x á ä The second most common type of leak has to do with an improperly adjusted or broken fill (ballcock) valve. Potential causes of high water bills An unusually high water bill is most often caused by a leak in your plumbing or change in water use. A furnace humidifier makes the air comfortable to breathe but can cause a high water bill if set too high old or leaky hot water heater Look around the base of the hot water heater for any signs of leaks Have you been spending more time at home due to COVID-19? x t r â ä . If it is determined that these common problems are not the cause, then what is left is a bad meter. If you have a water meter, and you’ve received a bill which is higher than normal, don’t panic – there is likely to be a simple explanation. If you get a water bill that seems too high, more than likely it is not a faulty water meter, but a leak or a misread. So what’s causing your higher-than-normal water bills? Underground leaks are much harder to detect by yourself. Underground Leaks. Also, check the solenoid valve—the valve that allows water to enter the humidifier. But, be aware. If you are concerned that your water bill is too high simply because you just can’t believe you used the amount of water the meter indicates, you may want your municipality to test or replace your meter. If you have an irrigation system for your landscaping, a … Meters normally slow down with age (register less water passing through). Not only do you end up paying more than you’d like, but now there’s the possibility of a plumbing problem that could end up costing thousands down the road. To check for this take the lid off of the toilet tank, flush, and see if water is draining into the overflow tubes when the tank is full… For example, we've all been spending more time at home over the last few months due to coronavirus and using a lot more water than normal. A shockingly high water bill is always a cause for concern. In fact, the way you’ll … Irrigation Leaks. According to our plumbers in Virginia Beach and throughout Hampton Roads, some common causes of high water bills are: • A leaking toilet or a toilet that continues to run after being flushed To determine if the water meter is in fact wrong, you must eliminate the other causes of a high bill. Not all leaks occur indoors.