Symptom · Diagnose & Fix
Water Bill Suddenly Spiked
A sudden, unexplained water bill spike — without a change in how much you're watering — almost always means water is escaping somewhere in the system. The faster you find it, the less it costs you.
Likely causes
What's usually causing this
Underground line break
Pressurized supply lines can develop cracks or full breaks underground, especially after foundation movement, root growth, or unexpected freezes. Water flows continuously into the soil where you can't see it. Sometimes a soggy patch is the only surface clue.
Multiple stuck or leaking valves
When several zone valves develop diaphragm issues at once — common in older systems that haven't been serviced — small continuous leaks compound across the system. Each one alone wouldn't be obvious; together they double the bill.
Broken main supply line
A break in the main line between your meter and the system manifold leaks 24/7, regardless of whether any zone is running. This is the most expensive failure mode by far — and the easiest to confirm with a meter reading test.
Faulty controller scheduling
Less common but easy to miss: the controller starts running zones twice a day after a power outage reset, or a programming error doubles the run time of every cycle. The system is working as instructed — it's just instructed to use too much water.
How we fix it
Our repair approach
Ready to fix it?
Call now — every day this goes unfixed costs you on the next bill.
Same-week diagnostics for irrigation issues in Montgomery County. Call now and we will pencil you in.