Why Is My Water Bill So High? A McKinney Leak Checklist

The usual reasons a bill jumps, most likely first

1. Outdoor watering. In a hot North Texas summer, irrigation is often the biggest single water use in a home. A controller set to water more often after a dry spell, a new zone, or a broken sprinkler head can double a bill without anyone noticing. The EPA says outdoor use averages 30 percent of household water nationally and can be much higher in drier places and with thirsty landscapes (EPA WaterSense).
2. A running or silently leaking toilet. A worn flapper can leak thousands of gallons a year, according to EPA WaterSense.
3. An irrigation leak. A cracked lateral line, a stuck valve or a leaking backflow preventer can run underground. EPA estimates a leak about 1/32 of an inch across can waste about 6,300 gallons a month.
4. A hidden supply leak, in a wall, the yard line between meter and house, or under the slab.
5. A change in how you use water: guests, a pool top-up, a new water softener regenerating, or a longer billing period.
6. A meter or billing issue. Less common, but worth asking about once you've ruled out a leak.

Step 1: the meter test

This is the single most useful check. It takes about 15 minutes.

1. Turn off all water use: faucets, showers, dishwasher, washing machine, ice maker, softener, and the irrigation controller (set it to off, not just skip a day).
2. Find the meter box, usually near the curb or sidewalk in front of the house. Lift the lid carefully; there may be insects or a snake in summer.
3. Look at the display. The City of McKinney says that if water is flowing through the meter, it will be measured and shown in the gallons per minute window in the upper left corner. Some meters also have a small leak indicator that moves with any flow.
4. Write down the full reading, wait 15 to 30 minutes without using any water, and read it again.

What the result means

• No movement, reading unchanged: no active leak right now. Look at irrigation settings, toilets that leak only intermittently, and changes in use.
• Flow shown or reading climbed: water is going somewhere. Go to step 2.

Step 2: narrow it down

Close the main shutoff

Close your home's main shutoff valve (see how to shut off your water) and check the meter again.

• Meter stops: the leak is inside the house, after the shutoff. Toilets are the first suspect.
• Meter keeps moving: the leak is between the meter and the house shutoff, or on a line that branches off before it, which on some homes includes the irrigation supply.

The toilet dye test

Put a few drops of food coloring in each toilet tank and don't flush. EPA's guidance is that if color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, you have a leak. A leaking flapper is usually an inexpensive DIY fix; see running toilet for the full walkthrough and leaking toilet for leaks on the floor.

Irrigation checks

• Run each zone manually and walk it. Look for geysers, heads that won't pop up, pooling, or a patch of lawn that stays green and soggy when the rest is dry.
• With the system off, check whether any heads weep or a low spot stays wet. That points to a valve that isn't closing fully.
• Look at the backflow preventer for drips.
• Review the controller. It's easy to leave a summer schedule running into fall, or to have several start times stacked on one program.

Other things that use water quietly

• Water softeners that regenerate too often or stick in a cycle
• Pool or fountain autofill valves
• Ice maker and refrigerator lines
• A water heater relief valve dripping into a drain line
• Hose bibs left slightly open

Signs of a hidden leak

If the house is shut off at the main and the meter still moves, and irrigation is ruled out, the leak may be buried. Signs include a wet or unusually green strip of yard, warm spots on the floor, the sound of running water, or low pressure. Our slab leak signs guide covers what to look for, and leak detection explains how a plumber finds a buried leak without guesswork.

When it's the City's side

The City of McKinney says the City is responsible for repairs before the meter, and the homeowner is responsible for repairs after the meter, including all costs. If you see water bubbling up at the meter box or in the street, or the leak appears to be on the City's side, call the City's Water/Wastewater line on 972-547-7360. Billing questions go to Utility Billing on 972-547-7550.

The City's leak adjustment

If a leak on your side ran up a big bill, the City may adjust it. According to the City's meters, leaks and pipes page:

• Usage must be at least 3 times greater than the same period of the prior year, on a single bill
• The bill must be over $150, not counting service fees or deposits
• You submit proof of repair within 60 days of the repair
• It's limited to one request per address in a 12-month period

Keep the plumber's invoice or your parts receipt, and take dated photos of the repair. Read the City's page for the current process before you apply.

What not to do

• Don't just pay and hope. A bill that jumps and stays high usually means the leak is still running.
• Don't dig near the meter or service line yourself. The meter and anything before it belong to the City, and buried utilities need locating first.
• Don't disable a rain/freeze sensor to "fix" a watering problem. It's required.
• Don't ignore a meter that moves with everything off, even slowly. Small leaks add up over a billing cycle.

DIY vs calling a licensed plumber

You can safely handle the meter test, toilet dye tests, flapper swaps, and walking your irrigation zones. Call a licensed plumber (or a licensed irrigator for sprinkler-only problems) when:

• The meter moves with the house main closed and irrigation off
• You suspect a slab or yard line leak
• A shutoff valve won't close fully
• You need a documented repair for a leak adjustment

What to tell the plumber

• The meter readings you took, how far apart, and with what turned off
• Whether the meter stopped when you closed the house main
• Your dye test results
• Any wet spots, warm floors or sounds
• The bill amounts before and after the jump

See choosing a plumber for how to check a license and compare quotes.

Prevention

• Read your meter at the same time on two days with no water use once a season.
• Dye test toilets once or twice a year.
• Walk your irrigation zones monthly in summer and adjust the schedule as the weather changes.
• Test the rain/freeze sensor and replace it if it fails.
• Know where your main shutoff is.