Don’t Let Low Water Pressure Get You Down

Nobody wants to come home from work to be greeted by a toilet that doesn’t flush properly, or return from a run to a shower that doesn’t work, and everyone knows that hotels with low water pressure are the worst! So it’s not surprising that one of the most frequent complaints plumbing companies receive regard low water pressure. There’s no need to worry though; we’ve got you covered with this handy list of signs, symptoms, and causes of low water pressure.

Signs and Symptoms of Low Water Pressure

The most obvious symptom of low water pressure is a faucet that only provides a slow trickle when there should be a solid flow of water as you open it. Although this is the most common water pressure complaint a plumbing company may receive, there are a handful of other signs to look out for:

• If you live in a loft apartment or high above street level, appliances that use a lot of water will be the most demanding on your water pressure. Sometimes, your faucets might work fine but if your shower struggles to reach optimum pressure and you aren’t enjoying a nice hot spray in the morning, you may still have a problem with your water pressure.
• Another indication of poor water pressure is the time it takes for your toilet tank or bath to fill up. If you spend more time waiting for your bath to run than you do relaxing in the tub, or your toilet makes that strange noise for a long time after you flush it, you may be suffering from low water pressure.

Causes and Solutions of Low Water Pressure

Sometimes, your faucet might start dripping for no apparent reason. If your next-door neighbor seems to be suffering from the same problem, the chances are that there is an issue at the municipal level. Almost all houses in a specific neighborhood will be provided with water from the municipal water supplies. Consequently everyone will suffer low water pressure problems if there is some sort of malfunction or leak at the facility itself. Alternatively, there may be a burst pipe or leak right near your house that is affecting your water pressure. In this case, all you can do is wait for the municipality to resolve and repair the issue.

If you seem to be the only one with water pressure problems, the chances are much higher that the issue stems from your own plumbing. A burst pipe is usually very obvious to see, but sometimes you may have a small leak that goes unnoticed. In this case, try turning off all appliances that might use water, record the water meter, and leave everything off for a few hours. If when you come back the meter has changed, you probably have a leak that will be need to be found and repaired by a qualified plumber.

Another cause of low water pressure is a build-up of debris in your pipelines. Your plumbing is susceptible to mineral deposits left behind by the water flowing through it, which, coupled with some sand or sediment, can create a blockage in your pipes. This blockage doesn’t need to completely prevent water from flowing to impact your water pressure. Thankfully, a blocked pipe can be cleared quite easily with some plumbing chemicals, which won’t do very much harm even if there isn’t a blockage.

At the end of the day, don’t stress yourself out. You have enough on your plate without low water pressure issues damming up your life. Call your reliable plumber – Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric!