Having low water pressure is one of the more annoying problems a homeowner can face. Trying to take a shower or wash the dishes with low water pressure can cause a lot of frustration. Don’t despair as there are some simple ways to increase the water pressure in a house. At Trojan plumbing our team can help you with these tips the next time you experience low water pressure.
Check the Pressure throughout the Home
The first step is to check that the low water pressure isn’t in just one part of your home. If only one faucet has low water pressure, then that would be the only one that needs to be repaired. You can try turning the water on and off several times to try and flush the blockage. If that doesn’t work, then take the faucet apart and check for blockages.
Check the Water Pressure Regulator
Some houses have a water pressure regulator that is typically located on the outside of the house. The water pressure regulator will usually be found near the water pressure meter. It is easy to be adjust with a simple wrench. You can turn a sprinkler on whilst adjusting the water pressure regulator. Looking at the water coming out of the sprinkler can help to see the effects the adjustments are having on the water pressure as it is being adjusted.
Check the Pipes
If everything seems to be fine with the water pressure regulator, but the water pressure is still too low, then the next step would be to check the pipes in the house. You would first check the diameter of the pipes. Modern plumbing uses pipes that usually are no larger than ½ inch in diameter. This small diameter forces the water to flow through the pipes under high pressure.
In older homes, sometimes the pipes can be larger than ½ inch in diameter. A pipe reduction apparatus can be installed which could help with this situation. These are relatively simple to install if you have experience you can usually find one at your local hardware store.
If the pipes are the correct diameter already, then go through the pipes in the home and check for leaks. Make sure you check all the pipes all over your house, even if one pipe is leaking, it can cause a loss in pressure throughout the entire plumbing system. Fix any leaks to increase the pressure in the house. Another important tip would be to examine their condition. If pipes are getting rusted or corroded, this could be a sign that they are getting blocked.
If the above steps fail to fix the water pressure in your house, then give Trojan Plumbing a call to make an appointment and we send over one of our qualified plumbers to give you an expert opinion.
