Low water pressure in your home can be terribly inconvenient, especially when it comes to things like washing dishes or showering. Turning on the faucet only to be met with a pitiful drip is frustrating and a problem homeowners shouldn’t be expected to put up with. Most homeowners might not know where to start when it comes to identifying the cause or solution for low water pressure and will frantically google “low water pressure in house” to search for answers. If that’s you, you’ve come to the right place. In today’s article, we will go over what might be causing your low water pressure problem as well as give you some solutions that can help you get your home’s water pressure back to where it should be.
In some cases, the problem could be with the city water supply. This is an important thing to consider before you start to try to fix the issue yourself. It is a good idea to talk to your neighbors and see if they are experiencing the same problems with low water pressure or call your water supplier to inquire about any issues with the city’s municipal water system.
If your house relies on a well pump rather than a city water supply, a possible problem may be that the type of well pump might not be right for the well you have. There are also many different types of pumps that require regular maintenance in order to continue operating efficiently for the water in your home.
One common problem that can restrict water flow to the entire house and cause low water pressure is your water shutoff valve not being fully opened. This is something that might happen after routine plumbing repairs or maintenance are performed, or you’ve had a plumbing emergency where the main valve has had to close. There is a shutoff valve that should be located between the water main and your home’s pipes. This main water valve is typically located either in your yard or in your house and should be turned either parallel to the pipe if it is a lever or, if it is like a hose handle, turned all the way counterclockwise.
There is also the water meter valve, which could be causing water pressure problems if the shutoff valve attached to it is open. This water meter valve will be more difficult to access because they are typically located underground. You can check it if yours is in a more accessible location, but unless you have had underground plumbing work done, it is most likely not the culprit. If low water pressure has begun after underground work has been completed, you should call your water company.
The pressure regulator, also called the pressure-reducing valve, is meant to regulate pressure coming from the water that is let in from the water supply line. If this water pressure regulator malfunctions, it can negatively impact water pressure in your plumbing system. If you do have a pressure-reducing valve, you can test it with a water pressure gauge. Attach the water pressure gauge to the hose spigot or outdoor faucet closest to the regulator and turn the water on. Compare the two readings. If the meter reading from the pressure valve controls is lower than the gauge, the valve is faulty. You can adjust or replace it on your own or call a professional plumber to quickly handle the job for you.
To adjust the pressure regulator, locate the adjustment screw on top of the valve, then turn the bolt clockwise slowly in order to increase the pressure, running a new test after each turn.
You can attach a pressure gauge to a hose bib to test the water pressure in your home at any time. The typical water pressure range that is ideal for most homes is between 30 and 80 pounds per square inch.
It is possible you might be experiencing low water pressure due to a buildup in your pipes. Clogs that build in your pipes can limit the water that is able to get to your plumbing fixtures. If you suspect a clog somewhere in your pipes, calling a master plumber is the best option, since you won’t know exactly where in the pipes the clog is located, whereas plumbers have special technology to find blockages in the system. You also want to make sure the pipes that deliver things like your drinking water are handled safely and expertly.
Clogs can also be within fixtures such as shower heads or faucets. You can try to fix this by taking a vinegar solution and placing it in a durable plastic bag that you can tie over the faucet or shower head. Leave it to soak overnight, then remove the bag from the shower head or faucet the next morning. This may dissolve the clogs in your system’s exit points and increase pressure in your water supply.
Any pipes, from galvanized steel pipes to copper pipes, will all begin to corrode after a certain amount of time. This is something to keep in mind if you have an older house and your household water supply has low pressure. Putting in additional plumbing fixtures will also make pipes corrode faster. You can’t see corrosion in the pipes, which is why it is good to keep in mind how old your house is and how old the pipes might be. Then, you can have a plumber come out to investigate if you are having water pressure issues and you know the pipes are older.
Even the smallest leak in your plumbing system can lead to faulty water pressure. The water is being misdirected so that, even with every plumbing fixture working correctly, you are not getting the full flow of water. Take a look around your pipes if you are able to and see if there are any wet spots to figure out where the damaged pipes are else you can get a plumbing leak detection service. If you find the leak, you can temporarily mend it with something like a patch of rubber before calling for plumbing services to repair the leak. If it is severe enough, you may need pipe replacement.
If you have a water filtration system in your plumbing, you may want to check the filters to make sure that they haven’t grown too old and can’t allow as much water to pass through. Filters should be replaced regularly to allow a strong flow rate.
When air gets stuck in your pipes, you might hear knocking noises in the pipes and walls, in which case it will be best to flush out your system. You can remedy this by turning on the hot and cold water in small amounts on each faucet in the house, starting at the lowest floor if you have a multiple-story home and moving up as you go until all the faucets are running. Let the water run for roughly two minutes, then turn them all off in the reverse direction. After waiting for about fifteen minutes, check to see if you have good pressure now.
If you are noticing problems with low water pressure only in a small number of fixtures, it might be that there is an issue with those specific appliances, such as sediment buildup. If you have low water pressure in a fixture such as the kitchen or bathroom sink, it might be because of a more severe mineral clog inside the faucet. You can check mineral buildup by looking at the faucet aerators and seeing if the holes are blocked by mineral deposits. If a plumbing fixture is of a certain age and continues to have problems, it might be better to just replace it.
It’s also a good idea to compare your cold and hot water pressure to see if you have a water heater problem. If the hot water is the only water with the reduced pressure, there may be an issue with your water heater. Water heaters can become corroded or perhaps be unable to keep up with the demand of water flow in your home, meaning you might have to look into a replacement water heater.
One method to try to improve your home’s water pressure is to look into installing a water pressure booster pump, a device that can increase water pressure in your plumbing. This is a job that will require assistance from a plumbing company since they will need to perform an assessment of your home in order to determine the best-sized water pressure booster pump. There may be other pieces you may have to install along with the water pressure booster, such as a pressure tank, to ensure it works at peak performance.
The best thing to do when it comes to low water pressure is to go through the list of possible causes. Check with your neighbors and with your water company first. Check the shutoff valves and test your water pressure. Look for hidden leaks in your pipes and listen for if there might be trapped air. Replace the filters in your water filtration system and check individual fixtures for restricted flow. If nothing else works, call a plumber to come investigate for possible pipe corrosion or blockage problems.
John Owens Services is a reliable plumbing firm ready to assist with any water pressure problems in your home. Our plumbers have the tools and technology to discover the source of your water pressure issue and remedy the problem so that your water is freely flowing at an acceptable pressure for all of your water-using appliances. You can get in touch with us by phone or online to schedule our top-rated water pressure services.
Our philosophy is simple, we always want to maintain equipment to give it the longest life possible. Next, we want to focus on repairing when something goes wrong. Then only as the last choice, we replace equipment when needed. That’s the John Owens Way.
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