Cold water line to hot water heater flipped with upstairs

[UnhappyRenter85]

Hello,
First post, looking for some advice. The water company here came to upgrade the meters and found out that our cold water is switched with the upstairs tenant. What ramifications does this have, will it affect my bill? its supposedly just the cold water line to the hot water heater that is switched. Any help is appreciated! Thank you!

 

[Dj2]

If every apt is on a separate meter, you my friend, are paying your neighbor's hot water bill.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Reach4]

Sure it will affect the water bill. Maybe not a lot. Per your description, you pay for water feeding your neighbor's water heater. Your neighbor pays for water feeding your water heater.

Heating the water usually costs more than the water+sewer bill, but not always. Lowering your water heater temperature setting will save you more money than usual.

 

[hj]

IT also depends on whether the gas, or electric, to the heater is also incorrect.

 

[Ladiesman217]

If every apt is on a separate meter, you my friend, are paying your neighbor's hot water bill.

I doubt that he is paying for the neighbors "hot water bill". The electric or gas is not being used by the neighbor as far as we know.

Water usage going to the water heater(s) will probably even out.

I would shut off the water service valve at the water meter that I am paying for to confirm what water outlets are on that meter. If the neighbors are on his meter, they will get no water when the water is turned off.

Anyhow, notify the landlord about the issue.

 

[Ladiesman217]

IT also depends on whether the gas, or electric, to the heater is also incorrect.

You beat me to it!

 

[UnhappyRenter85]

Thank you so much for all the replies!!!

The thing is, he lives alone and my wife and i live here, so wouldnt they (upstairs) be paying my bill as well? Just like i am paying his? lets say i use more hot water than him, or more water in general, would this work in my advantage? Landlord has known for months and hasnt done anything, and i dont have the money for a service call now, (to a plumber) how would i even begin to get any money back besides taking the landlord to court? I almost feel like its a lost cause. I move in a month but jeez it makes me quite angry. lol.

 

[Reach4]

lets say i use more hot water than him, or more water in general, would this work in my advantage?

Yes.

 

[UnhappyRenter85]

also not sure if this matters, but i ran some water and the numbers changed on both meters.. (one is supposed to be for upstairs)..so this is like "confirmation" that my usage is on his bill as well? (or what does that mean) lol..again thank you everyone so much!!


also @Ladiesman217 how do i confirm that elec and gas to the heater is not mixed up as well? or thats a service tech thing to check?

 

[Reach4]

do i confirm that elec and gas to the heater is not mixed up as well?

You should be able to tell whether your water heater is gas or electric by looking at it.

Turn your water heater (WH) temperature control to vacation mode if you have one, or off if you don't have vacation setting. A couple hours later, confirm that your hot water has cooled down.

Then turn the WH back to its previous setting. Watch to see the effect on your and your neighbor's meters.

I move in a month but jeez it makes me quite angry. lol.

Odds are, you came out ahead. Have your meter billings transferred at the time of the move. Inform the other neighbor if you are not sure he does not already know.

You probably have other things more worth stressing about.

 

[UnhappyRenter85]

oh i see what you mean, yeah its gas. and i feel i might have come out ahead as you mentioned...since its two of us living here. upstairs is aware of the situation, they dont care i guess..and yes i definitely have other more important things to stress about. haha thank you so much again!