How Sacramento Sewer Bill Can Clue You In On Plumbing Issues
There’s an old expression about a canary in a coal mine that refers to knowing the sign that danger’s present. You see, coal miners have a long history of keeping a canary in a cage as a signal that they had reached an area where they could potentially be suffocated by dangerous gasses, like methane or carbon monoxide, since these gases affect the canary long before they became dangerous to humans.
Whether you’ve heard this expression before or not, I think it makes for a nice connection to what I want to talk about today, which is how your Sacramento sewer bill can clue you in on potential residential plumbing problems. A higher than usual sewer bill can be your canary in a coal mine when it comes to problems with your pipes, provided you’re keeping a close eye on it. So, with that in mind, we’re going to take a look at what it means when a sewer bill inexplicably skyrockets, what kind of plumbing problems it might signify, and what you as a homeowner can do if you notice even a slight increase.
A higher than usual sewer bill can be your canary in a coal mine when it comes to problems with your pipes, provided you’re keeping a close eye on it.
The first warning signs of sewer trouble are often unseen and under the ground. In other words, it’s hard to tell if there’s an issue. But if you know how to keep an eye on your Sacramento sewer bill, you’ll have a real advantage when it comes to taking care of problems before they get out of hand.
How to Read Your Sacramento Sewer Bill Costs
The thing about having some version of a canary in a coal mine as a warning system is that you need to know what that “canary” is so that you can keep an eye on it—otherwise, it can’t exactly help you. Your Sacramento sewer bill is that canary. It’s a small cost, so it’s one that I think a lot of folks have a tendency to just glance at and move on. It’s important, though, for you to know where—and what—it is.
In Sacramento, it’s an added cost that appears on your water bill.
Put simply, your Sacramento sewer bill is the cost you pay for your home to use the city provided sewers. It pays for the wastewater taken away from your home. In Sacramento, it’s an added cost that appears on your water bill.
The exact amount of your sewer bill will vary depending on the size of your home and the amount of water you use. You should get familiar with it is by looking back at your records to get a general idea of how much your own Sacramento sewer bill costs, on average, on a monthly basis. That way you’ll be sure to notice if it starts rising.
What a Rising Sacramento Sewer Bill Might Mean
While a dead canary in a coal mine means that there’s hazardous gas and all the miners should hurry up and get out, a rising Sacramento sewer bill is a bit more nuanced. Besides, you can’t very well go sprinting out of your home, now can you?
…a rising sewer bill can mean a leak in your sewer system, one that can lead to worse problems like flooding outside your home, burst pipes, or a dreaded sewage backup.
A rising sewer bill indicates that there has been a steep increase in water consumption within your house. This increase might very well be innocent. I recently had some house guests at my place, and their increased water consumption drove my own sewer bill up. No big deal. What is a big deal, however, is that a rising sewer bill can mean a leak in your sewer system, one that can lead to worse problems like flooding outside your home, burst pipes, or a dreaded sewage backup.
How to Respond to a Rising Sacramento Sewer Bill
The good news is, responding to a rising Sacramento sewer bill is a pretty simple matter. My strongest recommendation is for you to call a trained and experienced residential plumber. Chances are they can give your home a free estimate and inspection, one that involves thoroughly checking your plumbing and your pipes for any signs of trouble. There are many reasons that pipes rupture or burst, including the ground in your yard shifting around after major rains or a tree root slowly forcing its way into a pipe. An experienced plumber can help you identify the issue, and then get started fixing it.
Another thing you’ll want to talk to a professional plumber about is making other changes to your home that up your water efficiency. Home upgrades like tankless water heaters and new fixtures can really save on water, which in turn saves on your sewer bill. A good plumber in our area will also be able to tell you about the many home energy efficiency financing options in California that can help you pay for those tweaks, like HERO, PACE, CaliforniaFIRST, SMUD, and Ygrene.
So, there you have it: your very own canary in a coal mine for sewage and plumbing problems. Now you know how to monitor your Sacramento sewer bill, as well as how to use it as a safeguard against surprising underground plumbing issues. Believe me, you’ll be a better and more responsible homeowner for it.
You also know that, if trouble arises, it’s important to contact a professional plumber like the team here at Bell Brothers. We can come out to your home ASAP to check for an issue, as well as to give you an estimate on the work it would take to fix it. We have years of experience working with the home energy efficiency financing programs in our area, and we’d be happy to share that expertise with you, too!
Contact the plumbing professionals at Bell Brothers to learn more about what to do when you notice an increase in your own Sacramento sewer bill. Our residential plumbing experts can also offer recommendations that are sure to increase your year-round efficiency—and decrease your water bills.
Wondering how to finance a new HVAC system, windows, or plumbing project? HERO is a unique financing option that helps California homeowners afford energy efficient upgrades to their home. Contact Bell Brothers, a HERO-approved contractor, to learn more. Our local HVAC, plumbing, and window specialists will walk you through the entire process, from applications to installation.
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