Why is Your Water Metre Reading So High?

It’s not unusual for Calgary homeowners to see an increase in their water bill during the summer. The garden and lawn can both be water hogs, and any kids who are typically at school may be running more laundry if they’re getting dirty while playing outdoors. But once August has come and gone, if your water metre reading is still too high, there may be something other than the hot weather to blame.

Common Culprits.

Whenever we’re called to help a Calgary family with a high water metre, there are three things we check immediately. They’re the most frequent culprits in most high water usage cases, so they’re a good place for homeowners to start even before they call a Calgary plumber.

3. Leaking Indoor or Outdoor Dripping Faucets
4. Leaking Toilet Tank
5. Hot Water Tank Relief Valve Leaking

Does Your Home Have a Leak?

If you’re not sure where to start with diagnosing your high water meter, we recommend doing a general test for leaks. Turn off all the faucets, then take a photo of your water metre. Next, turn off the main valve and wait at least 5 minutes. Finally, turn the main valve back on and see if the water meter dial moves. If it does, you likely have a leak.

Checking the Common Culprits.

Once you know your house has a leak, we recommend checking for the top three common household leaks.

• Leaking Indoor or Outdoor Dripping Faucets. These are the easiest to check. Simply turn off the faucets/outside taps/hose bibb, and wait. Watch each faucet for a minute to determine whether it is dripping. If you leave your garden hose attached to your outside tap, check the spray nozzle for leaks the same way.

No Calgarian needs to deal with an excessively high water bill month after month because of a leaking plumbing fixture. Contact the Calgary plumbing experts at Plumbing Paramedics today, and we’ll solve the leaks and help reduce your water bill!