Plumbing tips · October 22, 2026
The phantom on the water bill
A water bill that jumps with nothing wet anywhere is frustrating, but the water is going somewhere. The meter can tell you whether it is still going right now.
Check the meter first
Turn off every faucet, the washer, the dishwasher, the ice maker and any irrigation. Then look at the water meter, usually in a box near the street. Most have a small leak indicator, a triangle or a dial, that spins with even a little flow. If it moves with everything off, water is leaving somewhere.
The usual cause: a toilet
A toilet that runs or trickles into the bowl can waste a lot of water without making much noise. Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait without flushing. Color in the bowl means the flapper is leaking.
The ones you cannot see
If the toilets are fine and the meter still moves, the leak may be in a line you cannot see: under the slab, in a wall, or in the yard line between the meter and the house. A soggy patch of yard, a warm spot on the floor or the sound of running water with everything off are the signs.
What to do
Fix a running toilet first and check the meter again. If it still moves, have a plumber find the leak before it does damage you can see.
Questions we get asked
Where is my water meter?
Usually in a covered box in the ground near the street or the edge of the property, in line with the house. In some homes it is in the garage or a utility room.Can a dripping faucet raise the bill that much?
A slow drip adds up over a month, but a big jump is more often a running toilet or a hidden leak. The meter test tells you which.Could the meter itself be wrong?
It happens, but it is rare. Rule out a leak first, then ask the water provider to check the meter if the reading still does not make sense.Plumbing questions we answer
Where we go
Parker, Wise and Tarrant County, out of the shop in Springtown. Springtown, Weatherford, Azle, Boyd, Decatur, Newark, Millsap, Fort Worth and the country in between.
Call 817-487-8866