Why is my water bill high?
Getting a bill that is unexpectedly high can be very stressful. Your water bill might go up for various reasons, and some of the most common ones are:
- More people than usual staying in your home
- New appliances that use more water, such as a power shower or garden sprinkler
- Your home being left empty for certain periods
- Your previous bill being based on estimates rather than a meter reading
- Problems with your toilet, taps, showerheads, boiler, or radiator
- Leaks through your overflow pipe or internal pipes
- Home renovations that use more water
If none of these seem to be the cause of your high bill, there are a few other possibilities. One common reason is an internal leak. To check if you have a leak, you can follow these steps:
- Turn off all taps and appliances that use water
- Take a picture or write down the reading on your water meter
- Turn your inside stop tap anti-clockwise to make sure it’s fully open
- Wait a few hours and take another meter reading
- If the second reading is higher than the first and you’re certain no water has been used, you may have a leak
- If the leak is internal, turn off the internal stop tap and take another meter reading after half an hour. If the reading increases, you may be responsible for repairs
- If you can’t carry out these checks, contact your water company for help. They offer free additional support to customers to ensure you have access to water and sewerage services regardless of your circumstances.
Other reasons for a high bill could be a wrong water meter, crossed supply, faulty meter, or billing issues. Check your bill to see if it’s based on an estimated or actual reading, and contact your water company if you want to provide an actual reading.
If you’re having trouble paying your bills, there may be additional financial support available to you.