Why Is My Water Bill So High? Common Hidden Leak Causes in Iowa Homes

A sudden, unexplained increase in your water use often points to a leak, and a running toilet is one of the most common causes. A toilet that keeps refilling between flushes can use water all day without leaving a puddle.

If you hear water running after the tank fills, Schaal Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric can check the toilet and find what is allowing water to escape. If the toilets are quiet, your water meter can help determine whether water is still moving somewhere in or around your home.

Run the Meter Test First

If you're trying to figure out how to find a water leak, start at the meter:

1. Turn off faucets, showers, washing machines, dishwashers, irrigation, and other water-using equipment.
2. Check the water meter and note the reading or leak indicator position.
3. Do not use any water for a short period (up to two hours).
4. Check the meter again and compare the readings.

If the reading changes with everything off, water is still moving somewhere on your property. Make sure an automatic appliance, water softener, ice maker, or irrigation system did not run during the test before assuming you have a hidden leak.

Common Causes of Leaks Inside a House

Start with the toilets, even if you do not hear them running. Inside the tank, a worn or poorly seated flapper can let water slip into the bowl while the fill valve keeps replacing it.

Check faucets too. A slow drip adds water usage every hour it continues. If a faucet will not shut off completely or keeps dripping after you close it, a worn cartridge, washer, seal, or another fixture component may need repair.

Check your water softener next. If it keeps regenerating or sending water to the drain when it should be idle, it adds to your household water use.

Look around the water heater for discharge from the temperature-and-pressure relief valve. If that valve is releasing water, do not cap or plug the discharge pipe since it's a safety feature. Have the water heater checked by a technician.

The Leaks You Can't See

Some high water bill causes are leaks you cannot see, including pipes behind walls, under flooring, or beneath a concrete slab.

Watch for damp drywall, wet flooring, the sound of running water when fixtures are off, or an unexplained warm area on the floor. A hot-water line leaking below the slab can warm the flooring above it. If testing points below the foundation, slab leak repair starts with locating the leak before deciding how to reach it.

If a pipe behind the wall has failed, broken pipe repair starts with locating the damaged section and getting access to it. A service-line leak between the meter and your house can raise usage without putting water inside the home.

Outdoor and Seasonal Causes

During an Iowa summer, check your irrigation system if water use suddenly climbs. A broken sprinkler head, leaking underground irrigation line, or valve that does not close can keep using water after the scheduled cycle ends.

Check hose bibs and outdoor faucets too. A hose connection that drips slowly can be easy to overlook, especially when the water runs into grass or landscaping.

Freeze damage from winter may not show itself on a hose bib or connected pipe until you turn the outdoor water back on in spring. Look for dripping outside or water appearing inside near the pipe.

When a High Water Bill Is Not Caused by a Leak

A higher bill does not always mean something is broken. More people staying in the house, lawn watering, a new water-using appliance, or a longer billing period can increase total usage. Your utility may have changed its rates too.

Compare the amount of water used on the current bill with previous bills, not just the dollar total. If the usage is about the same but the price went up, contact the water utility and ask about rates, billing-period changes, or the meter reading.

What It Costs to Ignore a Hidden Leak

The higher bill is only one concern. Water leaking inside a wall, beneath flooring, or under a slab can damage drywall, cabinets, flooring, insulation, and other materials before you see where it started.

Materials that remain wet can also create conditions where mold grows. The longer the leak continues, the farther the water may travel, and the more material may need to be dried, repaired, or replaced.

Finding the source early limits how long water will keep leaking into the house and cause large damage.

Find the Leak in Your Des Moines or Cedar Rapids Home - Call Schaal

If you have checked the toilets, faucets, outdoor fixtures, and meter but still cannot find where the water is going, Schaal Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling will trace the water back to its source.

We help homeowners in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and surrounding Iowa communities find hidden plumbing leaks and determine what needs repair. Schedule online or call us today if your water use keeps climbing and the source is not visible.