A water bill that jumps with no change in how you live is a clue. Water is going somewhere, and you are paying for it.
This guide walks through the checks you can do in an hour: the meter test, the toilet dye test and a walk around the house and yard. If those do not find it, a plumber with listening gear can.
If you see water spreading, close the main valve first.
The Meter Test
- 1Turn off everything
Close taps, stop the washer and dishwasher and turn off the ice maker.
- 2Read the meter
Write down the numbers or note the small leak dial.
- 3Wait an hour
Do not use any water.
- 4Read it again
If it moved, water is leaking. If it did not, the bill may be about use.
Common Hidden Leaks
| Source | Clue | Quick check |
|---|---|---|
| Toilet flapper | Faint trickle, phantom refills | Food coloring in the tank |
| Dripping faucet | Steady drip | Look and listen |
| Irrigation line | Wet spot, high bill in season | Turn the system off |
| Service line | Meter moves with house valve closed | Check yard and meter pit |
| Wall or slab leak | Warm floor, damp drywall | Call for leak detection |
Toilets are the most common find. See toilet repair if yours leaks.
Want a plumber on the way? The line is open all day and all night.
☎ Call (732) 466-1098Water Heater And Appliance Leaks
A slow leak from a water heater, an ice maker line or a washing machine hose can run for weeks. Look for rust on the pan, a damp floor behind the washer and stains on the ceiling below. A leaking heater is a replacement job, see water heater replacement.
What The Township Office Can Tell You
The Township of North Brunswick Water Utility is operated by Veolia North America under a 20-year agreement signed in 2022. The township's water and sewer office is on the second floor of the municipal building at 710 Hermann Road, open from 8:30 to 4, for billing questions.
Ask the office how the bill is calculated, when the meter was last read and whether the reading was estimated. A wrong estimate looks like a leak but is really a billing issue.
Seasonal Use That Looks Like A Leak
Summer bills rise when you water a lawn, fill a pool or run an extra cooling system. A garden hose left on, a new irrigation timer or guests staying a week can double a bill without any leak.
Compare this month to the same month last year and look at the daily use on your meter. If the difference matches a change in habits, the bill is honest. If it does not, keep looking.
Keep Records For Your Insurer And The Utility
Photograph the meter reading, write down the date and keep copies of bills. If you find and fix a leak, ask the water and sewer office whether any adjustment policy applies. Not every utility offers one, and policies change.
Keep the plumber's invoice and a note of what was found. Both help when you talk to the utility or your insurer.
Why Estimated Readings Can Mislead
If the meter was not read on schedule, a bill may be estimated. The next real reading then catches up, which makes one bill look like a spike. Compare readings, not just totals.
Ask the water and sewer office whether the last reading was actual or estimated. If the numbers on the bill do not match what you see at the meter, tell them. A mistake on their side is the cheapest problem to fix.
Small Habits That Trim A Bill
Fix drips, run full loads in the washer and dishwasher and water lawns early in the morning. Low-flow showerheads and aerators cut use without much sacrifice.
These habits will not find a leak, but they lower the baseline so a real leak stands out on the bill and the meter. According to the township's 2022 water quality report, hardness measured 67.5 ppm, which affects scale on fixtures but does not by itself explain a jump in volume on the bill.
When To Call A Plumber
If the meter moves and you cannot find the source, call. Our crews use pressure tests, acoustic listening and thermal imaging to find the leak without opening walls. Finding it first keeps the repair small.
We serve North Brunswick, New Brunswick and South Brunswick. Water that is running inside the house is an emergency, so see burst pipe repair.
Local questions answered
Do the meter test. If the meter moves with every fixture off, water is escaping.
A worn flapper can run all day without noise. A few drops of food coloring in the tank will show it.
The township water and sewer office at the municipal building on Hermann Road.
Policies differ, and slow leaks are often excluded. Ask your insurer and keep records.
Close the main valve and call. Service line leaks are covered on our water line repair page.
Ready to talk to a plumber? The line is open all day and all night.
☎ Call (732) 466-1098