One system in your home that you likely rely on every single day is your plumbing system. Having fresh water for activities like bathing and cooking is an absolute must for our modern-day standard of living. One really frustrating problem you may experience with your plumbing system is low water pressure. Here, we’ll address some of the most common culprits behind this issue and what you can do to solve it.
Check All Your Fixtures
When you experience low water pressure, the very first thing you want to do is check all the fixtures in your home. You want to see if the problem is secluded to one fixture or is affecting all of your fixtures. If the problem is only happening at one fixture, you can surmise the issue is likely with that particular fixture and not your entire plumbing system.
If the problem is at one fixture, one of the first things you want to do is check its aerator. You can do this by simply unscrewing the aerator or even the shower head from the main fixture body. Try running your water and see if it comes out.
If it comes out with normal pressure, there’s a blockage in your aerator. Try using a scrub brush and some vinegar to remove any white mineral deposits that could be blocking the aerator screen. Simply reinstall the aerator and see if the fixture’s water pressure returns to normal.
Check With Your Municipal Company
If low water pressure is affecting all the different fixtures in your home, the problem may actually lie with your municipal water supply. It can be helpful to check with your neighbors or your municipal water supply’s website to see if they have any malfunctions with their line. If they have a main water break, a lot of the water will be pouring out at the break and leave you with low water pressure.
Examine Hot vs. Cold Lines
Another tip to help make locating the issue easier is to test both the hot and cold sides of the fixture. You may find that the issue may only lie with your hot water supply line. This tells you that you’ll need to trace that side of the line instead of your main water line.
Check Shut-Off Valves
Another simple thing to check when you experience low water pressure is your shut-off valve. If the problem is at one fixture, check the valve underneath the fixture to see if it accidentally got bumped partially closed. This can restrict the full water through your line. If the problem is with all your fixtures, you’ll want to check your main water shut-off valve.
Look for a Leak
One culprit behind your low water pressure issue may be a leak in your water supply line. If the issue is with one fixture, start by checking the water line that’s running from that fixture back to the main water supply line. If the issue is with all of your fixtures, the leak is likely somewhere close to the main water supply line.
This is because the water will be pouring out before it reaches all your fixtures. The loss of water will cause all your fixtures to have low water pressure because they’re simply not getting enough water delivered to them. There are many key indicators of a leak that you’ll want to be on the lookout for.
Visible Water
One of the most obvious signs that you have a water leak in your home is visible water. You may notice this on your walls or even pooling on your floors. Sometimes you may not physically see the water but you can feel the dampness on your drywall or flooring.
Rising Water Meter
Another method to verify you have a water leak is to check your water heater. You first want to shut off all the different plumbing fixtures and water-using appliances in your home. Head out to your water meter and write down the number on it. Give it about 15 to 20 minutes and check the meter again. If the number goes up, it means your home is using water. Since you didn’t have anything on, it indicates a leak somewhere in your water supply lines.
Oddities With Walls or Flooring
Apart from visually seeing water or checking your water meter, there are some oddities you may notice with your walls or flooring that can also indicate a hidden water leak. Your walls may have peeling paint or bubbling wallpaper. You may notice mold or mildew growth on the surface. In some cases where the mold or mildew growth is behind the wall, you’ll get a whiff of a musty odor. You may also notice yellow or brownish water stains.
Internal Pipe Blockages
Another reason you may be experiencing low water pressure without any sort of visible water leak is there is an obstruction inside the water supply line. This is most prominent in outdated plumbing lines, as they tend to corrode from the inside out.
This is very common in homes that have untreated hard water, as the minerals will cause premature deterioration of the piping material. As the corrosion grows, it will continually restrict more and more water flowing through the line.
If you believe that you may have a blockage in your water supply line, it’s best to consult one of our professionals to further evaluate the line. In some cases, we may be able to flush the line to remove the corrosion or mineral sediment that is blocking the water flow. In other cases of severely deteriorated piping, we’ll likely recommend doing a full line replacement.
Preventative Tips for Avoiding Low Water Pressure Issues
As a homeowner, there are some things you can do to help greatly reduce your risk of experiencing low water pressure. One of the most important is to get routine maintenance for your plumbing system. This maintenance includes things like flushing out your water heater and cleaning your aerators. This helps to avoid any excessive buildup of minerals that could otherwise obstruct your water supply lines or plumbing fixtures.
Another helpful tip is to always update your piping and plumbing fixtures when necessary. You should never just wait till it completely fails to consider a replacement. When one of our professionals does a plumbing inspection for your home, they can recommend what piping or fixtures may be due for an upgrade in the near future.
You may even want to consider replacing lines that are made of galvanized steel or cast iron, as both are well-known to corrode. By keeping up with consistent upgrading to newer materials like copper, PVC, and PEX, you can avoid low water pressure due to corrosion issues.
Expert Plumbing Repair Service
Air Control Home Services offers expert plumbing repair service for the Bullhead City, AZ area. We can also help with all your plumbing inspection, installation, and replacement needs. Simply call our office to schedule your next service consultation.
