If you have ever found yourself at the kitchen sink wishing the water would spray through the faucet with more force or in the shower washing your hair and the water only seems to trickle out of the shower head, your home may be experiencing water pressure problems. Water pressure problems in your home can be quite frustrating. Your faucets may take forever to fill up a sink or tub, your shower head may not give you the strong spray you desire, your dishwasher or wash machine may take much longer to complete a cycle than it should, all of these issues could be indicators of low water pressure. When low water pressure is only affecting one faucet or fixture, it's likely that the problem can be remedied if you just focus on fixing that one fixture. However, there are various broader plumbing issues that can affect your entire homes water system. If your water pressure seems low, then the first thing to do is to narrow down the cause
Is Your Main Water Shut Off Valve Open and Functioning Properly?
On the homeowner side of the water meter (inside the home), there is a main shut-off valve. The shut-off valve is usually located on an outside wall where the main water line enters your home, or sometimes in a utility area like a garage or basement. Often the water supply enters the home near where the water heater is located and the shut-off valve is near the water heater. Make sure this valve is fully open.
- If it is a ball valve with a lever handle, the handle should be parallel to the pipe direction to be fully open.
- If this is a gate valve, make sure the handle is turned fully in the counterclockwise direction.
- As with the water meter valve (the valve belonging to the city outside of your home), this main shut-off valve is sometimes left partially closed after a repair has been done to the system.
If your water pressure has mysteriously lessened after a recent repair, there is a very good chance that the valve hasn't been fully opened again after the repair was completed.
Is The Pressure Regulator Valve In Your Home Working Properly?
Another common cause for home water pressure problems can be the pressure regulator.
- A pressure regulator is a control valve that reduces the input pressure in your plumbing system to a safe level that will not damage your pipes.
- Not all homes have them, but for those that do, a failing pressure regulator can cause a serious upward spike in water pressure and it can also have the opposite effect of a sudden reduction in your water pressure.
Does My Plumbing System Need To Be Replaced?
The most serious of reasons for low water pressure occurs when old plumbing pipes finally become corroded and filled with scales that water can no longer run free anymore. This is especially true of galvanized iron pipes.
- Over the years, as the insides of pipes accumulate buildup, they eventually close off the water flow until it is almost non-existent.
- It is important to note, this reduction in water flow is gradual, you will not notice a drastic reduction of water pressure in your home.
- Over time, the pressure will continue to reduce until water is a bare trickle or less.
- The solution to this water pressure issue is to remove the galvanized piping in the home and have it replaced with copper or plastic water supply piping depending on local plumbing codes.
Since a re-piping of the home is a major plumbing repair that requires a permit it is best to call in a professional Omaha Plumber for this work.
If your home seems to be suffering from low water pressure issues, give your plumber from American Rooter Plumbing a call today.