Low Water Pressure: Facts, Falsehoods, and Solutions
Have you ever hopped in the shower only to find that your shower head and faucet aren’t putting out water with enough pressure to scrub off the suds? Low water pressure is a common complaint of residents living in apartment buildings or hotels but encountering this in a home or a personal residence is anything but pleasant. Suffering with low water pressure can really slow down your day-to-day routine, so it’s essential to get to the bottom of the issue.
Why is My Water Pressure Low?
Strong water pressure is key to good hygiene and personal comfort, so if your faucet is only a slight trickle instead of a strong flow, it is important to get to the root of the issue. The most common causes of low water pressure include interruptions with your water supplier, a failing pressure regulator, shared pipelines, clogged or corroded pipes, and faulty appliances with leaky pipes.
Interruptions with Your Water Supplier
Contact your water supplier before checking on your own house’s plumbing. Water supply issues can happen, and if that is confirmed by your supplier, the issue will be rectified in a prompt manner and is out of your hands.
A Failing Pressure Regulator
Not all systems utilize a pressure regulator, but ones that do can be checked periodically. Buy yourself a water pressure gauge, hook it up to an external spigot, and see if your pressure matches the reading on your external gauge. If the reading is lower than the pressure on the external gauge, the pressure regulator may be failing.
Shared Pipelines
If you live in an apartment complex, a duplex, or even houses on a close grid, sometimes water pressure can be affected by your neighbor’s use. This type of use shouldn’t cause constant pressure disruptions, only intermittent issues, and if you find that your pressure is only low on occasion, your neighbors/roommates could be to blame.
Clogged or Corroded Pipes
It’s hard to look for clogs in incoming non-sewage type pipes, but water intake piping can still get clogged or corrode all the same, and for issues like this, a plumber’s help is needed. A DIY approach is not advisable if you feel that there is an issue with your house’s internal plumbing.
Faulty Appliances and Leaky Pipes
Small leaks can add up! If there is a dripping faucet, a cracked line, or a faulty connection somewhere, that could be misdirecting water pressure somewhere where it isn’t needed. The trouble is, sometimes these faults are difficult to find in plain sight.
Solving Low Water Pressure Problems
Your home plumbing may be suffering from more than one of these issues listed above, but regardless, your own well-being and your water bill will suffer if your water pressure is less than the standard. Don’t let yourself live with a slow trickle instead of a heavy stream – the average home’s water pressure is between 40 and 80 psi, so anything less should be addressed immediately. Contact Culligan Water today and one of our trained technicians will make sure your water pressure is at the correct level!
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