What Causes Low Water Pressure?

If you feel that your homes’ water pressure is subpar, use the following guide to determine what – if anything – is to blame and find out how you can fix it.

The average water pressure at the inlet valve to a home should be about 40 to 50 psi, but your home may still experience lower than an ideal level of pressure for a number of reasons. For instance, low water pressure throughout your neighborhood is likely caused by some issue at or caused by your local water company. While low water pressure at a specific appliance can normally be traced back to a clogged aerator or a leaking water line that connects to the appliance.

Too many appliances and fixtures using water at once

Depending on the time of day that you experience low water pressure, there may be a higher than average need for water in your home. The more appliances that are using water at the same time, the lower the pressure for each.

To avoid that kind of aggravation, try to stagger water usage throughout the day. For example, don’t run your dish washer and washing machine at the same time. Or take two showers at the same time. Or wash your clothes while your lawn sprinkler is on. There are lots of ways to accomplish all your goals without sacrificing water pressure.

Main water valve isn’t fully open

The main water shutoff valve controls the flow of water into your home. If your valve has recently been used during a minor plumbing repair, perhaps it wasn’t fully re-opened. Less water coming in means less pressure.

Failing water pressure regulator

Homes located in areas with generally high water pressure tend to have pressure regulators installed to ensure water pressure does not exceed a certain level. Water pressure above the normal psi strains the water system’s fixtures and valves beyond their functionality and can cause the fixtures to break and cause water damage if not contained. If you have a regulator in your home, your low water pressure may be due to the regulator’s current setting, or the regulator may be broken, resulting in higher or lower water pressure than normal.

A water line is corroded

Certain water line materials will corrode from within, creating a gooey buildup that reduces water flow. Lead and galvanized steel water lines are notorious for internal corrosion – these can even collapse in on themselves if there is a rapid change in pressure, such as closing the main valve and opening it quickly.

The best possible solution, especially if you have lead water pipes which can leach into your drinking water, is to have your home re-piped. Simply put, you don’t want to be consuming lead.

Whatever the cause might be, the solution is right here – at Best Choice plumbers. We deal with and correct low and high water pressure issues routinely, and we’ll be happy to do the same for you. Contact us so we can set things right again.