cause pipe leaks. Leakage can be caused by many factors, including pipe age and seismic activity, tree root penetration, animal activity, or animal activity.

This problem can be similar to an irrigation line leak but is usually much more serious. An indicator that your water bill has excessive water use could be used to determine whether your irrigation line is leaking or your lateral supply pipe.

An expert can help you solve these leaks. A skilled Glendale, CA plumber can help you determine the best way to solve your problem. This could include a standard trench, replacing trench-less pipes lining or pipe bursting.

Old Fixtures & Toilets

Many houses have a rich history. Many plumbing fixtures also reflect this. In recent years, water fixtures have experienced significant efficiency improvements, including new-model faucet aerators, low-flow water saving toilets, and water-saving head shower-heads.

It is not usually an issue right away. It is more common to have water costs that are higher than expected. If you’re looking to purchase a new home, ask the owner or agent if the plumbing fixtures were updated since it was built.

Water consumption and seasonal changes

In the summer, seasonal changes can lead to increased water consumption. Summer vacations are when the family is more active and sweats more.

This means that there are more lawns, plants and showers to water; also, more children staying at home during the day. Pools might need to be filled and air conditioners could cool them.

Visitors to you home

Although you might not realize it but even minor changes in your home environment can have a major impact on your utility bill. You might consider inviting a friend or relative into your home. This is especially true around holidays, when children go on vacation and return home, or when friends or relatives are staying at your house.

Avoiding or preventing a significant rise in water usage is possible by planning ahead.

Bad Water Habits

Water bills can rise due to overconsumption habits associated with appliances and household utility. Here are some examples:

• Top-loading washers use 200% more water per load than the current front-loading models.
• Excessive watering of lawns, excessive use of recreational toys and equipment, or overuse potable waters.
• Showers of more than five minutes may result in water loss of up to 2.5 Gallons per minute.
• Instead of removing frozen foods and meats from freezers earlier, use running water.
• Running the water while you brush your teeth or shave is a waste of water flow.

Defective Water Softener Systems

Water softener systems need to be backwashed regularly with freshwater in order for them to regenerate. However, the backwash lid could get stuck open, allowing water to leak into the sewage line indefinitely.

What did the end result look like? The result was a lot of water wasted and quite expensive. Call a professional Glendale, CA Plumber to help diagnose the problem. You can also find troubleshooting tutorials on the internet.