What Will a Leak Actually Cost on My Monthly Water Bill?

You’ve no doubt heard it time and again: a plumbing leak can cause an unexpected increase in your water bill. But just how much will a leak impact your utility costs, and it is enough to warrant getting it fixed? Our Durham plumbers will tackle this important subject right here, offering you insight into the ways you can avoid unnecessary expenses now and save money in the long run.

The Cost of a Water Leak in Durham, NC

The City of Durham uses tiered rates to charge customers for water, encouraging reductions in water use by charging less per cubic foot when overall water usage is lower and increasing rates for high water usage. According to Durham’s 2021 water rates, the cost per 100 cubic feet (≈748 gallons) may vary from $2.03 to $6.56 depending on how much water you use. Why does this matter? A water leak could push your usage into a higher tier, causing an increased rate and, therefore, an even higher water bill.

Let’s take a quick look at how much a typical leak could impact a person’s water bill.

A slow faucet leak of just 10 drops per minute will waste almost a gallon of water a day and about 30 gallons a month. In Durham, the cost of that level of leak would be about 8 cents for a Tier 1 customer (who uses less than 1,500 gallons of water a month) and about 26 cents for a Tier 5 customer (who uses more than 11,220 gallons of water a month). Spending a few extra cents each month shouldn’t have any sort of noticeable impact on your finances. Bigger leaks, however, can be a lot more expensive.

A running toilet can waste up to 8 gallons of water an hour and about 200 gallons a day! That could add up to about 6,000 gallons a month if it goes unnoticed. In Durham, this level of water waste would push a customer immediately up to Tier 4 (6,000 to 11,220 gallons of water a month), where the cost is $4.38 per 100 cubic feet. 6,000 gallons of water at that rate would cost about $35. A Tier 5 customer would face about $52.50 in increased water charges.

Spending extra money on your water bill because of a leak may not make or break your bank account, but you’re literally throwing that money down the drain if you ignore it. What’s worse, you could face more serious—and expensive—issues by waiting to fix a plumbing problem.

The Cost of a Plumbing Leak: Now & Later

The immediate cost of a plumbing leak may only be a few cents or dollars on your water bill. However, leaks are usually a sign of a bigger problem. They won’t go away on their own, and they can cause water damage that costs thousands of dollars to fix. Standing water or moisture that seeps into the floors and walls of a home can create the perfect breeding ground for toxic mold, which can pose health risks if it is inhaled or ingested. Your best bet is to call in a plumber who can find the source of the leak and fix it.

Call Our Durham Plumbing Company Today!

At JD Service Now, we believe in keeping our customers happy and safe by providing the highest quality plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and sewer services. We serve Durham and the surrounding areas, including Cary, Apex, and Chapel Hill. Our technicians are friendly, experienced, and committed to getting the job done right the first time. Because we handle everything from leak detection and plumbing emergencies all the way to whole-home repiping and installations, you can count on us to address your every need. Call 919-383-7000 today!