If you’ve noticed a hike in your water bills or water usage you might want to take a look around your home and see if there is a possible leak that is causing your bill to go up. Ottawa plumbers say there are a few things you can look out for to try and identify the source of the problem.
1. Listen: Listen for the sounds of water dripping in your home. Ottawa plumbers say this may sound simple but it can be overlooked in a bustling home. It may not seem like a dripping tap or toilet would cause a significant water waste but over the course of a day, week, or month each drop of water can add up to gallons of water. Listen for water dripping in your home when it is quite, this might help you pinpoint the problem.
2. Look: Check around the base boards, walls, shower, tub and plumbing fixtures to see if there is any evidence of water leaking. A good sign that water is leaking is mildew or mold, darkened surfaces and even puddles of water. Ottawa plumbers say that water can leak into the wall cavity around the shower and bathtub, creating a problem you can’t see until mold starts showing up. Now, pipes also sweat when cold water moves through them in a warm area of your home. Ottawa plumbers say the water then condenses on the surface and may cause the pipe to drip water, this is not leak.
3. Under the Sink: When searching for a possible plumbing leak in your home Ottawa plumbers say you’ll also want to look under your bathroom and kitchen sinks. With a flashlight, look at all the exposed pipes and search for any drops of water that are accumulating. Ottawa plumbers also say it is a good idea to run your fingers over the pipe to feel for any excess water.
4. Toilet: Listen to your toilet. Ottawa plumbers say if the water is running at unusual intervals you could have a problem. Listen to the water running in the toilet, if it keeps running when is hasn’t been flushed recently it could be a sign that there is a seal leak in the tank. This could cause the tank to drain slowly and when the water level drops, the float valve will open again causing the tank to refill.
5. Water Meter: Find your water meter. Ottawa plumbers recommend you shut off the water in your home and read the amount displayed, write it down and then wait another hour or two and read the meter again. This will help you see if any water has gone through the meter without water being used in your home. Ottawa plumbers say small leaks will not move the meter over a short period of time so this method may be harder to detect tiny leaks in your home.
Try these five tips in your home to see if there is a problem that is causing your water bill to rise. If you cannot locate the problem and fix it yourself, call in an Ottawa plumber.
High Water Bills
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