Tips For Troubleshooting Low Water Pressure
If you've got low water pressure, then you might be considering hiring a plumber. However, you can actually troubleshoot a fair number of problems before you hire a pro, such as low water pressure. Even if you find that you can't fix the problem yourself, you can give your plumber a good idea of what to expect when you do call him. Here are some tips to help you figure out why you have low water pressure in your home:
Determine the Extent of the Problem
The first thing that you want to do is figure out exactly how widespread your problem is. This can play a pretty big role in figuring out what the underlying cause is.
To do this, you will want to manually check every faucet in the house, including sinks, showers, and even toilets. If only a few are affected by the low water pressure, then you know that you likely have a localized problem in the plumbing. If everything is affected, then you should look elsewhere.
Low Water Pressure Everywhere
If you find that the problem affects your entire house, then you should be looking at your plumbing before it is distributed throughout your household. In many cases, this means looking at the water main. Your water main might not be fully open, which could drastically reduce the amount of water that your home is getting.
If you find nothing wrong with the water main, then the problem might be even bigger. In fact, your entire neighborhood and everyone on the water grid in your area could be affected. Talk to your water company and ask your neighbors to see if there is a problem in your neighborhood.
Finally, there might simply be a water problem that affects your entire city or county. If this is the case, then your water company will likely have such information readily available.
Isolated Low Water Pressure
If there is only a single faucet affected, then the faucet itself might be faulty. Defects or damage to the nozzle can prevent the full flow of water from reaching you.
Regardless of how many faucets are affected, then there could be a leak in your pipes. If that is the case, then it is quite important that you rapidly identify and fix the situation. Leaking water can lead to a lot of water damage and mold, both of which can go undetected for a long time if you aren't aware of their existence.
Lastly, your problem might actually be related to your water heater. If you only have low water pressure when using hot water, then check the water heater before blaming your plumbing. If you need help, contact a plumber like A Absolute Plumbing & Heating for help.
