Low water pressure can turn mundane tasks like washing hands, showering, or flushing the toilet into annoying chores. Nobody likes turning a faucet handle or stepping into the shower only to experience a noticeably lower water pressure level than normal. Some causes of low water pressure are relatively easy to solve on your own, while others require the assistance of a competent plumber.
Problems You Can Solve Yourself
While you should always call your plumber for help with anything having to do with pipes or appliances, you can likely handle a few small issues on your own. Before you get in touch with your plumber, make sure your water pressure trouble isn’t one of these simple problems.
Water System Issues
If you notice the same low water pressure levels all around your home, contact your neighbors to ask if they’re having problems, too. An affirmative answer from your neighbors might point you in the direction of your water supplier. Perhaps a main has burst, or the supplier is repairing piping. If the problem is at the water supplier level, then all you need to do is patiently wait for your supplier to fix the issue.
Closed Water Meter Valve
Another cause of low water pressure that may require action from your water supplier is a closed water meter valve. If you’ve recently had plumbing work done and only just started noticing low water pressure, then a closed water meter valve might be the culprit. You might be able to locate this pivotal water intake valve yourself, but you might need to have someone from your water supplier do it for you if this valve is too difficult to access or operate.
Closed Water Shutoff Valve
Your water pressure issues might be caused by a closed or partially open water shutoff valve. This valve controls your home’s water flow, so if it isn’t fully open, then it won’t be able to produce the proper water pressure level for your home. Opening this valve all the way will likely solve your low water pressure problems.
Clogged Fixtures
Another potential cause of low water pressure that you can fix yourself is clogged fixtures. If you’ve noticed that your water pressure is only low when you shower or use a particular faucet, then you should check those specific fixtures for blockages. You can easily clean or even replace clogged aerators or showerheads to get rid of low water pressure. If you don’t feel comfortable doing so, however, you can hire a plumber to do the work for you.
Too Much Water Use
Water pressure can decrease in your home if the demand for it is too high at specific times. If you’ve noticed that you only have low water pressure troubles at certain times of the day, then the culprit might be high water usage throughout your home. To fix this source of low water pressure, all you have to do is stagger your use of water so you’re not using too much water at once.
Problems You Can’t Solve Yourself
Not all low water pressure problems can be solved by letting your water supplier fix the problem or switching out one clogged aerator for another. If your water pressure can’t be increased by opening a valve or buying a new showerhead, then you’ll likely need to call a professional local plumber to handle your issue.
Clogged Pipes
A buildup of minerals and debris can form anywhere in your pipes, causing clogs that negatively impact your water pressure. A reliable plumber will be able to inspect your pipes and clean out your pipes and drains, or replace the ones that have been plugged up with limescale, dirt, food scraps, and more. Your plumber might recommend having a water softener installed in your home so that your pipes will experience less mineral buildup over time.
Water Softener System Problems
A malfunctioning water softener system can fail to treat your water properly, which can result in greater mineral buildup as well as reduced water pressure. A plumber will be able to repair or replace your water softener system and address problems caused by the mineral buildup.
Corroded Pipes
If your water flows through galvanized steel pipes, then some of them might have become corroded. Oxidation may have built up inside your pipes, significantly restricting your water pressure. Eventually, corroded pipes will develop holes in them that will compromise them completely and lessen your water pressure further. Your plumber will be able to replace your corroded steel pipes with more modern pipes that will last longer and resist corrosion better.
Leaking Pipes
Pipes that have experienced worse problems than clogging or corrosion may have developed serious leaks over time. Pipe leaks can be dramatic and damaging, so you’ll definitely be able to identify the source of your low water pressure if your basement has flooded or a puddle has formed near your home on a dry day. Not all leaks are that obvious, however; you might even be dealing with multiple smaller leaks throughout your home. You’ll need to call in a plumber who can check your pipes for leaks and carry out the necessary repairs to your premises.
Narrow Branch Lines
Another piping problem that can lead to reduced water pressure is having branch lines that aren’t wide enough to carry sufficient water supply to all of your home. If you’ve noticed that your low water pressure only occurs when you use certain fixtures and you’ve already checked for clogs, then you might need to have wider pipes installed. A plumber will be able to install wider pipes leading to your fixture so you’ll be able to have access to the amount of water you need.
Pressure Regulator Problems
If your pressure regulator is set below 50 psi, then it might be the cause of your low water pressure. Pressure regulators keep the water pressure in your home from becoming too high, but a damaged one can cause your water pressure to lower too far. In order to fix this low water pressure problem, you’ll need to hire a plumber to replace your faulty pressure regulator with a new one and set it to its proper pressure level.
Malfunctioning Pressure Tank
If you get your water from a well, then you’ll likely have a pressure tank that produces the right water pressure level in your home. One possible cause of low water pressure could be a failing pressure tank in need of replacement. A capable plumber can take out your old pressure tank and replace it with a new one that will provide you with consistent, even water pressure.
High-Quality Plumbing Repairs in Glendale
At Christian Brothers Air Conditioning Plumbing Electrical, we’ve worked hard to provide top-notch plumbing services to the people who live in and around Glendale, AZ since 1976. We’re up to the challenge of solving your low water pressure issue so that you can have access to the water pressure level you need. You can trust us to replace your leaking, corroded, clogged, or burst pipes. We’re also capable of replacing clogged or broken kitchen and bathroom fixtures and repairing your toilet. We can install and repair water softeners that will reduce the amount of minerals in your water.
Give us a call today at Christian Brothers Air Conditioning Plumbing Electrical if you want to learn more about the plumbing services we can provide.
