Cost & usage
Why Is My Water Bill So High? A Homeowner's Guide
A sudden spike in your water bill is one of the most common reasons Austin homeowners start looking into leak detection. Before assuming the worst, a few things are worth checking yourself.
Check These First
- A running or leaking toilet, one of the most common hidden water wasters in any house
- An irrigation system that is stuck on or miscalibrated
- A dripping outdoor spigot
- A simple change in household water use: guests staying over, filling a pool, seasonal watering
If None of Those Explain It: Run the Meter Test
Turn off every fixture and appliance in the house, then check whether the meter dial is still moving. If it is, water is being used somewhere you cannot see, commonly under the slab or underground between the meter and the house.
Not sure whether the issue is on your side of the meter or the city's? See our guide on when to call Austin Water versus a private plumber.
If the meter test comes back positive, slab leak detection is the logical next step, and our full pre-call checklist covers a few more things worth ruling out first.
Keep reading
Related Resources
Meter Still Moving With Everything Off?
Call (737) 439-3888. That is usually the clearest sign something needs a closer look.