Reading Your Water Usage Charts

Learn how to navigate water usage charts, understand daily totals, and compare your consumption patterns.

Understanding Your Charts

The PlumBuddy app includes water usage charts that show your consumption patterns across different time periods. These charts help you understand how much water your household uses, when you use it, and whether your usage is changing over time.

Day View

The Day view shows your water usage from midnight to midnight for the selected day. Each bar represents one hour of usage. If you are viewing today, hours that have not happened yet appear as empty slots.

The Daily Total

The gallon total shown at the top of the Day view represents your total water usage for the calendar day (12:00 AM to 11:59 PM). This is the number you can compare against your water bill to track costs.

Daily Comparison

Below the total, you will see a comparison percentage that shows how today compares to the same hours yesterday. For example, at 3 PM, it compares your usage from midnight to 3 PM today versus midnight to 3 PM yesterday. This gives you an accurate, apples-to-apples comparison at any time of day.

Trend Indicators

  • A green down arrow means you used less water than the comparison period.
  • A red up arrow means you used more water.
  • If usage is about the same (within 1%), no trend is shown.

These indicators help you spot changes quickly. A sudden spike compared to yesterday might mean a toilet is running or a faucet was left on.

The charts support touch gestures that make it easy to explore your data in detail.

Zoom In for Detail

Pinch with two fingers to zoom into a specific time range. The chart automatically adjusts to show your data clearly at any zoom level. Bars become wider and easier to tap when zoomed in, making it simpler to see exactly how much water was used during a specific hour.

Swipe left or right to scroll through time while zoomed in. This is useful for comparing one part of the day to another, or for scrolling through a week’s data one day at a time.

Reset the View

Double-tap the chart or tap the zoom indicator badge in the corner to return to the full view. This instantly brings you back to the default zoom level.

See Exact Values

Tap and hold any bar to see the exact usage amount and time period. A tooltip will appear showing the precise gallon count for that bar. While holding, drag across bars to compare values side by side.

Week, Month, and Year Views

In addition to the Day view, PlumBuddy offers broader time views to help you understand long-term trends.

Week View

Shows seven days of usage with one bar per day. Good for spotting which days of the week have the highest consumption. Many households use more water on weekends when everyone is home.

Month View

Shows approximately 30 days of usage. Useful for tracking your overall consumption against your utility billing cycle.

Year View

Shows 12 months of usage. Helps you see seasonal patterns. Most households use more water in summer months due to irrigation, pools, and more frequent bathing.

Practical Tips for Using Your Charts

  • Set a weekly check-in. Look at your Week view every Sunday to see how your usage compared to the previous week. Consistent increases might indicate a slow leak developing.
  • Use the comparison feature. If your daily total shows a red up arrow day after day, investigate. You might have a running toilet, a dripping faucet, or irrigation that is running longer than intended.
  • Check after vacation. When you come home from a trip, look at your charts for the days you were away. You should see near-zero usage. Any significant consumption while nobody was home could mean a leak.
  • Track the impact of changes. If you install a low-flow showerhead or fix a leak, check your charts the following week to see the difference in consumption.