All of us rely on water throughout the day, whether we are taking a shower before we head to the office in the morning or trying to cook dinner at night. Low water pressure can have a serious impact on how easy it is to clean, cook, drink water and even use appliances around the house like the washing machine. Beyond the inconvenience of it taking longer to use the same amount of water, it can also cost you money due to inefficiency. While low water pressure in your home might seem like it would be expensive or confusing to fix, in many cases there are quick fixes that allow you to get the most from your pipes and your water pressure. What should you do about low water pressure in your home?
What Are the Most Common Culprits Behind Low Water Pressure in Your Home?
-
Water Pressure Regulator Issues
Many homes have water pressure regulators that control how high or low the water pressure is. These are essential tools to make sure that your water pressure is not so high that it could damage your appliances. They are designed with safety in mind, but they can wear out over time and do a poor job regulating water pressure. When your pressure regulator fails or needs repair, it could lead to sudden dramatic increases or decreases in your water pressure. If you think that there might be a water pressure regulator issue, you should take action to have it repaired or replaced as soon as possible. Because the water pressure might be very high when it’s unregulated, it could lead to broken pipes or serious damage to your water heater. If you also recently moved into your home and notice there is low water pressure, the regulator might need to be adjusted to meet the water demands of your family.
-
Low Water Pressure from Fixtures and Faucets
If you are only experiencing low water pressure from one faucet or one fixture, it’s a good sign that the issue is with that specific fixture or faucet. Corrosion or clogging could be part of the issue and slowing the water flow coming out of the faucet. You also might have low water pressure in your home due to problems with the connections or seals. If the issue is not with the fixture itself, you should take care to carefully examine the connections and seals. Fixture issues are particularly common when you have hard water. Calcium and magnesium in your water can clog small holes, like the ones in your shower head, and lead to pressure problems.
-
Clogged Pipes
While fixtures can become clogged with minerals and lead to problems, your plumbing could also be clogged or partially obstructed and lead to decreased water pressure. Clogged pipes are a very common cause of water pressure issues. Think of the pipes in your home like the arteries in your body. Just like cholesterol can accumulate in your arteries and cause issues, limescale and minerals can clog up your pipes and give the water less space to flow through. This often happens gradually over time and it can be hard to notice if you don’t know what to look for. We can help assess your pipes to determine whether they need to be professionally unclogged or replaced.
-
Corroded Plumbing
In the same way that your pipes can be clogged up with scale and minerals, they can also get clogged due to corrosion. This is very common in older pipes that are made of galvanized iron, as they are prone to corrosion when the water’s pH is not balanced. Acidic water that has a low pH can lead to small leaks and holes in the pipe due to eating it away. When you have these tiny holes in the pipes, water can escape and reduce the pressure of the water flowing to your faucets and fixtures. High levels of total dissolved solids, sulfate, sediment and iron bacteria in the water can also lead to corrosion that lowers the water pressure. We can assess your pipes and test your water to determine if the pH might be the issue. Water testing is a great way to also pinpoint hard water so that you can find the right filtration solution to fix your issues.
Call Atlantic Blue Water Services to Help Improve Low Water Pressure in Your Home
Atlantic Blue Water Services is here to help homeowners, home sellers, home buyers and business owners in need of a quality water test in Maryland. Call us today to schedule your water testing at 410-840-2583.