What Should I Do If I Get An Abnormally Expensive Water Bill?

An abnormally expensive water bill could have a few culprits.  First off - call your water provider and ask them to double check that the meter was read correctly.  Also have them inspect the city owned side of the meter to make sure there are no leaks.  

If the meter was read correctly, and your water provider didn't find any leaks on their side of the meter, call a plumber and ask them to help you investigate to find the source.   A few things to look out for include: water pooled up in the yard (could be indicative of a break in the water main), constantly running toilets, or any visible signs of leaks or water damage.  The issue could be as simple as a leaking flapper valve, or you could have a break in your water main that may need to be dug up and repaired - either way, a plumber can help you identify the cause.  

After the repairs are complete, be sure to get a copy of the invoice from your plumber.  Some municipalities will give you a break on your bill in certain cases if you are able to show them that there was a problem and it has been repaired.

What To Do If You Suspect You Have A Frozen Pipe

If you turn on a fixture and very little or no water comes out, you may have a frozen pipe.  We highly recommend calling a licensed plumber right away to get on their schedule as soon as possible.  Next, shut your water off at the main shut-off valve.  Click here to learn more about where your shut off valves are located.  If there is a visible leak and you do NOT know where your shut off valve is, then call your local water utility company so they can come and shut the water off for you underground at the street. 

Here are a few tips on thawing frozen pipes for the 'do-it-yourselfers': 

• Make sure the water is off at the main!
• Try to locate the frozen pipe.  If you had no water at any fixtures in the home, then the frozen pipe is probably near your main.  If only one fixture was affected, then one of the pipes feeding that fixture may be frozen.  Open the faucet that the suspected frozen pipes are feeding and try to follow the pipes from that fixture. 
• With the faucet remaining open, try to use a heat lamp or a hair dryer to thaw the frozen area. 
• Visually inspect the pipe for any cracks or breaks – if the pipe appears damaged then you will want to stop here, leave the water off and wait for a plumber to make the repair.
• If the pipe does not appear to be broken, you can turn the water back on once the frozen area has started to melt.
•  Leave the water running at this fixture until the pipe is completely thawed, you may want to leave it trickling to help prevent it from refreezing.
•  If the pipe froze once, it could freeze again – it’s important to have a plumber or contractor come out to identify any problem areas.  The piping may need to be rerouted, insulated, or your crawlspace may need to be insulated more.
• If you followed the above steps and were able to successfully thaw the frozen pipe, you should still have a plumber come out and inspect the piping to ensure there are no additional issues or leaks.