Signs Of Low Water Pressure
No one likes having low water pressure, it makes showers less enjoyable, dishes harder to clean, and generally lowers your house’s plumbing efficiency. It is also possible that low water pressure could be caused by something much more serious. That being said, it can be hard to know if you truly have bad water pressure, here are four tell tale signs that you might have a problem.
1. Everyday tasks are being affected
Is your washing machine taking forever to fill, dishes taking longer to clean, shower pressure seem weak or yard work becoming more time consuming? These are all the unfortunate side effects of low water pressure. Nine times out of ten, if you think you have low water pressure you are probably right, so trust your gut if it is something that you are worried about. Not only can low water pressure be inconvenient, it can sometimes be a symptom of a much larger and potentially expensive problem and it is never a bad idea to play it safe if you are concerned about your house’s water pressure.
2. Drop in pressure when running two fixtures at same time
When you’re running multiple fixtures all at once it’s inevitable that there will be some type of decrease in your water pressure. Most homes don’t have pipes with the adequate size to supply enough water for all your fixtures to be dispersing water at a high pressure. However, if you’re running two fixtures at the same time, and you see a drop in your pressure, then this might be a sign of low pressure. An example of this could be running the faucets in your kitchen and bathroom at the same time. If you notice a decrease while having just these two going, you might have a low water pressure. You will want to use some common sense when it comes to this. If you see a very minimal drop in pressure, there is no concern.
3. Water pressure is low at all sources
If there is a water pressure problem at your home or commercial property, that issue will resonate with all of your fixtures. Low water pressure can be a common misdiagnosed problem because decreased pressure can be specific to that certain application, or fixture. For example, you might find yourself in a situation where your water pressure in the shower is great, but for some reason the kitchen sink is operating at much lower pressure than the rest of the house. This points to some sort of blockage in the pipes of that particular outlet, or perhaps something as simple as build up in the aerator, not necessarily an issue with your systems leading to low water pressure everywhere. If this is the case, a fix might be as simple as removing the aerator from the faucet and cleaning it out.
To do this,
- Unscrew the aerator from the faucet: This can be done by hand or with pliers. If you use pliers make sure you put a cloth between the pliers and the faucet so you can protect the finish.
- Remove the washer in between the faucet and the aerator (not all faucets have these but it is always good to check).
- Run water through the faucet with the aerator removed.
- Inspect aerator for damage or debris. (You might want to soak it in vinegar if there is a lot of build up)
- Replace or re-attach the aerator.
The aerator with your kitchen sink is just one example of how your water pressure issue can be isolated to a specific fixture. If only one or two sources are producing low pressure, and it’s not consistent throughout the whole home or building, direct your attention to cleaning out the fixtures associated with that source.
4. Pressure gauge reads below 40 PSI
The best way to verify your water pressure, is to test it with a pressure gauge. A pressure gauge can not only tell you your water pressure, but identify if there are “bumps” in the pressure. Inconsistency in water pressure can be a symptom of plumbing issues so if you see that your water pressure is not only low, but is all over the place, that can be important knowledge to both a plumber and a homeowner. You can find one of these online, or at your local hardware store, they are not expensive and are a great way to confirm a diagnosis of low water pressure. Simply hook your pressure gauge up to one of your external hose nozzles, and turn it on. A reading for 45 – 80 PSI is what you are looking for, anything under 40 or over 80 should be a cause for concern.
If you’re experiencing these issues within your home or building, there is a chance that you have low water pressure. The good news, though, is you can take advantage of different water booster pump options to correct the problem.
Not sure where to start but know you have a water pressure problem? Get in touch with a member of the Towle Whitney water booster pump today and schedule an appointment to discuss your situation.