Water bill spiked? How to tell if the sprinkler system is the cause
A water bill jump can come from a leak, a stuck valve or a changed schedule. Here is how to check the sprinklers. Repairs start at $95.
Short answer: a jump in the water bill has three usual irrigation causes: a changed schedule, a valve that will not shut off, or a leak in the line. You can check each in a few minutes, starting at the meter. If the sprinklers are the cause, repair on our price list starts at $95.
Start at the meter
Your water meter shows whether water is moving when nothing should be using it.
- Turn everything off. No faucets, no washing machine, no dishwasher, and the sprinkler controller set to off.
- Open the meter box. Look at the meter's flow indicator. Many have a small dial or triangle that spins when water moves.
- If it moves with everything off, water is leaking somewhere between the meter and the house or in the irrigation line.
- Shut the irrigation supply at its own valve if you can find it, then look at the meter again. If it stops, the leak is in the irrigation system.
This quick test tells you whether the problem is the sprinklers, the house plumbing or neither.
Causes on the irrigation side
| Cause | What you may see |
|---|---|
| Schedule changed | Water use is up, but no wet spots |
| Power outage reset the controller | Runs at the wrong hours or too long |
| Valve stuck open | A zone keeps running or stays wet |
| Cracked line | Soggy ground or a small geyser |
| Broken or leaking head | Water pooling around a head |
| Leak at the backflow preventer | Water at the base of the device |
| Rain sensor not working | Sprinklers run in the rain |
Walk the yard
Look for the signs that match.
- Soft ground that is wet when the system is off
- Bright green patches or a patch of unusually fast growth over a leak
- Water bubbling from the ground or running along the curb
- A zone that never seems to stop
- Heads that do not retract fully and keep dribbling
Check the controller. Look at the schedule, the run times and the date and time. After a power flicker, a controller can revert to a default that waters far too much.
Do the math with your schedule
If the system runs every zone on a long program every day, the use adds up fast even without a leak. Compare the program with what the yard needs. Our posts on overwatering and on watering rules help with that. Georgia EPD allows outdoor landscape watering on a permitted public water system only between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m., and a schedule outside those hours is both wasteful and against the rule.
What it costs to fix
Prices on our list:
- Sprinkler repair from $95
- Valve replacement $275 to $1,200, depending on type and size
- Locating a buried valve from $185
- Backflow repair and installation from $800
A leak found early is generally a small repair. A leak that runs for weeks becomes expensive in water alone. The sooner you check, the less the bill grows.
What not to do
- Do not assume the sprinklers are innocent because the yard looks fine. Many leaks run underground for a long time.
- Do not replace parts at random. We find the cause rather than replacing parts until it stops.
- Do not ignore a bill spike hoping it was a one-off.
When it is not the sprinklers
If the meter stops moving with the irrigation supply shut off, the problem is elsewhere: a toilet, a faucet, a water heater or a line to the house. A plumber is the right call then, and we will tell you so.
When to call us
Call when the meter moves with the irrigation supply on and everything else off, when you find a wet spot with no cause, or when a valve will not shut. In the heat, we can often be out the same day. See our irrigation page and pricing, or request a quote.
FAQ
How do I know if my sprinklers are leaking? Check the meter with all water off and the irrigation supply on, then off. If the meter moves only when the irrigation is on, the leak is in the sprinkler system.
Can a stuck valve cause a high bill? Yes. A valve that does not close lets a zone run or leak constantly.
Why did my bill jump after a power outage? A controller can lose its settings and run on a default schedule that waters too much or at the wrong time.
What does a repair cost? Starting at $95 on our price list.
Prices from our price list. Updated October 2026. Watering hours from Georgia EPD (epd.georgia.gov).