Is my Water Bill High? (I think so) Need advise

Gothicfairy

Use a cup or something to scoop out the water from the chamber.

Call your water company and get a flush saver bag, as far as I know they all do them for free for their customers.

Turn off the tap when brushing teeth and when running the hot tap, use the cold amount for something else, ie peeling veg.

Make sure that every water using appliance is working correctly and that the over flow in the tank is stopping when it should and that the toilets are not over filling.

Check for leaks and make sure that the bill is based on real true meter readings

tbw

Get down on your knees and bail it out with a small container, then use an old towel to soak up the rest. If the meter box is flooded or iced up you can't read the figures - and neither can the water company! I've just had a bill which says the current reading was read (last one was estimated) - and its nearly 4 cu.m more than it is now (and their alleged reading was done 2 weeks ago). If they can't read it they will often just hazard a guess.

If you can't find your meter then get the water company to come and show you where it is - its also not unheard of for them to read the wrong meter (and that can go on for years). You have to know where it is and should read it yourself preferably weekly. Even a small leak will cost you a lot - bear in mind that the sewarage charge is based on a % return to sewer of the incoming water. And the charge per cu.m for sewage disposal is MUCH higher than for the 'clean' water.

Don't put more water in the kettle than you need, don't wash veg under a running tap, use a tooth bug when cleaning teeth, if its yellow let it mellow - if its brown flush it down!, fit water buts for garden use (and if you have a downstairs loo you could also use a bucket of rainwater to fluch it if you really want to cut down) and run the dishwasher and washing machine on full loads only.

melbury

Gothicfairy wrote: »

Use a cup or something to scoop out the water from the chamber.

Call your water company and get a flush saver bag, as far as I know they all do them for free for their customers.

Turn off the tap when brushing teeth and when running the hot tap, use the cold amount for something else, ie peeling veg.

Make sure that every water using appliance is working correctly and that the over flow in the tank is stopping when it should and that the toilets are not over filling.

Check for leaks and make sure that the bill is based on real true meter readings

There is no chamber to scoop water out from - it is a sealed unit that it read from the top.

Have already had the meter replaced a couple of years ago.

Already do all of the other things suggested.

melbury

tbw wrote: »

Get down on your knees and bail it out with a small container, then use an old towel to soak up the rest. If the meter box is flooded or iced up you can't read the figures - and neither can the water company! I've just had a bill which says the current reading was read (last one was estimated) - and its nearly 4 cu.m more than it is now (and their alleged reading was done 2 weeks ago). If they can't read it they will often just hazard a guess.

If you can't find your meter then get the water company to come and show you where it is - its also not unheard of for them to read the wrong meter (and that can go on for years). You have to know where it is and should read it yourself preferably weekly. Even a small leak will cost you a lot - bear in mind that the sewarage charge is based on a % return to sewer of the incoming water. And the charge per cu.m for sewage disposal is MUCH higher than for the 'clean' water.

Don't put more water in the kettle than you need, don't wash veg under a running tap, use a tooth bug when cleaning teeth, if its yellow let it mellow - if its brown flush it down!, fit water buts for garden use (and if you have a downstairs loo you could also use a bucket of rainwater to fluch it if you really want to cut down) and run the dishwasher and washing machine on full loads only.

Based on the replies, I think that there must be different types of water meters. To read ours we have to lift off the metal cover on the front grass verge and then read it from the top, usually have to brush some dirt off first. Haven't noticed any chamber or suchlike that could be emptied and wiped out????

As mentioned before, we do all of the things that you suggest, but will endeavour to try and cut down even more.

I think it is very galling that many people on RV based charge pay a fraction of the cost and use ten times as much water:mad:

deanos

tbw wrote: »

If the meter box is flooded or iced up you can't read the figures - and neither can the water company!.

Yes it can easily be read through water or ice if you know how

Just because you cant read the figures dosent not mean the meter reader cant

tbw

deanos wrote: »

Yes it can easily be read through water or ice if you know how

Just because you cant read the figures dosent not mean the meter reader cant

You appear to know something I don't - I'd be fascinated to know how you, or a meter reader , can see the meter numbers if they are covered right up by ice, water etc. I'm not being sarcastic - I would really like to know! To the best of my knowledge meter readers are not blessed with X ray vision .

tbw

melbury wrote: »

Based on the replies, I think that there must be different types of water meters. To read ours we have to lift off the metal cover on the front grass verge and then read it from the top, usually have to brush some dirt off first. Haven't noticed any chamber or suchlike that could be emptied and wiped out????

As mentioned before, we do all of the things that you suggest, but will endeavour to try and cut down even more.

I think it is very galling that many people on RV based charge pay a fraction of the cost and use ten times as much water:mad:

There are different types - my meter is in the drive entrance under a metal cover. The meter box/pit also house the main stop tap (which we turn off when we are on holiday in the winter). It always seems to stay dry inside.

If you have a sealed unit and its got water in it then I would think it is faulty and needs replacing.

deanos

tbw wrote: »

You appear to know something I don't - I'd be fascinated to know how you, or a meter reader , can see the meter numbers if they are covered right up by ice, water etc. I'm not being sarcastic - I would really like to know! To the best of my knowledge meter readers are not blessed with X ray vision .

You can see through the water you just need a good torch,and you wipe the dial slowly with a screwdriver do it too fast and the water clouds up from the sediment , as for the ice you just need to punch through a small hole its only usually an inch thick, some you cant read granted but the majority can be read through water or ice.

Also if you have a dial that has condensation a light tap usually does the trick, if not putting the touch right up to the dial usually means you can see the digits,.

tbw

deanos wrote: »

You can see through the water you just need a good torch,and you wipe the dial slowly with a screwdriver do it too fast and the water clouds up from the sediment , as for the ice you just need to punch through a small hole its only usually an inch thick, some you cant read granted but the majority can be read through water or ice.

Also if you have a dial that has condensation a light tap usually does the trick, if not putting the touch right up to the dial usually means you can see the digits,.

OK, that theory may work. However, no meter reader is going to bother even trying! If they can't open the box and read the digits quickly they won't bother fiddling about. If the meter isn't easy to read the customer will get a guesstimate.

deanos

tbw wrote: »

OK, that theory may work. However, no meter reader is going to bother even trying! If they can't open the box and read the digits quickly they won't bother fiddling about. If the meter isn't easy to read the customer will get a guesstimate.

Sorry but you are talking rubbish there :mad: