concern about soaker hoses

I set up soaker hoses for my beds this year to try to make watering easier this summer. However, our last water bill was crazy high and we are trying to figure out what is causing it. Would running the hoses cause this? I run each bed about an hour, and do this about once a week. There are 6 flower beds and 1 veggie bed which is now done so I am not running that anymore. My neighbor and I split the bill but I don't want to stick her with my costs if indeed they are due to my hoses. The maintenance people will be checking out the place tomorrow as well. Any ideas?

Kim

Sounds like you have a leak or a running toilet somewhere. That amount of time on soaker hoses shouldn't make that big of a difference.

I agree with Tanarae. Compare last years water bill with this years, and the rate you were charged. Look at the usage as you understand it (how much you watered last year compared to this year) and see just HOW MUCH of an increase you have. You might even call the water company and ASK them for advice

You can turn off everything in the house and outside and check your meter to see if it is still turning. If so you have a leak.

Agreed with others. Nope, soaker hoses shouldn't cause your water bill to skyrocket for the amt of beds and time watering you've described (unless of course, you've inadventently left them on to run all night a couple of times or something like that).

The first thing I think I'd do is look at your meter. See if the reading matches up, or is at least in the general neighborhood of the reading reported on your last bill. Then I would start looking at previous bills, and previous year water usage.

"They" do make mistakes, as I found one time when I lived in Ft Worth. They do also occasionally do estimated readings, and are sometimes *way* off base with it for whatever reason. The effect of previous (or current) estimated readings can sometimes cause a jump (up or down) from one bill to the next beyond any jumps caused by increased/decreased usage on your part.

And of course, as others suggested, if you still can't figure it out, turn off everything to see if the meter still runs and/or call the water company and ask for advice.

I think next year I'm switching from soaker hoses to inline drip hoses. Soaker hoses in Texas just don't last long enough.

Kim--
look at the outside faucets, I have 3 of them, and if one is even at a semi-slow drip, it adds on to the water bill

I also think all the muds around here have raised waters bill claiming the electricity they need to pump the water above ground? so it may also just be a sign of the times..
Debbie

Ok everyone...thanks for your input. We have been battling with both the rental company and the water company on this. They came back and blamed my flower beds for it, but my neighbor and I don't think that is the cause. They did check the meter with everything off, and there wasn't a leak (it wasn't running). We got readings for the past four months from the water company, and they were 9000, 10000, 15000, and this past month 18000. And the fishiest thing about it is they told us they replaced the water meter ('scheduled maintenance') on the day of the last reading. But they wouldn't say whether it had a problem or why it was changed out, just that it was scheduled for it. And my neighbor last summer had one of those big blue pools, that you get at Walmart that has the pump and all. She filled that thing up twice in one month, and my water bill only went up $3. I can't believe the soaker hoses would double the bill when that didn't hardly budge it. Regardless, I have decided to quit using the soaker hoses to see if that changes the usage drastically. Unfortunately I have already ran them some this past month but only 4 times. I'm just going to use the hose to spray things that look wilted to try and keep them alive. What I wouldn't do for some rain right now, and of course none in sight. I don't know what else I can do for watering here if soaker hoses won't work. How much expense is involved with inline drip hoses? I am also going to check the meter myself to keep track of usage. What a hassle!

Kim

I use a drip system in all of my beds--I water everything but the grass that way (including hanging pots and all that stuff). The initial cost is a bit high. But once you have installed one and learn what you're doing, there are ways to add on to it without spending so much.

For me, the timers are the biggest expense. But of course you don't have to use timers.

Kim--just as a point of comparison--I had a new resident move in with us in April. She added a lot to the water bill. Besides the 25% increase in showers, she does laundry and runs the dishwasher a lot more often than I do. But even with all that, my water bill still only went up $25. I can't imagine that soaker hoses are causing that. Unless you're running them overnight, every day, or something like that. If you are, a drip system would help you out a lot.

I only run the hoses once a week at the most. That is what doesn't make any sense. If there isn't a leak, and the hoses aren't the cause, then what else could it be? At this point I am left wondering if something was wrong with the water meter and that is why they replaced it, but they wouldn't tell us that even if that was it I'm sure. I'm ok with my water bill even doubling, it was only $30, but my neighbor has more residents in the house (her kids) so it made hers $90. And I know she can't afford that. I think my only choice for next year is to plant more drought tolerant plants and take out the tropicals and annuals. I'm on a fixed budget and I rent. The whole thing is just so frustrating.

Kim

My water bill was 175.00 last month and it usually run about 100.00. I am thinking to many PSI's because the water was running all into the neighbor's yard and down the back alley. So I cut it back to thirty minutes instead of an hour, now the Acanthus is drying up. Actually 50 % of my water bill is not for water, its sewage, garbage pick up and a few more other things. What a rip off!

This message was edited Jul 30, 2008 10:49 AM

Kim
From your description above it doesn't sound like soaker hoses are the problem. My issue with them is that they rot and break in our weather. But if yours are working correctly they should cause a rise in water usage on that scale.

Here is a link to in line drip tubing.

http://www.dripworksusa.com/store/emitubing.php

What kind do you have Siggy? I would like to change my soaker hose system since there are always holes developing.