5 Common Reasons for Low Water Pressure
Low water pressure is second only to sudden temperature shifts on the list of shower-related annoyances. Aside from being a nuisance, low pressure can be a symptom of a more serious problem. Your home’s plumbing is a complex system, and there are many possible reasons why you may be experiencing poor water pressure. Some of the most common include:
1. Leaking or Inefficient Pipes
If your pipes are damaged or worn out, they won’t be able to maintain consistent water pressure. Leaks or built-up mineral deposits are some of the most common causes of low water pressure, particularly in older homes. Just one leak can seriously compromise the overall efficiency of your home’s plumbing. This not only leads to low pressure but also increased waste and further damage to your home, such as mold, which can be expensive and time-consuming to remediate.
2. Faulty Equipment
Aside from your pipes, there are a number of other factors that affect water pressure. Every home is equipped with a master pressure regulator — a bell-shaped device typically found by the water main. While these shouldn’t require adjustment on a regular basis, they can fail over time. Alternately, if the pressure problem is limited to the bathroom, cleaning your showerhead or replacing it with a high-efficiency model can be a quick and easy fix.
3. Poor System Design
Sometimes low water pressure is simply a fact of the design of your home’s plumbing system. Homes that run off a well are more likely to suffer from low water pressure than those connected to a municipal system.
4. Overuse
Even the best-maintained home plumbing system has a limit to how much water it can provide at a given time. Low pressure may simply be the result of trying to do too much at once. Being aware of how much water you’re using and taking steps to curb excessive consumption is not only good for the environment, it can also solve temporary pressure issues.
5. Problems at the Source
If all other potential causes have been eliminated, a water pressure issue can be related to a problem with the municipal supply. Leaks, mineral buildups and equipment failure can occur in older municipal systems, just as they can in your home. Contact your utility provider if you suspect there is a problem.
Diagnosing low water pressure problems can be a complex task. While interventions for solving the above problems range from cheap and quick to costly and time-consuming, all of the above issues will worsen if ignored. If you’ve noticed a sudden drop in your water pressure, contact Home Climates today. We’ll send one of our expert plumbers to your home to quickly diagnose the problem and develop a comprehensive remediation strategy that prevents it from coming back.
