Find the leak in four checks
- 1
Read the meter
Open the meter box, usually near the street. Turn off all taps and appliances and look at the dial or the small triangle that spins with low flow.
- 2
Test the toilets
Add food coloring to each tank. If color shows in the bowl after fifteen minutes without a flush, the flapper leaks.
- 3
Check outdoor taps and irrigation
Look for dripping hose bibs and wet spots along sprinkler lines.
- 4
Look at the yard
A soft, green or wet patch between the meter and the house can mean a service line leak.
How to read a meter for a leak
Residential meters have a dial and a small low-flow indicator, a triangle or wheel that spins when any water moves. Write down the reading, wait an hour with all water off and read again. If the number changed, water is leaking.
This test separates a leak from higher use. A visit from guests or a new appliance can raise a bill with no leak at all, but a moving meter with everything off is a leak.
Common causes of a high water bill
| Cause | How to spot it | Who fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| Running toilet | Dye test, sound after a flush | You or a plumber |
| Dripping faucet or hose bib | Visible drip | You or a plumber |
| Irrigation leak | Wet patch, low pressure in zones | Irrigation or plumber |
| Service line leak | Meter moves, yard is wet | Plumber |
| Leak in a wall or slab | Meter moves, no visible water | Plumber with leak detection |
Meter moving with everything off?
Call and tell us what you found. We can trace the leak without tearing things apart.
What a plumber does that you cannot
If the toilets are dry and the yard looks fine, the leak may be inside a wall, under a floor or in a buried line. Plumbers use acoustic listening gear, thermal cameras and pressure tests to find the source with little or no demolition.
Finding the leak first means the repair is limited to the right place. See leak detection for how that works.
What to do about the bill itself
Fix the leak first, then ask your water provider about adjustments. Policies vary and depend on the provider, the amount and whether the leak was repaired. Keep your plumber invoice and a copy of the meter reading before and after.
Do not assume a credit is automatic. Ask the provider what documentation they need. A written report from the plumber helps.
Seasonal use is not a leak
Water use changes through the year. Summer watering can raise a bill sharply, and a house full of guests or a new baby adds laundry and baths. Compare your bill to the same month last year before you assume a leak. A meter reading with everything off settles it either way.
Also check whether your bill covers a longer or shorter period than usual. A billing period of extra days can make a bill look higher than the daily use really is.
What the meter reading tells a plumber
When you call about a suspected leak, give the plumber your readings. How fast the dial moves with everything off indicates the size of the leak. A fast movement suggests a large leak or a break. A slow creep suggests a toilet flapper or a drip.
If you can, also close the valve where the line enters the house and watch the meter. If it still moves, the leak is on the line between the meter and the house. If it stops, the leak is inside.
What to write down before you call
- Meter reading and time with all water off
- Meter reading an hour later
- Results of the toilet dye tests
- Any wet spots or soft ground in the yard
- The date the bill went up
- Whether the house valve changes the meter reading
Who handles what in Bothell
The City of Bothell water page says it serves about 8,500 households and businesses with water from Seattle Public Utilities, and four water districts serve other parts of Bothell. Check who serves your address before you call. The City Utility Billing office handles leak and excess-use reports for city accounts.
The City FAQ says homeowners are responsible for repairs beyond the water meter, including the service line to the home. If the leak is on that buried line, see water service line repair. We serve Kenmore, where Northshore Utility District provides water, and the towns on our service areas page.
High water bill questions
Call the provider that sends your bill. For City of Bothell accounts, that is Utility Billing. If one of the four water districts serves your address, contact the district. The City suggests checking who serves your site.
According to the City of Bothell FAQ, homeowners are responsible for repairs beyond the water meter, including the service line to the home.
If the meter moves with everything off and the toilets pass the dye test, look for wet ground, a sinking spot or a sudden pressure drop. A plumber can confirm.
Yes. Leaks in walls, under slabs and in buried lines can stay hidden for weeks.
Bothell water is soft, according to the City. Pipe age, pressure and freezing are bigger causes of leaks than water hardness.
If water is actively flowing or you cannot find the leak, yes. Close the main valve and call. It stops damage while you work it out.