High Water Bill? A Step-by-Step Leak Check for Brighton Homes
A bill that jumps with no change in how you live is worth a closer look. Most causes are small and findable in under an hour with the meter, a few drops of dye and a notepad.
Call (720) 794-0054Start with what changed
Before you hunt for a leak, rule out the ordinary. Guests, a new baby, a filled pool, a new lawn or a stretch of hot weather can all raise a bill. A billing period with more days can too. Compare the bill's usage figure, not only the dollar total.
If nothing explains the jump, the next move is to see whether water is moving when it should not be. The meter answers that.
Read the meter with everything off
- Stop all water useClose faucets and pause the dishwasher, washer, ice maker and any timers.
- Find the meterLook in a pit near the curb or in a utility room or basement.
- Check the low-flow indicatorMost meters show a small dial or triangle that spins at tiny flows.
- Write down the registerNote the number and the time.
- Wait thirty minutes and read againNo water use means no change. A change means a leak.
Some utilities also offer a leak alert or an online usage graph. A line that never drops to zero overnight is a sign of continuous flow.
Sort inside leaks from outside leaks
Shut the house main and read the meter once more. Movement points to the stretch of pipe outside the house. No movement points to a leak indoors. Outdoor leaks show up as a soggy strip, sunken ground or unusually green grass along the line.
A service line leak is a water line repair job. The utility handles the meter and the street side. The City of Brighton's report says the line is privately owned out to the curb stop when the meter is inside the home.
Meter still moving after the checks?
Call and describe what you found. The dispatcher can book a diagnostic visit.
The usual suspects inside the house
Where hidden water use hides
| Source | How to check | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|
| Toilet flapper | Add dye to the tank and wait fifteen minutes | Replace the flapper or fill valve |
| Dripping faucet | Look for steady drips, even slow ones | Replace the cartridge or washer |
| Water softener or filter | Listen for constant draining | Service the valve |
| Water heater relief valve | Check the discharge pipe for drips | Inspect pressure and the valve |
| Outdoor hose bibs | Look for drips and wet soil at the wall | Replace the faucet or washer |
| Pipe in a wall or slab | Listen, feel for warm floors, check stains | Book a diagnostic visit |
A running toilet is the most common cause. A slowly leaking flapper can waste a lot of water over a day and never make a sound.
Do the toilet dye test properly
Add a dye tablet or a little food coloring to each tank. Skip the flush. Wait fifteen minutes. Tinted bowl water means a leaking flapper or seat. Repeat for every toilet. Then see toilet repair for what the fix involves.
Test the flush handle and the chain too. A chain that is too tight holds the flapper open a little, and water slips by.
Check the water heater and the hose bibs
A relief valve that drips means pressure or temperature is too high. The discharge pipe should be dry. If water collects under the tank, shut the cold inlet, cut power or gas and phone about water heater repair. Hose bibs leak at the stem or inside the wall. In winter, a hose left attached can freeze and split the pipe behind the faucet. The leak shows up when the weather warms. Read about frozen pipe repair to learn the signs.
When the leak is hidden
- The meter moves after all fixtures and toilets pass the dye test.
- A floor feels warm or damp, or flooring is lifting.
- You hear running water in a quiet house.
- A ceiling or wall shows a new stain.
- Pressure has faded gradually across the house.
Signs like these can mean a leak in a wall, beneath a slab or along buried pipe. A leak detection visit pinpoints it with pressure testing, acoustic gear and thermal imaging. See also slab leak repair if you have a concrete floor.
Ask the utility for help too
Call your water utility and ask for your usage history. They can show daily or hourly readings if your meter supports it. They may also be able to check the meter for accuracy. Some utilities have a policy on adjusting bills after a documented leak repair, so keep your repair invoice.
Document the date the leak was found and the date it was fixed. That record is useful for a billing request and for your insurer.
Keeping a simple usage log
One meter reading tells you little. A week of readings tells you a lot. Pick a fixed time each day, such as before breakfast, and write the register number and the date in a notebook or a phone note.
Subtract each reading from the one before it. A household with no leak will show daily use that rises and falls with its habits, with laundry days and guests standing out. A leak shows up as a floor under that pattern, a steady amount that never drops, even on a day when nobody was home.
Add a second column for the overnight test. Read the meter before bed and again at wake-up, with no water used in between. A change at night is the clearest sign of a hidden loss. Bring the log to the plumber. It saves the first half hour of questions and lets the diagnostic start from real numbers. If the log points to a loss you cannot find, a leak detection visit is the next step.
Prevent the next surprise
- Read the meter monthly and note the number.
- Replace old toilet flappers before they fail.
- Replace braided supply lines every several years.
- Know where the main shutoff is and test it twice a year.
- Install a leak sensor near the water heater and washer.
Small habits catch most leaks while they are still cheap. A fast response also limits damage to floors and walls.
Sources
Local facts on this page come from public documents.
Quick answers
It depends on the leak. A slow flapper leak can waste many gallons per day without making noise. Dye testing finds it.
Yes. Leaks in walls, under slabs or along buried lines may never show at the surface.
The owner is generally responsible past the curb stop or meter, depending on where the meter is. Confirm with the utility.
Policies vary. Ask the utility and keep your repair invoice.
Thirty minutes with no water use is a good test. An overnight test gives more detail.
Not sure where the water is going?
Call to book a leak diagnostic and find out.