High Water Bill? How to Find Hidden Leaks

Short answerA water bill that jumps with no change in use usually means a leak. The most common causes are a running toilet, a dripping fixture, a leaking water heater relief valve, an irrigation leak, or a hidden leak in the yard line or under the house. A meter test tells you within minutes whether water is escaping.

Do the meter test first

Turn off every faucet and appliance that uses water. Look at the meter's leak indicator (a small triangle or dial). If it moves while nothing is running, water is leaking somewhere between the meter and your fixtures.

Check the usual suspects

Work through these before calling:

Toilets: put a few drops of food coloring in the tank; color in the bowl after 15 minutes means a leaking flapper
Faucets and shower valves that drip
Water heater relief valve line dripping outside
Irrigation zones, heads and the backflow device
Outdoor spigots and hoses

Signs of a hidden leak

If the meter still moves after those checks, look for:

Wet or unusually green patches between the meter and the house
Damp crawl-space soil or insulation under the house
Warm spots on a slab floor
Sound of running water with everything off

When to call a plumber about a high bill

Call when the meter shows a leak you can't find, when you see water in the crawl space, or when a slab or yard leak is likely. Leak detection equipment can locate it without opening walls or digging at random.

Who pays for what in Charlotte

Charlotte Water handles leaks at the meter and on the street side. Leaks after the meter are the homeowner's responsibility. Ask Charlotte Water whether a leak adjustment is available on the bill once the leak is repaired.