How Much Does a Dripping Faucet Cost Per Month?

A faucet dripping once per second wastes about 3,000 gallons a year, or roughly 250 gallons a month. On most Jefferson Parish water and sewer bills that lands somewhere between $1 and $4 a month for a single slow drip. A faster drip, or a leak on the hot side, costs several times that because you are also paying to heat the water you are pouring down the drain.

So the honest answer is that one slow drip is not going to wreck your budget. The reason we still tell people to fix it is that a drip is rarely just a drip, and the water bill is usually the smallest part of what it costs you.

The math, using your own bill

The EPA puts a one drip per second faucet at more than 3,000 gallons a year. That is enough water for about 180 showers. Divide it out and you get close to 250 gallons a month.

To turn that into dollars, pull out your most recent bill and find your combined water and sewer rate per 1,000 gallons. Then:

• 250 gallons is one quarter of 1,000 gallons.
• So a slow drip costs you about one quarter of your per 1,000 gallon rate, every month.
• At $6 per 1,000 gallons combined, that is about $1.50 a month, or $18 a year.

Most people are surprised the number is that small. Then they look at the rest of the house.

Why the real number is usually higher

The 3,000 gallon figure is for one faucet, dripping slowly, with cold water. Three things push the actual cost up fast.

1. It is almost never one fixture

If a washer has failed on one faucet, the others in the house are the same age and the same water. When we come out for a drip we usually find two or three fixtures on their way out, plus a toilet flapper that is passing water silently. A running toilet can waste 200 gallons a day, which is not a rounding error. That is roughly 6,000 gallons a month from one part that costs a few dollars.

2. Hot water costs more than water

A drip on the hot side means your water heater is running to replace it. You are paying the water rate and the gas or electric rate on the same gallon. A hot side drip can cost three or four times what the same drip costs on the cold side.

3. The drip is a symptom

Faucets drip because a washer, cartridge, or seat has worn out. The same pressure and the same water chemistry are working on everything else in the system. A drip that starts suddenly, or one that gets worse over a few weeks, is worth a look at the supply lines and shutoff valves under that fixture, because those fail the same way and they do not drip politely into a sink when they go.

What actually costs you money

In our experience in Metairie and around Jefferson Parish, the expensive outcomes are not the water. They are:

• Cabinet and floor damage. A drip that lands in the sink is cheap. A drip at the supply connection under the sink soaks the cabinet base, and by the time you see it you are replacing cabinetry, not a washer.
• Staining and mineral buildup. Constant dripping etches sinks and tubs and leaves deposits that do not come off.
• The failure you did not see coming. The same worn parts that cause a drip cause a burst line. That is the call that ruins a weekend.

How to tell if you have a leak you cannot see

You do not need any tools for this.

1. Turn off every fixture in the house. No running dishwasher, no ice maker filling, nothing.
2. Find your water meter and note the reading, or watch the small sweep dial or triangle.
3. Wait two hours without using water.
4. Check the meter again.

If the reading moved, water is going somewhere. If the little triangle or dial is turning while nothing is on, you have an active leak right now. That test catches slab leaks and running toilets that never make a sound.

When to call someone

A single faucet drip is a reasonable thing to try yourself if you are comfortable shutting off the supply and swapping a cartridge. Call us instead if any of these are true:

• The shutoff valve under the fixture does not fully stop the water, or it weeps when you turn it.
• The drip is at a connection or a pipe rather than the spout.
• Your bill jumped and the meter test says water is moving with everything off.
• You see staining, warping, or a musty smell in the cabinet under a fixture.
• It is a commercial property, where a small leak runs 24 hours a day and the sewer charge is calculated on your water use.

Frequently asked questions

Does a dripping faucet increase your water bill?

Yes, but usually by a small amount on its own. A one drip per second faucet adds roughly 250 gallons a month, which is a dollar or two on most residential bills. A noticeable jump in your bill is almost always a running toilet, an irrigation leak, or a line leak rather than a dripping faucet.

Can a leaky faucet cause a high water bill?

A faucet alone rarely explains a large spike. If your bill went up sharply, run the two hour meter test above. A silently running toilet can waste 200 gallons a day, which will show up on a bill in a way a faucet never will.

How much water does a dripping faucet waste per day?

At one drip per second, roughly 8 gallons a day, or about 3,000 gallons a year according to the EPA. A faster drip or a small steady stream can easily be five to ten times that.

Does a dripping tap cost money if it is only cold water?

Yes, though less than a hot water drip. With cold water you pay the water rate and the sewer charge on it. With hot water you also pay to heat every gallon, which is why hot side drips cost several times more.

How much does a plumber charge to fix a leaky faucet?

For a standard residential faucet, most repairs are a single visit and come down to the cartridge or washer plus labor. The cost climbs when the shutoff valve underneath has also failed, because that has to be replaced before the faucet can be worked on safely. We give you the number before we start.

Is it worth fixing a slow drip?

Yes, and not mainly for the water. The part that is failing is cheap right now and expensive after it takes out a cabinet floor or lets go entirely. Fixing a drip is the cheapest plumbing work you will ever pay for.

What is the average cost to fix a leaky faucet?

It depends on the faucet type and whether the valve underneath still works. A cartridge swap on a common brand is straightforward. A seized shutoff, a corroded supply line, or an obsolete faucet with no available parts turns it into a replacement instead of a repair. We will tell you which one you are looking at before any work starts.

Can a general contractor do plumbing work?

In Louisiana, plumbing work requires a licensed plumber. A general contractor can manage a project that includes plumbing, but the plumbing itself has to be performed under a plumbing license. C.T. Traina holds both, which is why we handle mechanical and general contracting work in house rather than subbing the plumbing out.

Dripping faucet in Metairie or the New Orleans area?

C.T. Traina has been handling plumbing, sewer, HVAC, and mechanical work in Jefferson Parish for decades, for homeowners and for commercial buildings. If you have a drip, a bill that does not add up, or a meter that keeps moving with the water off, call us at (504) 833-1164 or send us a message.

Related: Plumbing Repair & Services · Sewer and Drain Cleaning · 24 Hour Emergency Service