The key to increasing your home’s water pressure is to first identify why your home has low pressure, to begin with. Luckily, Gotelli Plumbing Co. can help teach you how to fix low water pressure in your house, by yourself!
Nobody enjoys weak water pressure when showering or washing your hands. It can often feel embarrassing when guests are visiting and you have to warn them about the lack of water pressure before they shower. There’s nothing like coming home after a long day at work and taking a nice shower. That simple pleasure can often turn into something less nice, and more hassle with no water pressure. Hand washing dishes and pots can become a pain without adequate water pressure in the kitchen.
Test the Water Pressure in the Whole House
Check to see if the water pressure is low in your whole house or only certain areas. If this seems like a daunting task, don’t worry! There is an easier way to check the pressure without going to every shower and sink faucet in the house. You can get a water-pressure gauge and screw it into the hose faucet outside. If the pressure reads between 40 psi and 60 psi, it is too low. A good reading is about 60 psi but anything 80 psi and above, is too high.
Get to Know Your Neighbors
Sometimes water pressure issues can stem from a problem with your municipality. If your neighbors are also experiencing low water pressure, it is likely that there is a main water break somewhere nearby. At that point, you should call the city. If the water pressure is only dropping in your home, here are some steps that you can take:
Clean the Clogged Pipes
Your water pipes can become clogged with too much build-up over time. This build-up can include mineral deposits, hair, food particles, trash, soap build-up, and even grease. There some tricks you can do to manage clogging at the exits of your faucets.
- Pour one part baking soda and one part vinegar into the clogged drain (about 1/3 cup each). The mixture will fizz immediately. Let it sit for up to one hour, then run hot water to flush the mixture through your pipes.
- Carefully bring several cups of water to a boil and using EXTREME CAUTION pour the hot water down your clogged drain.
- Mix 1 part salt with 1 part baking soda. Pour it down the clogged drain, let it sit for about 20 minutes, then carefully pour hot water down the drain.
Check Your Main Water Valve
You should be able to check this yourself. The main water valve is usually located near the water meter, which controls the flow of water into the home. Check the valve to see if it is completely open. The valve may only be partially opened which could be restricting the water flow and pressure. You shouldn’t need a plumber to adjust the valve.
Check Your Regulator
It could be that your home relies on the public water regulator. The regulator is by the meter or where the service line enters your home. The regulator could have gone bad, causing your home to have low water pressure. You may need to call a plumber to come fix or replace your regulator.
If this doesn’t fix the water pressure issue in your home, there could be more serious issues. You can schedule plumbing repair for your shower or kitchen plumbing for your kitchen faucets with us at Gotelli Plumbing Co. Call today to learn more!
