Whether it’s the water dribbling out of your shower, the sink which doesn’t have enough water to wash your hands, or the washing machine which doesn’t get enough water to do a full load of wash, low water pressure issues in your home can quickly escalate from being just a nuisance to a full-blown plumbing emergency. If you do have problems with low water pressure inside your home, here are a few ways to troubleshoot and potentially fix the issues.
Is Water Pressure Low Throughout Your Home or in a Single Area?
If the issue is present throughout your home, ask your neighbors if they’re experiencing the same issues with low water pressure. Sometimes, low water pressure is a “geographic issue” present in all of the homes in an area, and there is nothing wrong with your home. If your neighbors are having the same issues and it is a geographic issue, then a water pressure booster pumps should be able to help.
If it is just your home, then find your water meter/main, or wherever the water enters your home. Follow the water line to your hot water heater looking for any valve which may not be “fully” open (check each one to make sure they are completely open.) After geographic issues, obstructions inside of your water pipes are one of the next most common causes, with close valves being the easiest to search for and fix. Also, look for pipes that are kinked, bent, or that show other signs of damage.
If the low water pressure issue is limited to one specific area of your home, such as a bathroom or kitchen sink, check under the sink to make sure the valves are fully open. If they’re fully open, remove the faucet aerator/cartridge (where the water actually comes out). If the water pressure improves, then this part is likely clogged with sediment or other particulates.
Do You Have Low Water Pressure All Day or Just a Few Hours at a Time?
If you experience low water pressure consistently throughout the day and you’ve followed all of the steps above, then it may be that the water pipes throughout your home are too small. You can frequently find this in older homes which have had multiple additions over the years or in homes which were “flipped” by the previous homeowners. You may also have a leak somewhere that requires an inspection. Fixing these issue will likely require a licensed and professional plumber.
Alternatively, if the low water pressure only occurs once or twice throughout the day, the likely cause may be an issue of “peak time usage.” Peak time usage describes the periods of the day when you’re trying to use many of your home’s appliances at the same time. Does your morning look like this: one person is trying to shower, another person is running the washing machine to get his or her lucky shirt clean, while another is running the dishwasher to finish cleaning last night’s dinner, and the kids are . . . wait, where are the kids? You may have surpassed what your home’s plumbing system can handle. If this is the cause of your low water pressure, then call a licensed, professional plumber, or create a “water usage plan” to ensure that your home’s water supply is better spread out across the whole day.
Having inspected and diagnosed plumbing systems in households of all sizes throughout NJ, PA, and DE since 1948, our licensed plumbers understand what could be causing the decline in your water pressure and what you can do to resolve it. Trust our licensed, professional plumbers to provide you and your family with an “expertly better” experience. Book a service online today!