High water bill: usage first
Start with how much water you used, not how much you owe. PUB's meter reading guide says unusual spikes in water usage, or the meter dial moving when water is not in use, might suggest a leak.
Compare the usage in cubic metres on your latest bill with the few bills before it, not the dollar total. The cubic metres show whether you really used more water. If they have jumped and nothing at home explains it, check for a leak with the meter test below before you call anyone.
Read the meter and your usage history
Before you work out what made your SP water bill high, make sure you are reading the right meter. PUB's meter reading guide says the meter for a flat is along the common corridor near the unit entrance, either exposed or in a utility duct, or at the staircase landing below the unit. For a landed home, it is near the gatepost or entrance, in a utility duct. Check that the meter number matches the one in the SP Utilities app.
PUB's guide also explains how to read it. Go through the digits from left to right: black or white digits are whole numbers and red digits are decimals. Usage is in cubic metres, and you take the reading to the first decimal place.
To check for a leak, use the meter test from PUB's tips on finding leaks. Pick a time when no one at home needs water.
- Turn off all water use. Close every tap and switch off any appliance that uses water.
- Read the meter. Note the reading to the first decimal place.
- Wait at least 10 minutes. Do not use any water while you wait.
- Read the meter again. If the dial has moved, there is a leak. If it has not, compare your usage with earlier bills.
Leaks that hide: cisterns and taps
PUB's tips on finding leaks say a leaking flushing cistern can lose more than 10 litres of water an hour, and a leaking tap up to 2 litres an hour.
To test a cistern, use the leak detection tablet test on PUB's water saving items page. Drop one tablet into the cistern tank, put the lid back and wait 10 to 20 minutes without flushing, then check the bowl. If the water in the bowl turns blue, there is a leak, and PUB says to call a licensed plumber to fix or replace the flushing cistern. Water streaks entering the bowl, or a ripple in the bowl water, are other signs.
Beyond the toilet, PUB's leak tips list these signs: water running or constant dripping at night when no appliances are in use; mould, discolouration or peeling paint on walls, floors or ceilings; and foul odours in an area with no other obvious source. Under the sink, look for drips, water stains, mould or peeling material.
If the cistern fails, see our guide for when the toilet keeps running. For a dripping tap, see the leaking tap fix guide.
Usage changes
If the meter stays still with everything off, the test shows no leak, and the rise is in usage. Compare the cubic metres on your latest bill with the same months before, not only with the last bill. A water bill increase without a leak behind it reflects water used at home, so think back over the billing period. Did more people stay with you? Did laundry, cleaning or shower habits change? If the figure still looks wrong, repeat the meter test at a different time of day.
Finding and fixing a hidden leak
If the meter moves but you cannot find the leak, it may be in a concealed pipe. PUB's leak tips say to always engage a licensed plumber who is qualified to detect and repair leaks. PUB's Plumbing Works page says repairing water pipes is regulated work that must be done by a PUB Licensed Plumber. Finding and repairing a leak are priced as separate lines.
FROM THE HOMEZYPRO DIRECTORY
Published leak detection rates
For the most common unit (per job), the lowest published leak detection rates from 3 companies run from S$100 to S$250 per job (middle rate S$120), to find a concealed leak, before any repair. The middle figure is a real published rate, not an average. Each figure is one company's own advertised rate with its conditions, not a quote.
See 4 published leak detection rates and sources
| Company | Service as listed | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| NILE Plumbing | Inspection (Leakage/Hammering) | From S$60 per visit | nileplumbingsg.com |
| Crizto Singapore Pte Ltd | Leak Detection - Apartment / Condo / HDB | S$100 per job | crizto.com |
| Home Plumbers Singapore | Detect concealed-pipe leakage in an HDB flat or condominium | From S$120 per job | homeplumbers.com.sg |
| Kiasu Plumber | Detection of water leakage in concealed pipes | From S$250 per job | kiasuplumber.com |
Of the 4 companies that publish a leak detection line, 3 price it per job: S$100 to S$250 per job, with S$120 in the middle (the middle company's own published rate, not an average). The scope as printed is finding a concealed leak, before any repair. The fourth prints "Inspection (Leakage/Hammering)" from S$60 per visit. See the leak detection cost guide for more.
FROM THE HOMEZYPRO DIRECTORY
Published leak repair rates
For the most common unit (per job), the lowest published leak repair rates from 11 companies run from S$80 to S$250 per job (middle rate S$80), to repair one leak at an exposed pipe or fitting. The middle figure is a real published rate, not an average.
See 11 published leak repair rates and sources
| Company | Service as listed | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Plumbing | Fix leaking tap or faucet | From S$80 per job | allplumbing.sg |
| AquaHero Plumbing | Repair Leaking Copper/UPVC Pipe | S$80 per job | aquahero-plumbing.sg |
| GD Plumbing | Repair toilet bowl leaking | From S$80 per job | gdplumbing.com.sg |
| Huat Plumbing | Water Leak Repair | From S$80 per job | huatplumbing.sg |
| Prima Technologies Pte. Ltd. (Prima Services) | Water Leak Repair | From S$80 per job | primaservices.sg |
| SG1 Plumber Singapore | Leak Copper Pipe Repair (Labor) | S$80 per job | sg1plumber.com |
| Sk Plumber | Stop leaks at the source - copper or UPVC exposed piping | From S$125 per job | sksplumber.com |
| SR Power Plumber Pte. Ltd. | Repair leak at exposed copper pipe or UPVC pipe (labour & material) | From S$190 per job | srpowerplumber.com |
| Ace Plumbing Specialist | Labour & material to repair leak at exposed copper or uPVC pipe | From S$230 per job | aceplumbing.sg |
| Best Plumbing | Labor & material to repair leak at exposed copper pipe or Upvc pipe | From S$250 per job | bestplumbing.com.sg |
| Summer Plumbing Service | Labor & material to repair leak at exposed copper pipe or Upvc pipe | From S$250 per job | sgplumbing.com.sg |
For the repair, 11 companies publish a leak repair line, all per job: S$80 to S$250 per job, with S$80 in the middle (the middle company's own published rate, not an average). The scope as printed is one leak at an exposed pipe or fitting, so ask how a leak inside a wall would be priced. Compare companies on the leak repair page.
NEXT STEP
See plumbing companies in the directory with their published prices, the areas they say they cover and their sources.
Compare plumbersWhen to stop and call a professional
Call a licensed plumber when:
- The meter moves with every tap and appliance off.
- You see water stains or peeling paint you cannot trace.
- A cistern keeps running after a simple check.
- You suspect a leak inside a wall.
Compare plumbing costs or browse plumbing companies with their published prices.
Questions
Can a leaking toilet raise the water bill a lot?
Yes. PUB's tips on finding leaks say a leaking flushing cistern can lose more than 10 litres of water an hour. A quiet leak can run for a whole billing period before you notice, so check the cistern first when your usage jumps.
Where is the water meter for an HDB flat?
Along the common corridor near your unit entrance, or at the staircase landing below your unit, PUB's meter reading guide says. A corridor meter may be exposed or in a utility duct. Check that the meter number matches the one in the SP Utilities app.
How do I submit my own meter reading?
Use the SP Utilities app. PUB's meter reading guide says readings can be submitted there. First check that the meter number matches the one in the app, then read the digits left to right and give the reading in cubic metres to the first decimal place.
Can I use food colouring instead of a leak tablet?
Yes. PUB's tips on finding leaks list both: put food colouring or a leak detection tablet in the cistern and watch the bowl for coloured water. Do not flush while you wait. If colour shows in the bowl, the cistern is leaking, and a licensed plumber can fix or replace it.
Should I check the meter before calling a plumber?
Yes. Turn off everything that uses water, read the meter, wait at least 10 minutes and read it again. PUB's tips on finding leaks say that if the dial moves, there is a leak. Tell the plumber what you found.
Can a hidden leak damage my flat?
Yes, it can. PUB's tips on finding leaks say prolonged leaks lead to high water bills and water wastage, and may cause damage to your property. Watch for mould, discolouration or peeling paint on walls, floors or ceilings, and call a licensed plumber if you see them.
Prices come only from the sourced company rates in the HomezyPro directory, shown with each company and its source.
Practical guidance for planning a home job in Singapore. Company prices come from the HomezyPro directory, each linked to its source; rules and safety points link to the agency or manufacturer that sets them. This is not a site inspection, a quote or professional advice for your home.
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