For homeowners in South Florida, an unusually high water bill can sometimes be the first warning sign of a hidden plumbing leak.
The tricky part is that not every leak leaves a puddle. Water can escape behind walls, underneath tile floors, or through underground pipes for weeks before you notice any damage.
The team at Florida Mitigation Group, based in Weston and serving Broward County, recommends checking a few common trouble spots before the problem gets worse.
Here’s how to figure out whether you have a leak, where it might be coming from, and what to do if water has already damaged your home.
Start by Checking Your Water Bill
Before you start looking for a leak, make sure your water usage actually increased.
Sometimes a higher bill has nothing to do with plumbing. Your utility company may have raised its rates, your billing cycle may have included extra days, or your household may have used more water than usual.
Think about anything different over the past month.
Did you have family staying over? Fill your swimming pool? Water the lawn more often because it hasn’t rained?
If your bill shows a big increase in gallons used and nothing explains it, it’s time to start checking for leaks.
Use Your Water Meter to Check for Hidden Leaks
One of the easiest ways to find out whether water is leaking somewhere on your property is to check your water meter.
You don’t need any special equipment, and the test is pretty straightforward.
The EPA’s WaterSense program recommends comparing meter readings over a two-hour period when no water is being used.
Here’s how to do it:
- Turn off all faucets and make sure the dishwasher and washing machine aren’t running.
- Turn off your irrigation system and anything else that automatically uses water.
- Find your water meter, which is often located near the street or sidewalk.
- Take a picture of the meter reading.
- Wait two hours without using any water.
- Check the meter again.
If the reading has increased, water is flowing somewhere even though nobody is using it.
Some meters also have a small leak indicator that moves when water is flowing. If yours has one, watch it while everything in the house is turned off.
If the meter indicates a leak, the next step is figuring out where that water is going.
You can also try closing your home’s main shutoff valve and checking the meter again. If it continues registering water usage, the leak may be between the meter and the shutoff valve, or somewhere else on the supply line before that valve.
Check Your Toilets First
Believe it or not, a running toilet can waste a surprising amount of water without making much noise.
Sometimes the rubber flapper inside the tank wears out and allows water to slowly leak into the bowl.
You might not hear anything, but the toilet keeps using water throughout the day.
There’s an easy way to check.
Put a few drops of food coloring into the toilet tank. Don’t flush. Wait about 10 minutes and look inside the bowl.
If the water in the bowl changes color, you’ve probably found a leaking flapper.
Flush afterward to prevent staining.
This is one of the most common household leaks, and fixing it is usually much less expensive than dealing with a broken pipe.
Check Your Sprinkler System
In South Florida, irrigation systems are another common reason for unexpectedly high water bills.
A broken sprinkler head, cracked underground line, or malfunctioning valve can waste water every time the system runs.
And because many sprinklers operate early in the morning, homeowners may not notice anything is wrong.
Run each irrigation zone while you’re home and walk around the yard.
Look for:
- Sprinkler heads spraying water onto the street or driveway.
- Unusually wet or muddy patches of grass.
- Water bubbling up from the ground.
- Sprinkler heads with noticeably weak pressure.
- Areas that stay wet long after the system shuts off.
According to the EPA, an irrigation leak about the thickness of a dime can waste approximately 6,300 gallons of water per month.
That’s enough to make a noticeable difference on your bill.
If your irrigation system uses a separate meter or well, keep that in mind when checking whether it’s responsible for your household water usage.
Look Under Sinks and Around Appliances
Not every plumbing leak happens inside a wall. Sometimes the problem is right in front of you, just hidden behind a cabinet door or appliance.
Grab a flashlight and check under your kitchen and bathroom sinks.
Look for water stains, damp cabinet floors, corrosion around connections, or wood that looks swollen.
Then check around your water heater, washing machine, dishwasher, and refrigerator.
Pay particular attention to:
- Washing machine hoses that are cracked, bulging, or leaking.
- Water heater connections with rust or mineral buildup.
- Refrigerator ice maker supply lines.
- Moisture around the dishwasher or beneath nearby cabinets.
- Dripping pipes or fittings under sinks.
Even a slow drip can cause damage if it goes unnoticed long enough.
If you find an active leak, shut off the water to that fixture or appliance until it can be repaired.
What If You Still Can’t Find the Leak?
This is where things get a little more complicated.
If your meter shows water usage when everything is off, but you can’t find a leaking toilet, faucet, appliance, or sprinkler, the problem could be somewhere you can’t see.
In South Florida, many homes are built on concrete slab foundations. Plumbing lines may run beneath the slab or inside walls, making some leaks difficult to locate without specialized equipment.
A few warning signs to watch for include:
- Warm spots on tile floors: These can sometimes indicate a leaking hot water line beneath the slab.
- Musty odors: A persistent damp smell in one room or closet may point to hidden moisture.
- Swollen baseboards: Water can travel behind drywall and cause trim to expand or separate.
- Unexplained water stains: Discoloration on walls or ceilings can indicate a plumbing leak.
- Sounds of running water: Hearing water when every fixture is turned off is worth investigating.
- Wet patches in the yard: An underground supply line may be leaking, even when it hasn’t rained.
If you’re noticing any of these signs, contact a licensed plumber who offers leak detection.
Specialized equipment can help locate leaks behind walls or beneath floors without unnecessarily tearing apart large sections of your home.
The sooner you find the source, the better your chances of avoiding extensive water damage.
Can You Get a Credit for a High-Water Bill?
If a hidden leak caused your water bill to jump, it’s worth contacting your water utility.
Some utilities offer leak adjustments or credits after a qualifying leak has been repaired.
The rules vary depending on where you live, so ask your provider whether it has a leak adjustment program and what documentation is required.
You may need to provide:
- A plumber’s invoice showing the completed repair.
- Photos of the damaged pipe or leaking fixture.
- Your water meter readings before and after the repair.
- A copy of the unusually high bill.
It’s also worth asking who is responsible for maintaining the water line between the meter and your home.
In many cases, that responsibility falls on the property owner, but local utility rules can vary.
What If the Leak Has Already Damaged Your Floors or Walls?
Finding and repairing the leak is important, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the problem is over.
If water has been leaking underneath your flooring or behind your walls, those materials may still be wet even after the plumbing is fixed.
And in Florida’s humid climate, trapped moisture can quickly become a bigger problem.
According to the EPA’s mold and moisture guidance, drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours can help prevent mold growth.
Unfortunately, hidden leaks often go unnoticed much longer than that.
If water has reached drywall, insulation, baseboards, or flooring, it’s important to determine how far the moisture has spread.
Professional water damage restoration companies use moisture meters and drying equipment to locate and remove moisture that isn’t always visible on the surface.
For example, a tile floor might look completely dry while moisture remains trapped underneath. Installing new flooring or closing up a wall before the affected materials are properly dried can lead to additional damage.
Don’t Ignore an Unexplained Increase in Your Water Bill
A higher-than-normal water bill doesn’t always mean something serious is wrong, but it’s not something you want to ignore.
Start by checking your usage, testing the water meter, and looking at common trouble spots like toilets, sprinklers, and appliance connections.
If the meter keeps moving and you can’t find the source, have a licensed plumber investigate before the leak causes more damage.
And if water has already made its way into your walls or floors, make sure the affected areas are properly dried after the plumbing repair.
Catching a hidden leak early could save you from a much bigger repair bill down the road.
