Advice on how to find a water leak?

[Fireball]

Our water bill was unusually high this month, like double what it normally is so I'm wondering if we've got a leak somewhere and how to find it?

We have no running toilets, nothing outside that I can find leaking, didn't use anymore water than usual, so where to start? Any advice?

[tomdrink]

If you have "city" water, you can look at your water meter and take a reading, and then look again in an hour (or more). Assuming you didn't turn on any water (toilets,sinks,washer,sprinklers,etc.) it should be the same. If not, water is running, somewhere.
TomD

[ggeen]

Was your bill high or your water usage high? The former is not always indicative of the latter. Some municipalities increased their rates during the hot summer months/drought to encourage water savings. Check your billing rates against a previous statement if you have one.

That said, if you checked you internal plumbing, then it must be external. You will need to check for soggy spots around the yard. Check for signs that someone may be using your outside faucet. When the house next door was being built, the workers used my faucet until I found out and told them to stop.

If it is not visible around the house, then it must be under the house. I hope it is not that. CHA-CHING!

[Howard Barlow]

My water bill doubled one month, a year or two ago. No leaks. Just me and my wife, regular usage. City claimed it was correct, meter was read right, there were no leaks, went back to normal since. I have no idea, but had to pay it.

[kenw]

verify your meter was read correctly. Errors do happen. if this was the case, it will correct itself next reading. Common with electric meters, happened to us on our water meter. very high bill one month, next month was read correctly and we actually got a credit since the last reading was LOWER than the previous month's reading.

[acymc]

If it isn't a digital meter you should be able to see the smallest increment needle moving if there is much of a leak. Make sure there isn't a leak on your side of the meter connection, look for green spots or soft spots in the yard above your main water line.

[Fireball]

We live out in the country so no neighbors using our water. We have rural water.

The water company said it did read meters late last month, like 12 days late, so that may be adding to it. We're also thinking they read the meter wrong. They are reading meters this week for next month's bill so I'm supposed to call back on Monday and see what that is. Hopefully a credit!

[lfmerrell]

Sometimes companies just estimate use then play catch up every couple of months, or so I've been told.

[mjoe972]

My water bill had a 50% jump about 2 years ago. I looked for leaks in the house also. The cause of the increase was the city came out and changed my water meter as preventative maintenance. Apparently water meters wear out and lose their accuracy after 15 years and the city replaces them before they stop measuring usage completely.

Hope this helps!

[Fireball]

Hmm, never thought of that. You'd think they would have to turn off your water and tell you what they were doing. When I called, they never mentioned that. We'll see soon enough.

[ruaslacker2]

Our rural water does estimate usage and every so often reads the meter and makes adjustments..... Place your ear on your kitchen or bathroom faucet, if you have a leak you will be able to hear water running.....

[Fireball]

Yep, done that already. Nothing running anywhere.

Hey, you're from Wynnewood just north of me! How cool is that? So do you know Iris Greenwell who takes alot of photos in Pauls Valley?

[ruaslacker2]

Yes she is a member of our camera club, the Garvin County Camera Club. I've taken one of her classes at Ardmore SOTC. Very gifted lady.

[stephenpinn]

I have lived in the same house for 21 years and 3 times now I have had a bill like the ones discussed (2x - 3x normal), then back to normal billing amounts. Water company says sorry pay your bill and shut up. Our usage patterns have not changed and I cannot understand it. It's like the meter has a missing cog on a wheel and when all things line up it flips an extra digit. If you can figure it out let me know!

[XtremePhoto]

Have dealt with this on a larger scale many times. There is many things that could cause your spike. Toilets are the worst thing. If you look on your meter, there is a small triangle flow indicator that will be slowly rotating if there is ANY water flow through the meter. Turn Every thing off, and look at the meter and see if this flow indicator is moving. If it is, you have a leak somewhere. Call a plumber. If it isn't moving, it could be an error or a toilet that got stuck for a day or two.

I do know this, if a meter breaks, it doesn't increase your water bill...it stops it. LOL We had a meter on a property break and the bill was the minimum for two months, then the city sent someone out to check it. They don't like not getting paid!

-G-