Water Usage (by Ryan S. [PA]) Jun 16, 2011 11:00 AM
Water Usage (by RR [WA]) Jun 16, 2011 11:20 AM
Water Usage (by Steve [MA]) Jun 16, 2011 2:04 PM
Water Usage (by Reid [KS]) Jun 16, 2011 2:32 PM
Water Usage (by Peter [NY]) Jun 16, 2011 3:55 PM
Water Usage (by Robert,Ontario,Canada [ON]) Jun 16, 2011 5:28 PM
Water Usage (by proofstyle [PA]) Jun 16, 2011 6:18 PM
Water Usage (by billy [MA]) Jun 17, 2011 6:30 AM
Water Usage (by Tom [IN]) Jun 17, 2011 10:47 AM
Water Usage (by Ryan S. [PA]) Posted on: Jun 16, 2011 11:00 AM Message:
One of my properties had a huge increase in water usage. Suddenly, water use has increased to 40,000 gal./quarter, from under 12,500/quar. (for the previous six quarters) However, we also experienced an increase from one to three tenants. So, the usage increased by 223% while the tenants increased by 200%.
I see the correlation, but doesn't 40,000 gallons seem like a lot for three people in one quarter? And the follow-up is...do I have any recourse to increase rents in the middle of a lease term based on these expenses or am I stuck only to consider this a learning experience?
Finally, can anyone suggest any stock verbiage (legal in PA) that I can add to my leases moving forward to give me flexibility? Something to the effect of, "...any or all terms of this lease are subject to change with thirty (30) days written notice..." Any help is apreciated.
--66.246.xxx.xx |
Water Usage (by RR [WA]) Posted on: Jun 16, 2011 11:20 AM Message:
It's definitely at the high end of normal use at 148 gals/person/day - while normal would be around 100gals/person/day or less. Did you check for water leaks or running toilets? Watch the meter when no water is in use, and see if the leak indicator spins. Or, maybe one of your new tenants likes to take 3 baths each day.
--76.22.xxx.xxx |
Water Usage (by Steve [MA]) Posted on: Jun 16, 2011 2:04 PM Message:
A running toilet could cause that kind of increase. You should also check all of the faucets as well as the shower / tub valve to insure that they open & close properly. I've switched all of the handles on my faucets to lever style. I find that little kids & elderly people are better able to shut off a lever style handle.
Have they recently installed a clothes washer, kiddie pool, water slide, sprinkler a garden or been washing cars?
Was the previous lower bill an estimate or actual usage?
--72.85.xxx.xx |
Water Usage (by Reid [KS]) Posted on: Jun 16, 2011 2:32 PM Message:
We used 4000 gals last month and I thought that was high . Three people shouldn't be using 40,000 Gallons a month --99.117.xxx.xxx |
Water Usage (by Peter [NY]) Posted on: Jun 16, 2011 3:55 PM Message:
15,000 gallons 5000 per person per quarter. --96.238.xxx.xx |
Water Usage (by Robert,Ontario,Canada [ON]) Posted on: Jun 16, 2011 5:28 PM Message:
Change all the fill valves on the toilets to the fluidmaster 400 LS leak sentry fill valve. The leaking toilet will not refill as the leak sentry fill valve will stop the water going into the tank. The flapper valves can be changed on the toilets as well. Top load washing machines use 40 per cent more water then a front load machine. Check all the faucets for leaks as well. In most of the units in the apartment building using washerless faucets where some buildings have completely washerless faucets where there is one cartridge. Single handle faucets use one cartridge. Washer faucets often leak or are not turned off completely. It would be a good time to change the shower heads to low flow and install low aerators on the faucets as well. The best time is when a tenant moves out. The price is dropping for low flow toilets where now it is possible to buy a toilet which uses 4.8 liters per flush instead of the old 20 liter per flush toilets. For a imperial gallon there are 4.54 liters. Often the cost of replacing the toilets to low flow will be recovered in one to two years. The performance for low flush is good as well which is 1000 grams per flush. --74.220.xxx.xxx |
Water Usage (by proofstyle [PA]) Posted on: Jun 16, 2011 6:18 PM Message:
You are stuck with the current lease until it expires. A "utilities allowance" could be spelled out in the next one. Quarterly billing cycle will be a challenge. --69.136.xx.xx |
Water Usage (by billy [MA]) Posted on: Jun 17, 2011 6:30 AM Message:
someone could be using a kiddie pool and changing water daily or washing cars as a business or running a laundry service for neighbors.all these were found by section8bible.com guys in their section 8 apts.check everything as suggested above.i had one section 8 with a running faucet at about hslf of total volume but she never told me.we finally evicted her .she was bad.the baddest. --173.162.xxx.xxx |
Water Usage (by Tom [IN]) Posted on: Jun 17, 2011 10:47 AM Message:
Had a duplex where the water bill ran $150 per month minimum. Way too high. Finally had the water line to house break, had to dig it up to repair. Had the city install two meters, and I split the water lines between the two units. Both leases informed the tenants up front that separate meters would be installed in the future, and that they would then be paying their own bills. I tracked the water bills for those two unit for about 5 years. They never totaled up to $100 again. Will never again own a house where *I* pay the water bill, or any other utility. --67.177.xx.xxx |
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