Measure Water Consumption for Leaks to Lower Your Bill

Ready for another utility bill annoyance? Your water bill may be higher than you need to. Even if you think that nothing is leaking in your house, periodically check if your bill is not unnecessarily overstated.

As the personal finance blog Three Thrifty Guys points out, water leaks can be hard to spot unless you check your water meter (you know, that thing under the big metal plate in your backyard?) On a semi-regular basis. The leak may be small enough that you don’t notice a slow drain, but steady enough to significantly increase your water bill. To make sure this is not happening, check the water flow at night when all water is off and see if it has changed by morning:

This simple test should show you if there are any unexpected leaks. If the meter is the same as before bed, then you have passed the water leak test. If you notice that it has moved, then you are in trouble. You can do the test the second night to make sure your results are good (and not abnormal).

Based on personal experience, this simple test may reveal more problems than you might expect. This summer, at my own home, we found a large leak in the pipes leading to the backyard house. There was no discernible water on the surface, but gallons of water were leaking underground. This can happen anywhere in the house. Just because your faucets are not dripping does not mean that you are not leaking. Do yourself a favor and check back from time to time, especially if you notice your water bill is slightly higher than usual.

How To Know If You Are Losing Money With A Secret Water Leak | Three frugal guys

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