A sudden increase in your JEA water bill can be a sign that something is wrong, even when you don’t see a visible leak. Below, you’ll find the most common causes of a high water bill, how to check for a leak, and when it’s time to call a leak detection expert.
Your water bill will naturally go up and down from month to month. More laundry, guests, warmer weather, outdoor watering, or other changes in household water use can all affect your bill.
What deserves a closer look is a sudden or unexplained increase that is noticeably higher than your normal range, especially if it continues for more than one billing cycle.
A hidden leak doesn’t always leave standing water. Look for signs such as:
signs don’t necessarily mean you have a leak. But when they occur alongside an unexplained increase in water usage, they’re worth investigating.
PureFlo Tip: A hidden leak can occur in several different parts of a plumbing system. The location of the symptom doesn’t always tell you where the leak actually is.
A slab leak occurs when a water line beneath a concrete foundation develops a leak. Because the pipe is hidden below the home, there may be no visible water at the surface when the problem first starts.
One possible warning sign is a warm or unusually hot area of flooring. This can happen when a hot-water line beneath the slab is leaking and creating a localized temperature change above it.
However, a warm floor does not automatically confirm a slab leak. Cold-water lines can leak beneath a slab as well, and flooring, insulation, and pipe routing can affect whether a temperature difference is noticeable.
Other signs may include an unexplained increase in water usage, lower water pressure, moisture around flooring or baseboards, or the sound of water running when fixtures are off.
Because the plumbing is concealed beneath concrete, finding the exact location requires more than following visible damage. Pressure testing, acoustic leak detection, pipe tracing, and thermal imaging can help narrow the affected area and determine whether a slab leak is actually present before a repair is recommended.
The water line running between your JEA meter and your home can develop a leak underground, allowing water to escape into the surrounding soil without ever becoming visible inside the house.
The first signs may be subtle. You might notice a section of the yard that stays wet despite dry weather, unusually soft ground, or an area of grass that suddenly grows greener or faster than everything around it. An unexplained increase in your JEA water bill or a change in water pressure may also point to water being lost before it reaches the home.
However, a wet yard does not automatically mean the main water line is leaking. Irrigation problems, drainage conditions, groundwater, and other sources can create similar symptoms.
PureFlo uses system isolation, meter testing, pipe tracing, and specialized leak-detection equipment to determine whether water loss is coming from the home’s underground service line, the irrigation system, or another source before recommending where repairs should begin.
Confirming the source first helps prevent unnecessary digging and ensures the right system is repaired.
Yes.
In fact, a running toilet is one of the easiest causes of a high water bill to overlook.
A worn flapper, faulty fill valve, or another problem inside the tank can allow water to continuously flow into the bowl. Because the water goes directly down the drain, you may never see water on the bathroom floor.
Put a few drops of food coloring into the toilet tank. Do not flush. Wait and check the bowl.
If colored water appears in the bowl, water is leaking from the tank into the bowl.
Check every toilet in the house if your water bill has increased without an obvious explanation.
If your toilets aren’t the problem, there are still several other possible sources of unexplained water use.
A water heater leak is not always dramatic. In some cases, water may escape slowly from a connection, valve, fitting, or the tank itself and remain unnoticed for some time.
You may first notice moisture around the base of the unit, staining nearby surfaces, corrosion around connections, or a gradual increase in water usage without an obvious leak elsewhere in the home.
Because water heaters are often installed in garages, closets, utility rooms, or other areas that are not checked every day, a small leak can continue before it attracts attention.
If you suspect the water heater may be contributing to unexplained water loss, the unit and surrounding supply lines and connections should be inspected.
A leaking irrigation system can increase your water usage without creating any obvious signs inside the house. Because sprinkler lines and valves are often underground, the problem may continue unnoticed between watering cycles.
Possible signs include:
These symptoms can look very similar to an underground water service leak, which is why identifying the affected system matters before repairs begin.
By isolating the irrigation system from the home’s domestic plumbing and checking water-meter activity, PureFlo can help determine whether the unexplained water loss is coming from irrigation, the main water line, or another part of the property.
Confirming the source first helps prevent unnecessary digging and ensures the right system is repaired.
Yes. A water softener normally uses water during its regeneration cycle, but a problem with the system can cause it to use far more water than expected. A faulty valve, an unusually frequent regeneration schedule, or a system that fails to complete its cycle can send excess water down the drain.
Things to check:
If you’re performing a JEA meter test, make sure the softener isn’t regenerating during the test. Otherwise, normal operation can appear to be unexplained water usage.
If the softener isn’t the cause, PureFlo can isolate different parts of the plumbing system to determine where the water is actually going.
If your JEA water bill is a little higher than usual and you’re not sure whether you have a leak, you can start with a simple test at your water meter.
This is also one of the first things PureFlo checks when investigating unexplained water use. The meter can tell us whether water is moving through the system when everything should be off. You can perform the same basic check yourself before deciding whether you need professional leak detection.
The test takes about 30 minutes and does not require any special tools.
Before You Start: Choose a time when no one will need to use water.
Tip: Your JEA water meter is typically located in a covered meter box near the curb or street, usually close to your property line.
Turn off all faucets and make sure toilets, showers, washing machines, dishwashers, irrigation, and other water-using equipment are not running.If you have a water softener, make sure it is not in the middle of a regeneration cycle.
Locate your water meter. If the meter dial is spinning, you have a leak or unexplained water use. If the indicator is not moving, continue to the next step to check for a leak that may be intermittent rather than continuous.
Avoid using any water during the test. Do not flush toilets, run appliances, use faucets, or activate irrigation.
Compare the meter with your original reading. If the reading has changed or the leak indicator continues to show movement, there may be continuous water use that needs further investigation.
What the meter can tell you: Water is moving when it shouldn’t be.
What it can’t tell you: Where the water is going.
That’s where professional leak detection becomes useful.
Possibly. JEA allows residential customers to request an adjustment for qualifying leaks or unusually high water use. Requests must be submitted within 90 days of the affected billing period, and approval is not guaranteed.
For certain leaks where water did not enter the sewer system, such as an underground pipe or slab leak, JEA may also require documentation showing that the repair was completed.
Coverage depends on your individual policy and the circumstances of the leak. Some policies may cover resulting water damage while treating the actual plumbing repair differently. If significant damage has occurred, contact your insurance provider to understand what your policy covers before beginning restoration work.
Yes. A pipe beneath the concrete slab can leak without producing visible water inside the home. A higher water bill, warm flooring, changes in water pressure, or unexplained meter movement may appear before visible moisture does.
A water meter can show that water is being used, but it cannot identify the source. Finding the location requires isolating different parts of the plumbing system and using detection methods suited to the type and location of the suspected leak.
PureFlo uses pressure testing, acoustic leak detection, thermal imaging, moisture detection, and electronic pipe tracing to narrow down and pinpoint hidden leaks throughout Jacksonville and Northeast Florida.
If you can’t locate your water meter, contact JEA Customer Care at (904) 665-6000 and ask for help locating your water meter. JEA’s Customer Care team handles residential water service questions.
Once you’ve found the meter, you can use it to check whether water is flowing when everything in your home is turned off.
Yes. A damaged underground irrigation line, valve, or sprinkler component can allow water to escape without creating a problem inside the house. Isolation testing can help determine whether unexplained usage is coming from irrigation or the home’s domestic plumbing.
Yes. A worn flapper or faulty fill valve can allow water to continuously pass from the tank into the bowl. Because the water flows directly into the drain, the problem can remain unnoticed without ever creating water on the bathroom floor.
If your normal water use has not changed, the meter continues moving when everything is turned off, or you notice other symptoms such as low pressure, warm flooring, unexplained moisture, wet areas in the yard, or running-water sounds, it may be time for professional diagnosis.
JEA may alert you to unusual water usage that may indicate a leak. JEA monitors daily water consumption and can send an email notification when it detects a consistent and significant increase in usage. Customers can also set customized water-usage alerts through their JEA account.
JEA’s newer advanced water meters are being deployed to give customers more detailed information about their water use and help identify leaks earlier.
However, an alert doesn’t tell you exactly where the water is going. If JEA alerts you to unusual usage, or your bill increases without an obvious explanation, PureFlo can help pinpoint the source.
Your JEA water meter is typically located in a covered meter box in the ground near the curb or street, usually close to your property line. Look along the front of your property for a small box that may be marked “Water.”
The meter itself will be inside the box beneath the lid. Depending on your meter type, you may see a digital display, a dial, or a leak indicator.
Our leak detection experts use a full arsenal of specialized tools to locate hidden leaks throughout Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, so you can address the problem before more water, and money, goes down the drain.
