If your water bill jumped and you can't see a leak anywhere, the water is still going somewhere. The usual causes of a high water bill are a toilet that leaks quietly, irrigation, something that fills on its own, or a pipe you can't see. You can check most of them yourself before you call anyone.
Is the bill itself the problem?
Before you go hunting, read the bill. Check the dates it covers, because a longer billing period can mean a bigger bill without any change in your habits. Compare this bill with the same month last year, since summer watering changes how much a Valley household uses. If your provider's online account shows usage by day, look for a jump that starts on a particular date. A start date gives you something to match against: a guest, a new irrigation schedule, a repair.
How do I check my meter?
The meter is the fastest way to find out whether water is really leaving your property. Meters differ, and so do providers. Where yours sits, how it reads, and where the provider's responsibility ends and yours begins can all vary, so confirm the details with your own water provider. Use their leak-check instructions if they have them.
In general, it goes like this:
- Turn off everything that uses water. That means taps, irrigation, and anything that fills on its own. Make sure nobody flushes a toilet.
- Find the meter and note the reading, or take a photo. Lift the lid carefully, and only if your provider says that's fine.
- Wait, without using any water. Your provider can tell you how long makes the check reliable.
- Look again. If the reading has moved, or a leak indicator is turning, water is flowing somewhere.
If nothing moved, the extra use may come and go, like an irrigation cycle or a toilet that only leaks now and then. Try again at a different time of day, and work through the rest of this list.
Could it be a silent toilet leak?
It could. A toilet can leak from the tank into the bowl without making a sound, and it can do that around the clock. A simple dye test will show you.
Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank, and don't flush. Leave it alone for a while. If color shows up in the bowl, water is slipping past the seal at the bottom of the tank, which is often a worn flapper. Test every toilet in the house, including the ones nobody uses. Your provider may have its own version of this test, so check its guide for exact steps.
A toilet that keeps running or refills on its own is worth a look even if the dye stays put.
Could it be my irrigation?
Easily. Irrigation is a common place for water to go missing, and it's out of sight most days. Walk the yard while the system runs and look for spray heads that are broken or aimed wrong, water pooling where it shouldn't, and zones that seem to run too long.
Then check the controller. A schedule that was changed for summer and never changed back, or a manual run that was left on, can add up fast. A valve that doesn't fully close can let water trickle through a zone all night. If you have drip lines, look for tubing that has been chewed, cracked or pulled loose.
Irrigation is also the easiest thing to test. Turn the system off at the controller, then repeat the meter check. If the meter stops, you've found your answer.
What else fills on its own?
Some things use water without anyone turning a tap. Think through what you have:
- A pool or fountain with an automatic fill.
- An evaporative cooler, if your home has one.
- A patio misting system.
- A water softener that runs its own cycles.
- A hose or drip line someone left running.
For each one, check whether it's running when it shouldn't be, and whether a float valve or shutoff seems stuck. If you're not sure how something works, the manual or a licensed professional can tell you.
Could the leak be outside the house?
Yes. A pipe between the meter and the house can leak underground for a long time before anything shows on the surface. Look for a spot in the yard that stays wet or greener than the rest when you haven't watered, soft ground, or a patch of gravel that looks darker than its neighbors.
Don't dig to find it. Buried lines and cables are down there, and a mistake can be dangerous and expensive. Note the spot, take a photo, and get a licensed plumber and your provider involved.
When the leak is on your side, the fix is water line repair, and our water line repair page covers it.
Who is responsible past the meter?
It depends on your water provider. In Phoenix, the City says issues after the water meter are the homeowner's responsibility, but other providers may draw the line somewhere else. Call your provider, ask exactly where your responsibility starts, and ask whether they can check their side first.
What if I find nothing and the meter still moves?
Then the water may be leaking inside a wall, under the floor, or somewhere else out of sight. That doesn't mean a slab leak, and it doesn't mean a big repair. It means it's time for someone with the right tools to look. Our post on slab leak warning signs covers other clues to watch for.
When should I call a licensed plumber?
Call when the meter confirms water is moving and your own checks turn up nothing, when you find a wet spot you can't explain, or when a toilet or valve needs repair. If water is near anything electrical, stay clear and call a licensed professional right away.
Bring your notes: the bill dates, your meter readings, and which checks you ran. That gives a plumber a head start on finding water you can't see. We give you the price before any work starts, and you decide from there.
If your meter says leak and your eyes say nothing, ask us about leak detection.
Common Questions
Yes. Broken spray heads, a schedule that never got changed back, or a valve that does not fully close can all add up. Turn the system off at the controller and repeat the meter check to see whether the meter stops.
Turn off everything that uses water, note the reading or take a photo, wait, and read it again. Meters and instructions vary by provider, so use your provider's own leak-check steps.
Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank and do not flush. If color shows up in the bowl after a while, water is slipping past the seal. Check your provider's guide for exact steps.
Yes. A pipe between the meter and the house can leak underground before anything shows on the surface. Look for a wet or greener spot in the yard, and do not dig on your own.
It depends on your water provider. In Phoenix, the homeowner is responsible for the line after the meter, but other providers may draw the line elsewhere. Call yours and ask exactly where your responsibility starts.
