Why Is My Pflugerville Water Bill Suddenly So High?
A sudden jump in your water bill, with no change in how you use water, usually means water is escaping somewhere you cannot see. The most common hidden causes are a running toilet, a leaking irrigation line, a break in the main supply line, or a leak under the slab. A simple meter test tells you in about 15 minutes whether water is still moving when everything is off.
Call (512) 877-2924How do you run a water meter test?
Your water meter records every gallon that passes into the house. If it moves while nothing is on, water is leaking somewhere after the meter.
- Turn off every tap, the dishwasher, the washing machine, the ice maker and the irrigation system.
- Find your meter. It is usually in a box near the street or sidewalk.
- Write down the reading, or take a photo. Many meters also have a small leak indicator, often a triangle or star, that spins when water flows.
- Wait 15 minutes without using any water.
- Check the meter again.
If the numbers changed or the indicator is turning, water is leaving your system.
What does the result mean?
| What you see | Likely cause | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Meter still with everything off | No active leak, higher use elsewhere | Check irrigation schedule and billing dates |
| Meter moves slowly | Toilet flapper, dripping fixture, or small slab leak | Check toilets first, then call |
| Meter moves with the house valve closed | Leak in the main line to the house | Call about water line leak detection |
| Meter moves and a floor feels warm | Hot water slab leak | Close the water heater inlet and call |
How do you rule out a toilet leak?
Toilets are the most common source of a quiet leak. Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait 10 minutes without flushing. If color shows up in the bowl, the flapper is leaking. A new flapper is a simple fix, and it may explain the whole bill.
If every toilet passes the dye test and the meter still moves, the leak is likely in a pipe you cannot see.
Why are hidden leaks common in Pflugerville?
Many Pflugerville homes sit on a concrete slab with supply lines set inside or under it. Clay soil in the area swells after rain and shrinks in dry summers, which can put stress on those pipes over time. Homes built in the 1990s and 2000s often have copper lines that can wear where they touch concrete.
A leak under the slab rarely shows up as a puddle. More often you notice the bill first, then a warm spot, damp carpet or the sound of running water.
When should you call?
Call if the meter test shows water moving and you have ruled out toilets and irrigation. Call right away if you also notice a warm floor, damp flooring, or the sound of water with every tap off. Local providers use pressure tests, acoustic listening and thermal cameras to find the exact spot before anything is opened. Learn how that works on our Pflugerville slab leak detection page.
What does a hidden leak look like in a Pflugerville home?
A common case: a family in a 2000s-era home gets a summer bill that is nearly double the month before. They assume it is the sprinklers. They turn irrigation off for a week, run the meter test, and the leak indicator is still turning. Every toilet passes the dye test. A few days later someone notices the hallway tile feels warm near the water heater closet.
That pattern, a high bill first and a warm spot later, is typical of a hot water line leaking under the slab. The water was escaping for weeks before anything showed on the floor.
What other checks can you do before you call?
- Close the house shut-off valve and re-check the meter. If it stops, the leak is inside the house. If it keeps moving, the leak is in the line between the meter and the house.
- Close the cold-water inlet on the water heater. If the meter stops, the leak is likely on the hot side.
- Walk the yard. Look for soft, soggy patches or grass that is greener than the rest along the path of the main line.
- Listen at quiet times. Late at night, a faint hiss near floors or walls can point to a pressurized leak.
Write down what you find. It helps the provider narrow the search faster.
Questions
Can a slab leak raise my water bill?
Yes. Water leaking under the slab still passes through your meter, so it shows up on your bill even though you never see it.
How long should I watch the meter?
About 15 minutes with every fixture off is enough to spot most leaks. A very slow leak can take longer to show.
Should I call my water utility first?
You can ask them to confirm the reading. If the meter test shows water moving, a leak detection provider can find where it is going.
Can irrigation cause a high bill without a leak?
Yes. A new schedule, a stuck zone or a broken sprinkler head can use a lot of water. Turn irrigation off for a week to rule it out.
What if the meter moves only a little?
Even a slow, steady movement means water is going somewhere. Small slab leaks often start this way and grow over time.
Published by Pflugerville Slab Leak Specialists · Last updated: September 2026
Need help now?
Shut off the main valve if water is showing, then call. The phone is answered 24/7.
Call (512) 877-2924