Causes of low water pressure in your home taps

How will you feel when the water coming in your taps or your shower is very slow? The trickling water won’t make you satisfied and make you feel annoyed. Your household chores will take longer and it will be the most boring experience.

There are ways you might look at the problem by yourself and solve them to some extent. If the issue is very serious that you can’t tackle the plumbing problems on your own, you might call people from your municipal water authority, your home inspector or your plumber, depending upon the problem. To identify who you should call, you should first identify the cause of low water pressure in your home.

Here are a few causes we have devised for you in order to know how to solve this problem at your home.

Accumulation of Debris in the pipeline

Accumulation of Debris in the pipeline is the common problem you will encounter when you buy a home or your own home is old. Debris accumulation becomes a major problem if you have GI pipeline system used to supply water on your taps. In PVC pipes, the problem occurs but the accumulation is not as serious as in GI pipes. But the problem of loss of pressure is similar in both pipes.

The solution to the problem of accumulation of Debris is to apply pressure from the tap line so that the water comes down with more pressure and all the debris accumulated will be washed away.

Leaks in the Pipeline

Some leaks in the pipeline is detectable while some leaks are to be detected by indirect ways. The leaks commonly occur in the control valve. If the hole from which the leakage has happened is too large, then the pipeline needs to be cut and pieces need to be added. In this case, the control valve must be removed for a time being. If there has been a loss in water pressure, the pipeline system is relatively new and there seems no leakage, you might have to check for hidden leakages. For this, you have to close the valve below the water meter and let the water meter run. If the water meter still shows increase in reading, then you find that there is a hidden leakage. 

Corrosion in the Pipe

Corrosion in the pipe isn’t particularly a concern in the PVC pipes until the age of the pipe exceeds 30 years or so. But in GI pipes, corrosion in the pipe becomes a problem after almost 10 years of installation. The scientific mechanism of corrosion is that corrosion causes oxidation of pipe material and the oxidized product gets accumulated in the walls of the pipeline, thereby obstructing the flow and resulting a lower water pressure in your taps and showers.

Not opening the water shutoff valves

There are water shutoff valves in basically two places, one in the water meter and another one in the distribution system near the taps. Sometimes, the water supply system needs maintenance and the water shutoff valves might have been closed. It might not have been fully opened after the completion of maintenance, resulting in lower water pressure.  You can yourself open the water shutoff valves to its fullest before further investigating the water pressure in your taps.

Multiple uses in your neighborhood

Talking of homes where there is no overhead water tank, your water supply will be regulated directly by the municipal authorities. They might install water supply in new homes, however, chances may be that your home will experience less water pressure because many homes have now shared the pipeline. This particularly occurs when the distribution supply demand has exceeded the capacity of planning. The solution to this problem is to install booster pumps. You have to request your municipal authority to install booster pumps because your home has experience low water pressure.

What are the problems for which you should call a plumber?

We have explained many causes of lower water pressure. Now we will list you occasions as to when you should call your plumber.

Your pipes are clogged

The way to solve the clogged pipes is to apply addition pressure and release them suddenly to cleanse the clog. This work requires skill and Do It Yourself approach may not work. That’s why you should better solve the problem by hiring a plumber.

Water is dripping from your tap

Sometimes, the dripping water can be solved by barely changing the washer. But you may have to change CP nipple or spindle most of the times. Changing these things requires skill and can be performed by skilled plumbers.

Your pipe is leaking

There are two solutions to pipe leakage if the pipe is made up of PVC. One of them is to apply epoxy putty. Another solution to the problem is cutting the leak portion and installing a fresh piece. Both these jobs require a skilled plumber.

The water valves are broken

The solution of broken water valve is to fit another one. Only a skilled plumber can make sure the job is efficiently done.