Ever stood in the shower, only to be left mid-shampoo with a lethargic, miserable trickle coming from your shower head? Ever wondered, “why is my water pressure so low”? Your home may have a water pressure issue. Low water pressure could be due to an issue that’s easily fixed. Keep reading to uncover some of the most common causes of low water pressure. Even better, learn just how easily you can fix it.
Closed valves
Is your water on? No, we’re serious. The main water valve, or toby, should be turned off in case of a plumbing emergency. At all other times, however, it should be fully turned on. You can find it outside, on your property, covered by a coloured or black plastic lid. If your grounds don’t include clear boundaries between you and your neighbours, it’s a good idea to test that the valve you turn is actually the valve for your house.
Generally, homes have valves for isolated areas that use water. This means you could just shut off or open the specific valve that you do or don’t need. If neither valve seems to solve the problem, consider checking your pipes.
Clogged pipes block the water’s flow
Plumbers are commonly called out to unclog strange items from pipes and plumbing lines. It’s possible that some of the plumbing in your home has got clogged up. This could result in a drop in water pressure around your home. If you know that the blockage is linked to a specific drain, you could try using a plunger on the drain yourself.
Alternatively, you can give us a call on 027 265 4949 to inspect your pipes for you. We’ll save you time and money by pinpointing the source of the problem with a CCTV drain inspection. You could also check out our article on dealing with blocked drains for more information.
Leaky pipes
Leaking pipes not only affect the water pressure around your home, but they are also responsible for your higher-than-necessary water bill. One of the more common leaky suspects is the toilet. You can easily check to see if your toilet has a leak by following our tips on toilet maintenance.
Sometimes, you may experience a sudden, dramatic loss in water pressure. In this case, turning off your water at the main valve is a good idea. It’s likely that a pipe may have just burst. In this case, we recommend calling a plumber immediately to avoid further damage and complications.
Next time you find yourself asking, “why is my water pressure so low”, just give us a call.
To find out more information about why your water pressure is so low, or to learn more about our maintenance and preventative services, call Colette on 027 234 5454 or email her.