Quick answer
When your water bill jumps and your habits have not changed, a hidden leak is a common cause. Work from the easy checks to the hard ones: read the water meter with everything off, test each toilet with food coloring, look at faucets, fittings, the water heater and the irrigation system, then check the line between the meter and the house. If the meter still moves and you find nothing, the leak may be inside a wall or under the floor. That is the time to book a plumbing Hero.
First, rule out the simple reasons
- A real change in use. Guests, a new pool, a filled spa, or more lawn watering in a dry spell all add up.
- Irrigation. A broken sprinkler head, a stuck zone valve, or a timer that reset after a power outage can run for hours unseen.
- The bill itself. Compare the meter reading on the bill with the number on your meter. If they do not match, or the bill covers more days than usual, ask your water utility before you look for a leak.
Step 1: The meter test
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program suggests reading your water meter before and after a stretch of time when no water is used. If it changes at all, you probably have a leak (EPA WaterSense, Fix a Leak).
- Turn off every faucet, appliance, ice maker and irrigation zone.
- Find your meter, usually in a box near the street, and note the reading or the small leak indicator.
- Use no water for a while, then read it again.
If it moved, water is leaving the system somewhere. Then close the main shutoff at the house and watch the meter again. If it still moves, the leak may be on the line between the meter and the house. If it stops, the leak is inside.
Step 2: Toilets
A worn toilet flapper is a common source of silent leaks. EPA suggests a dye test: put a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait without flushing. If color shows up in the bowl, the flapper is leaking. Flush afterward so the tank does not stain. A worn flapper is often a simple part to replace. A toilet that flushes on its own points to the same problem.
Step 3: Faucets, fittings and appliances
- Look under every sink for drips, damp cabinet floors or water stains.
- Check shower heads and tub spouts for drips after use.
- Check the hoses behind the washing machine and the line to the refrigerator's ice maker.
- Look at the water heater. A relief valve that drips, or a damp floor around the tank, needs a plumbing Hero.
- Check outdoor hose spigots, and the irrigation backflow device if your home has one.
EPA also suggests checking faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for water on the outside of the pipe.
Step 4: The line from the meter to the house
If the meter kept moving with the house shutoff closed, walk the path between the meter and the house. A strip of grass that stays greener or soggier than the rest, a sunken spot, or water pooling with no rain can mark a leak on that line.
Step 5: Under the floor
Many homes in the area are built on concrete slabs, with water lines under or through them. Based on Census housing data, about half of St. Petersburg's housing units were built in 1969 or earlier. If the meter shows a leak inside and you found nothing in steps 2 to 4, look for a warm or damp spot on the floor, the sound of running water with every tap off, or a water heater that runs more than usual. Read slab leak signs and what to do first for the full list.
When to stop and book
Book a plumbing Hero if the meter test shows a leak you cannot find, if water appears on floors or walls, if a ceiling stain is growing, or if you smell sewer gas. If water is coming through the floor or near outlets, close the main shutoff first. A booking is an Emergency only when you choose Emergency; a scheduled visit on an evening, weekend or holiday stays a normal Schedule booking.
What a plumbing Hero does
A plumbing Hero confirms the leak, often with a pressure test, and then locates it with listening equipment, thermal imaging for hot water lines, or a camera for drain lines. Finding the spot first limits how much wall or floor needs to be opened. The Hero then explains the repair options for your home. See leak detection.
Keep the paperwork
Take dated photos, and keep the meter readings and your plumbing invoice. Some water utilities review bills after a repaired leak, so ask yours whether it does and what it needs. If your insurer later asks for a 4-point inspection, records of plumbing repairs help answer its questions about leaks: see 4-point vs. wind mitigation inspection.
How HALOFIX handles a plumbing booking
You book once, and HALOFIX assigns one credential-reviewed plumbing Hero. You can see the Hero's profile before arrival. The Hero inspects on site and sets the final price, which you approve before work starts. If the scope changes, the Hero needs your written approval before going further. The booking hold is $89, or $125 if you choose Emergency, and it is shown before you confirm. Your booking hold amount is deducted from your main bill. The repair carries the Hero workmanship warranty. Dispatch depends on Hero coverage and availability.
FAQ
- Why is my water bill so high all of a sudden? Common causes are a leaking toilet flapper, a stuck irrigation zone, a dripping water heater relief valve, a leak on the line from the meter, or a leak under the slab. A meter reading error is also possible, so compare the bill with your meter.
- How do I check for a leak with my water meter? Turn off all water use, note the reading, wait without using water, and read it again. Any change means water is leaving the system. EPA describes the same test.
- Can a toilet really raise my water bill? Yes. A worn flapper can leak silently into the bowl. A food-coloring dye test in the tank shows it.
- How do I know if the leak is under my house? If the meter keeps moving with all fixtures off and the visible checks find nothing, the leak may be inside a wall or under the slab. A plumbing Hero can locate it before anything is opened.
Book a plumbing Hero
Meter still moving? See plumbing in St. Petersburg or start your booking.