Are you looking to move into a 1 bedroom apartment but can’t figure out how much you will pay in water bills? It is pretty simple; the biggest factor to consider here is how much water you will need to comfortably manage whatever you want to do, from bathing and watering the garden to cooking. After figuring out this, you can begin to estimate how much that will cost you. Here is a simple guide on the estimated average water bill for a 1-bedroom apartment.
How Much Should I Spend On Utilities?
The much you need to spend on utilities depends on several factors, chief among them being where you live. Like water, the cost of other utilities also varies on a state-to-state basis and the areas within a specific state. This is at times due to the geographical location and the cost of living in the particular area. For example, Seattle is the most expensive state to live in, so you’d expect to pay much higher than Washington, which is a bit less expensive.
The second factor is how big your home is and the number of people in your household. The bigger the home and the more the occupants, the more utility bill you will pay. A 1 bedroom apartment with two occupants will have lower bills than a four-bedroom house with eight occupants. Similarly, one person will have lower utility costs than five people.
Another factor that comes into play with utility bills is the season and the climate in your area. Some seasons like the summer and winter want you to maximize the use of your AC system, which translates to higher electricity bills.
With all these factors in play, it would be wise to set aside $400 for your utility bills. Your breakdown is likely to translate into this;
- Water: $70
- Electricity: $117
- Natural gas: $72
- Internet: $60.00
- Cable: $85.00
- Trash: $14.00
These are average figures, so you will have to factor in every variable mentioned above. If you are moving in from a different area, try to ask for the most recent utility bills. It would give you a rough estimate of what to expect. Some property vendors may not be willing to share such information, which should be a red flag; think twice about buying the house.
How Much Is Water Every Month?
The average monthly water bill is about $28.24 for a single adult and about $116 for a small family in the US. The cost is usually in price per 1000 gallons, with the average bill being $11.48 per every 1000 gallons used.
According to The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an average American family uses 300 gallons daily. Or 88 gallons of water per day per person in a household. That means that a household of four uses about 10,500 gallons of water every month.
How Much Should I Budget for Water?
It is essential to determine the precise price of water utilities in your area to get what the 82-gallons per day means for a tenant. You can determine this by looking into the prevailing rates at your municipal water source or company that supplies your apartment with water. While doing this, you must factor in any applicable special rates.
The rates vary depending on various factors like seasons and the number of occupants in every household. One prevalent factor that comes into play before you even consider your consumption rate is the base charge.
For instance, the average water bill for a 1 bedroom apartment with a base charge of $20, maybe $50 if their usage is $30. On the other hand, a 1-bedroom apartment with the same base water charge will pay $70 if their usage is $50 per month.
There are several rate structures, which generally fall into two categories; unmetered and the metered rates. The former calculates a predetermined rate to decide on your household’s rateable values, while the latter bills as per the amount of water you use.
If you are paying the flat rate and feel it is too high for your 1 bedroom apartment, you can always change to the metered options. On average, you need to budget according to the number of people you have in your household. Suppose you have less than four, budget for below 10,500 gallons every month. However, if you have five people, you should raise your budget beyond this.
Gauging Your “WaterSense”
The usage also varies across the country depending on the weather patterns. For example, your water usage will rise if you live in drier areas and seasons. It is so because, in dry conditions, people tend to shift to activities like irrigations to keep outdoor plants healthy; this is not always the case in wetter regions and seasons.
These figures will allow you to estimate the water bill in your 1 bedroom apartment. However, it is essential to note that water costs in the US vary by region, state, and city. That means that the water bill for a 1 bedroom apartment in New York City won’t necessarily be the same as Las Vegas.
Some utilities give data on how your water bills compared to that of your neighbor. With that, you can always see how your usages rank among other users with similarly the same conditions. It can help also help you in keeping up with your “WaterSense.”
Utilities have two ways of doing this; some use bills that compare your consumption to a random selection of your neighbors while having a tiered system.
Why Is My Water Usage So High?
Unusually high water bills mainly result from various causes. Chief among these are leakages, whether it is from the toilets, faucets, or valves. A leaking toilet may waste up to 200 gallons of water every day, which may raise your bills by a significant amount. Leakages may also occur in your outdoor and underground systems, so it is essential to fix these to control your water costs.
Your water softeners may also be a reason for your unusual water bills. Sometimes the regenerate cycle may fail to stop when appropriate, causing many liters to escape down the drain.
The last cause of increased water bills may result from a change in your water usage. You may be having more people than usual in your house or just changing how you water your flowerbed. If you are suspecting an unusual bill, check over these common causes and fix them.
Bottom Line
The average water bill for a 1 bedroom apartment will largely depend on how you use it. The rule of thumb here is that the higher your consumption, the higher you will pay. However, this at times depends on external factors like geographical situation, time of the year, and how well you maintain your plumbing system. The same applies to other utility bills.