4 Common Causes Of Poor Water Pressure
Taking a shower or washing dishes by hand with low water pressure is frustrating, but there may be simple solutions to boost your water pressure. In other cases, however, you may need repairs or replacement parts. If you don't have good water pressure, check out these four common causes of poor water pressure.
The Showerhead
The best place to start looking for the problem with your water pressure is the showerhead. The showerhead can become dirty over time, filled with sediment and mineral deposits. These may clog the holes, allowing little water to pass through. The best solution is to clean the showerhead by leaving it in vinegar. Another problem may be that you have a water-restricting showerhead. If you are renting, however, you may not be able to fix this problem. If you own the home, however, simply replace the low-flow showerhead, but expect to use more water.
The Main Water Valve
Another common cause for poor water pressure is the main water valve is not completely open. For safety and security reasons, the main water valve is tough to open and close, and you usually need a wrench. Therefore, if someone had turned the water off at some point before you noticed the reduced water pressure, the valve may not be completely open. Fix the problem by locating your main water valve near the curb and opening it completely.
Other Shut-Off Valves
There are other shut-off valves you may have in your home. For starters, you likely have another valve on the main water line where it enters the house. If this is not completely open, the water pressure may be reduced. If you rent, you'll need to speak with your landlord first. If you own the home, but the previous owners rented the house, they may have turned the valve down to reduce water usage to keep costs low.
Damage
If you've tried the simple solutions, but you still have low water pressure, there may be damage to the system. Plumbing systems last a long time, but they do eventually need to be replaced. Find out how old your system is to determine if it may need to be replaced. Hopefully, there may simply be some damage, such as too much scaling and corrosion inside the pipe. This is common in galvanized iron pipes. They'll need to be replaced to correct the problem.
Bad water pressure makes it hard to do nearly anything in your home with water. If you recently purchased the home or if the problem suddenly occurred, it may be an easy fix. If you believe your plumbing system needs to be replaced or repaired, however, contact a plumbing service like Drainman The.