The vast majority of homeowners don’t consider their water pressure until it’s causing problems for them. Typically, water pressure issues build up over time. You may not notice it at first, but soon your pipes are clogged with mineral deposits, and you turn the faucet only to see a stream of water so tiny, you can’t even wash your hands.
Hopefully, there is still time for you to prevent these issues from happening in the first place. There are many different causes of erratic water pressure, from the pipes themselves to naturally occurring minerals or just plain human error. Here are few tips to improve your water pressure.
1. Check the Water Pressure
Of course, the first thing to do if you suspect that your water pressure might be low is to conduct a test to confirm that’s the issue. We define low water pressure as anything below 40 pounds per pressure of square inch (PSI). The ideal water pressure is between 40 PSI and 60 PSI, but you should aim for about 50 PSI. The easiest way to do this is by purchasing a pressure gauge and attaching it to your outdoor garden-hose faucet. Once all of the valves are open, turn the tap on, and you’ll have your results. If the gauge reads below 40 PSI, you might need to make a few adjustments to improve your water pressure.
2. Check the Flow Rate
The flow rate can also affect your ability to receive an adequate water supply in your house. Your home’s water flow rate is calculated in gallons per minute (GPM) and measures the amount of water that travels through your pipes in one minute. If your water pump can’t supply water quickly enough, it will seem as though you have low water pressure.
3. Clear the Clogs
If you haven’t had your pipes checked in a while and your home is older, a clog might be the cause of your dwindling water pressure. Your water pipes can become clogged with mineral deposits and disrupt your water flow. As a remedy, you can place a plastic bag filled with vinegar over your faucet or showerhead for the night. In the morning, rinse the showerhead and put it back together. If this doesn’t get the job done, you’ll need to hire a professional who can. Contact your local plumbing company and see what they can do for you.
4. Invest in a Water Filtration System
A properly installed water filtration system can improve the water pressure in your home. When a filtration system removes sediments and minerals from the water, it prevents your pipes from getting clogged in the first place. On top of that, you’ll have fresh, clean water flowing throughout your entire house that has various benefits for your health, hair, and skin. Your water will taste better, and there won’t be any nasty water stains in your sink or tub. If you’re interested in preventative maintenance, we recommend a Puronics water filtration system.
5. Install a Pressure Booster
As wild as it might seem, the issue might not even be the water pressure itself. It could be the location of your house. If your water is sourced from a municipal water pump that is a long distance from your home or the water needs to travel uphill, it can adversely affect the water pressure. In this scenario, the solution is a pressure booster. It’s a little pricey, and you should leave the installation of a pressure booster to the professionals.
6. Check for Leaks
There’s always a possibility that a leak negatively impacts your water pressure, especially if you have an older home. To see if this is the problem, turn off every faucet connected to your house and the main valve as well. Next, take note of the number on your water meter. If the number has increased after a couple of hours, you have a leak. Of course, you’ll need to enlist the help of a plumbing company to fix this one, but it’s all worth it!
7. Replace the Regulator
A water pressure regulator is a valve that reduces the water pressure that flows through your house’s primary water line. The symptoms of a malfunctioning water pressure regulator include hammering noises, low water pressure, or excessively high water pressure. A majority of plumbing contractors recommend that you replace your water pressure regulator every ten years, so if you’re experiencing these issues, it could be time to do so. While it’s possible to fix this yourself, you shouldn’t. A water pressure regulator with improper installation will cause the problem to become worse than when you started.
8. Clean Your Water Heater
In case you weren’t aware, a bad water heater can lower your water pressure also. Several issues can cause problems with your water heater. First off, if there is a kink in your water heater’s pipe, it can cause decreased water pressure. In addition, it’s possible that there is a buildup of sediment or a leak in your water heater. If you have low water pressure, you might want to have a plumber take a look.
9. Check the Valves
Luckily, this one is an easy fix. First, you’ll need to find your home’s main water valve. It should be near the water meter. Take a look and see whether or not the valve is open. Now and then, the water valve is accidentally closed when people perform routine home maintenance. If your water pressure decreased just after completing work on your house, this could easily be the case. In this case, all you need to do is open the valve yourself.
10.Contact the Local Water Department
Hopefully, you’re not still having issues with your water pressure at this point. If you are, it might be time to contact your city’s local water department. You will know that the root of your problem is the water pressure throughout your street if your neighbors are experiencing low water pressure. Although you have no control over this, the officials at your water department can resolve the problem.
The Science of Water
Even a minor water pressure issue can be a nuisance to deal with and costly to repair. Luckily, you can invest in a water filtration system to help improve your water pressure by preventing issues from the start. Consider investing in a water filtration system for your home. Professionals at the Science of Water will take care of testing your water for free, and the cost of installation is nothing compared to the time and money it takes to solve problems with your water pressure.
If you’re interested in taking one of our free water tests or learning more about our services, contact us at (352) 745-7070 or (904) 580-0000.
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