There are many reasons that bills are high. Following are a few scenarios you may want to check prior to calling customer service and, potentially, triggering a service call charge (unless the meter has been misread).
Leaks: The most common reason a bill is higher than normal is leaks. Leaks can go undetected for days, weeks or even years.
Sometimes leaks are intermittent, such as toilets that don’t seal properly and run for a few minutes then stop. Sometimes leaks are constant, such as irrigation that is leaking underground and unseen.
If you have a leak on your property, it is better to find out as soon as possible. If the leak is substantial, waiting for a customer service agent to come out to your property may result in significant water loss and charges to you.
A simple leak test can be performed to assist you in determining whether you have a leak. Here are the steps:
Most of the meters in MSWD are digital and equipped to detect the slightest amount of water passing through.
Conversely, if water is not passing through the meter, it is virtually impossible for the reading on the register to change.
To determine if a fractional amount of water is passing through the meter, watch for the Fractional Reading (“Fr”) on the dial. If the Fr displays a number, water is passing through the meter.