An unexplained jump in your water bill is easy to dismiss — maybe it was a hot month, maybe someone left a hose running. But a spike that holds for two or more billing cycles almost always has a mechanical cause. And every day it goes unaddressed, it's costing you money.
How Much Water Are We Talking About?
For a North Bay family already paying some of the highest water rates in California, that adds up quickly. The key is confirming whether you have a leak — and where — before it becomes a bigger problem.
Step 1: Check Your Water Meter
The 15-Minute Meter Check
Turn off every fixture and appliance in your home — faucets, dishwasher, irrigation, ice maker, everything. Go to your water meter and watch it for 15 minutes. If the meter is still moving, water is actively leaving your system somewhere.
If it's not moving, the issue may be intermittent or usage-based. Pull your last 12 months of bills and look for the trend — a sudden jump versus a gradual climb tells a very different story.
Step 2: Check These Common Leak Points
Before calling a plumber, walk through these four culprits. Some you can fix yourself.
| Location | What to Look For | DIY Fix? |
|---|---|---|
| 🚽 Toilets | Add food coloring to the tank. Wait 10 min without flushing. Color in the bowl = leaking flapper. | Yes — new flapper ~$10 |
| 🚿 Faucets & Showerheads | Visible drip when fully closed. One drip/sec = ~3,000 gal/year. | Sometimes |
| 🌿 Irrigation | Soggy patches, erosion, or puddles when irrigation hasn't run. Walk zone-by-zone. | Sometimes |
| 🔥 Water Heater | Pooling, rust staining, or moisture around the base of the unit. | No — call a plumber |
Step 3: Watch for Signs of a Slab Leak
These are the ones that hurt most. A slab leak occurs when a pipe running beneath your concrete foundation develops a crack or failure. You can't see it — but it will show up on your bill, and eventually in your home.
⚠️ Warning Signs of a Slab Leak
Warm or hot spots on the floor · The sound of running water when everything is off · Unexplained spike in your water bill · New cracks in flooring or walls · Mold or mildew odor with no visible source
Slab leaks require professional leak detection equipment and are not a DIY repair. The longer they go unaddressed, the more damage they do to your foundation, flooring, and plumbing system.
What's Normal Water Usage in Sonoma County?
The average single-family home in Sonoma County uses between 50–100 gallons per person per day. If your bill implies usage significantly above that — with no new landscaping, pool fill, or guests — that gap is telling you something. A spike that holds for two or more consecutive months almost always has a mechanical cause.
When to Call West Coast Plumbing
Some leaks you can fix yourself. Most of the ones that actually move your water bill cannot. Call us when:
- Your meter is moving with everything in the house turned off
- You suspect a leak inside a wall, ceiling, or under your slab
- You've checked the obvious sources and can't find anything
- Your bill has been elevated for two or more consecutive months
- You notice water damage — staining, warped floors, mildew smell
- Your irrigation system was recently repaired or winterized
How We Find It
West Coast Plumbing uses professional leak detection equipment to locate hidden leaks without unnecessary demolition. We find it, fix it, and leave your home exactly as we found it — serving Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Healdsburg, and throughout the North Bay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from Sonoma County homeowners about high water bills and hidden leaks.