13 Oct

What Causes Low Water Pressure?

By Uncategorized

Low water pressure can cause a lot of problems around your home. It’s important to find out what might be causing the low pressure and have it repaired as soon as possible to get life back to normal. 

One of the causes may be from your galvanized iron pipes. Over time they can become corroded and often can cause low water pressure by restricting the water flow. Fortunately, there is a solution to this. The corrosion builds up in the pipe behind the restrictions in such places as in the angle valves of a sink or in the valve of a shower or bath. A professional plumber can repair this by removing your existing valves, clean the corrosion out and then replace the valves. Once the water is turned back on, it will flush out any remaining debris restoring your normal water pressure. 

If the restriction is in your shower or bath, this can often be more problematic, unless you have an access panel, because the valves are usually behind the wall of your shower/bath. This will require the plumber to break into the wall,  remove the valve and clean the pipe and then patch the wall. It is a good idea to check that the showerhead is not just clogged before you hire a professional plumber. Regular cleaning of your showerheads will help to keep things flowing correctly.

Sometimes the cause can be contributed to your pressure regulator. This is usually located at the connection to the front of your home. It is usually preset by the manufacturer so you do not need to make any adjustments. Just like with anything, the pressure regulator can go bad and will need to be replaced by a professional plumber in order to regain your usual water pressure. 

Another cause for loss of water pressure is if any of your pipes or valves are leaking. Sometimes the valves can accidentally be turned off so you will want to check this first. If everything is on properly, check the water meter to see if a leak shows. A leak in your pipes can significantly reduce your water pressure. This should be repaired immediately. 

A professional plumber can diagnose any of these problems and get your water pressure rising again. If you are in the Baltimore area, give our professional plumbers a call today at (410) 265-8833.

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