Had An Increase In Your Water Bill? Read This First!

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Had An Increase In Your Water Bill? Read This First!

Had Increase In Water Bill? Read This First!

Have you noticed a sudden and unexpected increase in your water bill? Are you unsure of what to do next? If these are some worries that you have, then you have come to the right place!

Having a sudden increase in your water bill can really catch you by surprise, especially if you haven’t particularly changed your water usage routine. However, there are a few things you can do to figure out the cause of a high water bill. 

If you would like to learn more about what you can do once you’ve discovered an increase in your water bill, feel free to continue reading our article down below.

Why Do I Have A High Water Bill?

There are a couple of reasons why your water bill could be high. It could be an issue of not paying your previous bills or prices may have been increased by your water provider. Either way, following are some other reasons why your water bill could be high:

  • Your water bill may have included previous amounts that you did not pay. Amounts that remain unpaid from the previous billing period could have been carried forward to the bill that you have now.
  • Your water provider may have increased prices. Try comparing the rates on your new bill and your previous bills to rule this out. If prices did in fact increase your water provider should have informed you about this on either the bill or in a separate notice.
  • The bill may be experiencing a delay in issuing. You could have been billed for a period that is longer than usual, which is why the bill is higher than normal. 
  • Perhaps you have used more water than usual. This can be true if you’ve had more people staying with you at home. Try comparing your average daily usage on your current bill with your previous water bills, preferably for a bill originating from the same period last year.
  • Your bill could have been based on an estimated meter reading. This is true if, at the time the meter reader was visited, the meter was not accessible. Estimated bills are often based on your previous water usage history. When your meter is read, your next water bill can correct over or under billings for the estimated period.
  • You potentially have hidden leaks in your home. Water leak detection can be quite hard to perform, which is why it is advised to have a plumber come around and locate these leaks to prevent further expenses. 

Had Increase In Water Bill? Read This First!

What Can I Do When I Have A High Water Bill?

There are a couple of things that you can do when your water bill is high. Some of these include the following:

1). Check The Reading On Your Meter

Try checking the reading on the bill alongside the reading on the meter. Since the meter would have had some time to move, the meter read should be slightly higher. To check your meter reading, you can follow these steps:

  • Lift up the lid of the water meter and clean the plastic meter to better read the black and red numbers. 
  • Read the numbers from left to right.
  • Record the black numbers, which represents kiloliters (kL). 
  • Take note of the red numbers, which records each litre used, where 1,000 litres equalling one kL. For billing purposes, however, the red numbers are often ignored. 

2). Try Testing For Water Leaks

Water leaks are a possible culprit behind your increased water bills. Try checking for damp areas or water poolings near pipes or your water meter. If you think you have a leak, try these steps:

  • Turn off all taps and water outlets.
  • Record the reading reflected on your meter.
  • Wait for an hour. Don’t use any water at this time.
  • Record another reading of your meter.
  • If there is a difference in your readings, you may have a leak.

Sometimes, it will be hard to visually locate a water leak since leaks can also occur in underground water pipes. Calling your water provider for advice is the next best step if you are unable to detect a leak but found that the steps above definitely imply a leak is present.

3). Check Your Water Meter

Sometimes, there can be accuracy issues with the way a water meter measures your usage. If you don’t have a water leak, try these next steps below: 

  • Turn off all taps and water outlets.
  • Record the reading reflected on your meter.
  • Fill up an accurate 10-litre bucket with water from a tap.
  • Record another meter reading, making sure to reference the red numbers on your meter. It should show that 10-litres were used.

If you find that the recording is different, your water meter can be inaccurate. Try contacting your water provider for further action.

Had Increase In Water Bill? Read This First!

4). Monitor Your Consumption

If you don’t have leaks and your meter is accurate, it is quite possible that you have simply had an increase in usage. Try taking regular meter readings and measure your daily water consumption. The best time to do this is by recording before and after showers, using the washing machine, and watering the garden.

Summary

There can be a number of reasons behind an increased water bill, so it is important to exhaust all methods possible of detecting the reason why to avoid unnecessary expenses from continuing. 

If you suspect you have a water leak, please call us at Water Leak Detection for a free consultation today on 1300 425 325 or leave an inquiry on our website.

 

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