Reasons For High Water Usage

The average family of 4 uses 15,000-20,000 gallons/quarter. Here is a list of reasons why you may have high water usage and a large water bill each quarter.

Most Common! A leaky or running toilet

The older the toilet, the more water it uses - Toilets before 1982 use 5-7 gallons/flush, toilets between 1982-1993 use 3.5 gallons/flush, and 1994+ use 1.28-1.6 gallons/flush
To check your toilet for a leak:

Place your ear to the toilet tank after you’ve flushed. Continue to listen for a minute or two after the toilet has stopped filling. If the leak isn’t silent, you will be able to hear if water is still running. If you can still hear water running, it means you’ve most likely detected a leak.
After you’ve flushed, wait a few moments and then look into the toilet bowl. If you can still see water movement filling from the tank minutes later, you’ve most definitely spotted a leak.
If you can hear your toilet filling when no one has recently used it, it probably means you have a broken fill valve. This is known as the famous “Ghost Fill”.

Leaky faucets and valves

A faucet drip can waste 20 or more gallons/day

Running the water to avoid freezing pipes
Seasonal water consumption - includes watering lawn, trees, gardens, flowers, etc., filling up or topping off a pool, water activities, leaving the hose on and unattended
Hosting visitors/guests, kids home for summer/school holidays
Water cooled air conditioners
A broken water pipe
Water softeners with high recharge rates

On your water softener, check for any overflow or leaks and also be sure to check its settings to see how many times a week it's regenerating and whether it's running efficiently. You can test this out by putting the water softener on bypass and seeing if your water meter stops running. Also, make sure your water softener settings are adjusted to the hardness of the water and the number of people living in the home.

Furnace humidifier set too high

Your furnace's drain line could get backed up, filters can get clogged, in turn blocking the drain opening and creating a leak. Also, check the solenoid valve (the valve that allows water to enter the humidifier).

Old or leaky hot water heater

Look around the base of the hot water heater for any signs of leaks
The average lifespan of a hot water heater is around 8 years

Leaky washing machine

Check behind and underneath the washer to make sure no water is escaping
High efficiency washers use 50% or even less water than older models

Leaky dishwasher

Look for wet, warped, or discolored stains on your floors, walls and cabinets
Despite the occasional leak, a dishwasher is more efficient than washing by hand

Outdoor leaks

Check whether your sprinkler system is malfunctioning or if garden hoses are leaking or have burst
Look and feel for areas on your property that are always wet, even without rain
Look at your driveway, curb or street for evidence of water flow
Depending on the size of the leak, you may be looking for a stream of water, a puddle that never dries up, or just a dark spot

Service line leaks - Between your water meter and your home, check for wet spots in your yard
Underground Leaks - Silent Leaks

Leaks that are difficult to detect on your own and found through a very high water bill
We recommend tracking your water bill each quarter to catch this as early as possible

Lifestyle - You may use more water compared to the average household

You take more showers or baths
You take longer showers or baths
You do more loads of laundry
You do more dishwasher loads
Your family includes a teenager, a toddler or a baby

If you still have concerns about your high water usage, contact us at 651-462-0575 or by email and we will walk you through your usage and provide some guidance.