For those that live in a dwelling and are responsible for monthly water usage, then you are well aware of the water bill. The average water bill is reasonable and it rarely fluctuates. If you have an unusually high utility bill, there may be a water leak. Reminder to self: Check water meter for leaks more often.

If there is a leak on the hot water side of the plumbing, the electric bill will increase substantially. I know, because this just happened to me. My electric bill was higher than normal and my goal was to get to the root of the problem.

The culprit was a leaking elbow joint that was on the hot water side. The hot water leak was causing my hot water heater to run constantly, thus causing my electric bill to rise. The hot water was only lukewarm and there didn’t seem to be as much water pressure.

A hot water leak is worse than a cold water leak and will create more problems.

The way I check for water leaks is to monitor the water meter. There is a red arrow that spins when the water is being used. Obviously, when someone flushes the toilet or is washing dishes, the arrow will spin at a rapid pace. When no water is being used, the arrow should not spin at all. If it does, there is a leaking pipe somewhere.

If it is a hot water leak, it means a high water bill and a high electric bill.

Reminder to self: Check water meter for leaks on a schedule.