What Causes Low Water Pressure and How You Can Diagnose the Issue

We’ve all experienced issues with clog drains and old underground pipes that need replacing. But now you are noticing that something’s wrong with the water coming out of your faucets and showerhead. You are no longer receiving adequate water pressure, which can be very concerning because you are not exactly sure what’s causing the issue.

When you factor in running the dishwasher, flushing the toilets, and showering, the average American household uses over 300 gallons of water in a day. We sometimes take for granted how important it is to have reliable access to a clean and healthy supply of water. When we experience a decrease in water pressure, most of us don’t know where to begin to determine what’s causing it. However, there are ways in which you can diagnose the problem.

Here are several diagnostic procedures you can undergo by yourself:

• High Demand on Your Water Supply: Using more than one plumbing fixture at the same time can create too much demand on your home water supply, thus lowering your water pressure. You may require a little extra coordination from the other people in your household if you want optimal water pressure at all times.
• Faulty Plumbing: The plumbing fixtures in your home, whether it be your showerhead or dishwasher, can become defective over time. In many cases, you can clean everything out and that should solve the issue, but there’s also a chance that you may need to replace the fixture entirely.
• Broken Pressure Regulator: The regulators are responsible for stabilizing the water pressure throughout your home. You can always adjust your water pressure according to your desired range. When the regulator stops working, then your water pressure can go extremely high or low.
• Closed Valves: There valves inside your home that will shut off your water supply altogether. If you discover that one of these valves isn’t fully open, then it can limit the water pressure throughout your home.
• Clogged Pipes: Usually a clogged pipe occurs in your drain or sewer lines, but your main water line is also susceptible to clogs. When the flow of incoming water is disrupted, then this can affect your water pressure throughout your entire home.
• Old and Corroded Plumbing: You can easily repair a clog by removing the waste material that is accumulating inside it or you can replace the affected sections of your pipes. However, once your entire system becomes corroded, then you will notice a decline in your water pressure.

Some of these issues you can certainly repair on your own and if that’s what you want to do, then we recommend that you thoroughly research the ways in which you can fix them. That being said, it will make your life a lot easier to call a professional and have them take a good look at your home plumbing system.

When determining the cause of low water pressure, you need to keep in mind the scope of the issue. Is it limited to a single plumbing fixture, or is it happening through your home? You should always do a little investigating to be certain that this isn’t an isolated issue. This will help you significantly in detecting the exact location and cause of the problem. If you are experiencing low water pressure in a single area of your home, then you will know where to place all of your focus when undergoing repairs. Low water pressure throughout your home is usually an indication that you are experiencing something more serious with your plumbing system.

You should go through every plumbing fixture in your home and see if the water pressure is functioning properly. This includes your dishwasher, faucets and sinks, toilets, showers and bathtubs, washing machine, and any other outdoor plumbing fixture, such as your garden hose. Turn each one on and test out the hot and cold temperatures. Is the water pressure low on both settings or just one of them? If low water pressure only occurs with hot water, then you could be experiencing issues with your water heater.

With older plumbing systems, you can expect there to be plenty of buildup of mineral deposits, including rust, limescale, and sediment. This will create an obstruction in your plumbing fixture which will affect your water flow. It not only diminishes your water pressure but also impacts the quality of the water coming out of your faucet or showerhead.

If the issue is isolated to a single outdated plumbing fixture, then you can easily replace it. Before doing so, however, we recommend that you measure the fittings of your old plumbing fixture to ensure that you are purchasing a new one that will fit correctly. For example, if you are replacing a faucet, measure the distance between the two outer holes after you remove it. A distance of six or more inches will indicate that you need a wilder faucet.

Determining the severity of the issue can be a challenge for anyone who lacks the necessary training and experience. Hiring a professional contractor can make a huge difference when it comes to fixing the issue permanently. Also, why risk making the problem worse than it already is when you can hire a qualified professional to handle the situation for you? They can accurately diagnose the problem and then propose several affordable yet effective solutions. Low water pressure is often a complex issue that requires specialized training and experience to resolve.

If you have questions about professional plumbing repair services, then you can always give us a call! One of our staff members can also walk you through the process of diagnosing the cause of your low water pressure.