There are few things as frustrating a low water pressure in your home's water fixtures. But what causes it and what can you do to fix the problem? Here are a few areas of concern and how you can get the pressure back on again:
6 Causes of Low Water Pressure
- Clean your aerators. Your sinks and showers have a small screen in the outlet called an aerator. Its job is to mix air into the water to improve flow on low-flow fixtures, but it can also be clogged with sand and debris. Unscrew them, tap out the sediment, rinse them well and reinstall.
- Debris, whether it's sand, dirt or contaminants, can get into your home's water pipes from your water main. It can be caused by a water main fracture or from sediment that has built up over time. Have a Pittsburgh plumbing service flush your lines to drive out the offending debris.
- Mineral buildup can happen in older pipes, especially if you have hard water that deposits calcium on the inside of your pipes. Check a length of pipe to see if mineral deposits have built up, then call a professional to have a plumbing chemical flushed through that will remove the buildup in most cases.
- Pipe corrosion from steel or galvanized pipes. Though we typically think of pipes as being a permanent installation, ferrous pipes are only intended to last up to 20 years. As time passes, corrosion inside the pipe blocks the free flow of water. Unfortunately, this requires replacing the pipes.
- Leaks in your plumbing system can reduce water pressure much like a hose with a cut in the side. The easiest way to check is by shutting off all the water taps in your home, including any automated systems such as your refrigerator's icemaker. Record the meter reading, then check after at least a couple hours to see if the reading has changed. If your meter shows an increase, you need to get a Pittsburgh plumbing service in to fix the leak.
- Problems with city water supplies. If your neighbor has a problem with water pressure as well, call your municipal water supplier to see if there's a problem in your area.
By figuring out what's causing the low-pressure problems in your home, you're well on your way to fixing the problem. If you don't have a quality plumber and need help, please feel free to contact the professionals at Stahl Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning. We've built our reputation as the best plumbers in Pittsburgh one happy customer at a time.