Why Your Water Bill Spiked This Month And How a Main Line Leak Could Be the Cause

Wasting water is more than irresponsible; it is expensive and can signal trouble brewing. When your water bill suddenly spikes, it often means there’s a problem beyond longer showers or an extra load of laundry. In many cases, the culprit is deeper – like a main water line leak.

In this brief article brought to you by Texas Rooter, we shed light on the real risk of spiking water bills. If you’d rather consult or hire a local plumber, then call or message Texas Rooter to contact a trained professional today.

Don’t Ring the Alarms, Yet

Before assuming the worst, let’s go over what causes ‘normal’ water bill fluctuations. Let’s begin with seasonal changes. Summer means lawn watering, filling pools, and more outdoor water use. Then, there are household changes like guests visiting, teenagers taking multiple showers per day, or new appliances running more often.

Rate changes also affect water bills. Water utility companies periodically adjust rates, and these price hikes show up on your bill even if your usage is constant. Plus, some areas use tiered pricing where rates increase once you exceed certain usage thresholds. That is, your first gallon of water is typically cheaper than the 5,000^th.

With that said, if your water bills are jumping 30%, 50%, or more, then it’s time to investigate. Chances are you’re dealing with a water leak. Let’s hope it’s not a leaking main water line.

What Main Water Lines Do (and How They Fail)

The name says it all. The main water line is the primary piping that connects the public water line to the smaller piping that leads to your faucets, appliances, and taps. It's typically buried several feet deep and runs from the water meter at the street to where it enters your home.

While the water line is tight and snug under all that soil, they can fail and they fail for several reasons:

• Age: The most common culprit. Pipes, especially older metal, installed decades ago deteriorate and corrode.
• Tree Roots: Infiltrating through cracks or joints is natural for water- and moisture-seeking tree roots.
• Ground Movement: Settling, earthquakes, and heavy traffic vibrations can crack or break rigid pipes.
• Temperature Swings: Fluctuations from extreme cold to high heat can stress pipes.

Accidental damage from digging or driving over the installation can also result in water leaks. Granted, these are less common.

Signs Beyond High Water Bills

Water bills are often the first sign of main line leaks, but some troubleshooting is due before starting a main water line repair. Some other symptoms that confirm a water line leak include:

• Wet spots in your yard that never dry
• Areas of lawn that are unusually green or grow faster than surrounding spots
• Visible sinkholes or depressions in your yard
• Foundation cracks or settling, which can result from soil erosion
• Low water pressure throughout the house
• The sound of running water when nothing is turned on

If you notice any combination of these warning signs, then bring in a plumber as soon as possible. The main water line is the backbone of your plumbing system. When it fails, the consequences extend beyond wasted water.

Call Texas Rooter For Urgent Assistance

You don’t have to wait through the weekend or holidays to have your plumbing restored. Call or message Texas Rooter TODAY for emergency plumbing repair service!