There are many factors that can influence your water bill. The time of year, outside temperature, a new family member and house guests can all play a part.
Each family's lifestyle is different and it is normal to expect that your bill won't be the same as your neighbours. Homemaking habits, hobbies, the number of children and their ages all vary from household to household and all have an impact on your water bill.
The number of days in the billing cycle can also have a bearing. Water meters are read on a monthly cycle which means the period covered by your bill can vary from 27 to 33 days. A difference of five days in the heat of summer can be significant.
Consumption in the summer often increases if you are watering your grass and plants, filling your pool, topping up your hot tub, washing the car, or maybe the kids are running through the sprinkler! All of these will contribute to a higher bill.
If you receive a bill that is higher than you expected here are a few things to look for:
- check your outside and inside taps to make sure they are not dripping. Fact: A dripping faucet can waste 3 litres of water a day or more!
- check your toilet to see if it continuously running by using a dye tablet. Fact: A continuously running toilet can use 20 cubic metres a day!
- take a look at your appliances such as hot water tanks, dishwashers, and washing machines to see they are not leaking.
- if you have a humidifier on your furnace, check to see it is attached and functioning properly.
No one wants to be surprised by a high bill so take a few minutes on a regular basis and look over your plumbing.
Every drop counts!