Leak Detection
Locate a hidden leak inside a wall, under a floor or along a buried line before it stains drywall or inflates the bill.
Homeowner guide
Why Is My Water Bill So High? Lafayette, CO Causes
A surprise water bill is rarely random. Either the household used more water, or water is leaving the system without anyone noticing. A few checks, mostly at the meter, tell you which.
By the Lafayette Plumbers team ·
Compare the bill with real use
Start with the dates and the usage line, not the dollar total. Look at the number of gallons or units billed and compare it with the same months last year. Guests, a new pool or spa, a new lawn or a change in watering all raise use honestly.
Rate changes and the number of days in the billing period also move the total. If the usage figure is similar to last year and only the dollar amount rose, the cause is the rate, not a leak.
Do the meter test
Close all taps and stop the ice maker, dishwasher and washer. Find the meter, lift the lid and look at the small low-flow indicator, usually a triangle or a wheel. If it spins with everything off, water is moving somewhere.
Record the number, avoid water for an hour and read again. Any movement proves a leak. Next, shut the house main and check again. A stopped dial puts the leak inside. If it keeps going, suspect the buried line. See leak detection for the next step.
The usual indoor suspects
The most common silent leak is a toilet. A worn flapper lets water trickle from the tank to the bowl all day without any sound. EPA says household leaks can waste nearly 10,000 gallons a year, and toilets are a frequent source.
Next come dripping faucets, a leaking water heater connection, a failed supply hose behind a washing machine and a softener or a humidifier stuck in a cycle. Dye tablets in the toilet tank show a flapper leak within minutes.
Likely causes by where to look
Work down the list after the meter test.
| Cause | How to check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Toilet flapper | Dye tablet in the tank | Replace the flapper |
| Dripping fixture | Look under sinks and at spouts | Repair or replace the part |
| Irrigation | Check the controller and heads | Fix the zone or the schedule |
| Buried line | Meter moves with the main closed | Call for leak detection |
Outdoor leaks and irrigation
A sprinkler valve stuck open, a broken head or a cracked pipe can run for hours at night. Review the sprinkler controller schedule and look for boggy spots or puddles on the lawn.
An underground service line can leak into the soil with nothing showing on the surface. The yard may feel soft along the pipe's route. A hose left running or a stuck hose bib adds up quickly. The water line repair page explains how a buried leak gets found and fixed.
What the City of Lafayette may offer
The city's utility billing page says an account can receive one leak adjustment every three years. The request form must be filed within a month of the leak, and the account holder must be enrolled in leak notification alerts. Details can change, so confirm with the office at 303-604-3555.
Keep the repair invoice and dated meter readings. They show when the leak started and ended, and the billing office may ask for them.
Next steps
Should the meter test show a leak you cannot locate, bring in a plumber to detect it. If it points to a toilet, fix the flapper or fill valve. If use simply rose, adjust watering and habits.
Check the meter again after any repair. A steady reading with everything off is the proof that the leak has stopped.
Seasonal causes that are not leaks
Lawn watering is the biggest seasonal driver along the Front Range. A timer set too long, a broken head or a zone left running can double a monthly bill without any pipe failing.
Guests, a new pool or spa fill, and a change in household size also raise use. Compare your bills with the same months of last year before assuming a leak.
Talking to your water provider
Call the provider and ask for the daily or hourly usage if they track it. A steady overnight flow suggests a leak, while spikes in daytime hours point to usage patterns.
Ask whether leak adjustments are available. Some utilities offer a one-time credit when a repair is documented.
Fixing the common culprits
Toilets, irrigation systems and water heaters cause most hidden waste. Check each in turn, using the dye test for toilets and a visual check for relief valves.
If you still cannot find the source, a professional leak detection visit is faster than guessing.
Preventing next month's surprise
Read the meter on the first of the month and track it in a simple note. A sudden jump gives early warning, long before the bill arrives.
Consider a leak sensor under the water heater and sinks. These small devices sound an alarm when water appears on the floor.
Reading the bill itself
Look at the billing period length, the usage units and any tiers. A longer period or a rate change can raise the total without any extra water use.
Compare gallons, not dollars, month to month. If gallons rose, look for the cause inside or outside the house.
Sewer charges and what they depend on
Many utilities base the sewer portion of a bill on winter water use, on the idea that little of it goes outdoors. A leak during those months can raise the sewer charge for the whole year, so catching one early matters more than it seems.
Ask your provider how the sewer charge is set, and whether a documented repair changes it. Keep the plumber's invoice in case you need to show it.
A household water audit in thirty minutes
List every fixture that uses water, then spend a few minutes on each: look for drips at faucets, a toilet that refills, a showerhead that leaks when off and an outdoor spigot that weeps. Add the dishwasher and washer hoses.
Most households find at least one small leak this way. Fixing it is usually a cheap part, and it pays for itself within a few bills.
Common questions
Answers on water bill
A running toilet can waste many gallons an hour. Over a billing period that adds up to a large bill.
It depends on the city's policy. Ask the billing office what the adjustment covers.
Close the main valve at the house. A meter that never stops puts the leak on the outdoor side of the shutoff.
It can be, but rarely. The utility will test the meter itself if you doubt its accuracy.
Related services
Toilet Repair & Installation
Cure a running, wobbling or leaking toilet, or set a new one in place.
Water Line Repair & Replacement
Mend or replace the buried supply pipe that travels from the street meter to your house.
More plumbing guides
Tracking down a concealed leak
You can find many leaks with a meter, a dye tablet and a flashlight. Here is a step-by-step check.
Fixing a running toilet
A toilet that runs nonstop quietly burns through water and cash. Most causes are cheap parts you can swap.
Winterizing your sprinkler system
Water left in sprinkler lines and the backflow device freezes and splits them. Here is the fall routine.
Speak with the phone desk
Meter spinning with everything off?
Call the line, share the readings and ask about leak detection.
Call (720) 743-9476(720) 743-9476 · day and night