We’ve all experienced enough clogs in our drains and pipes to consider bringing in a plumber. But what if the problem is not with the water draining, but with the water coming?

Home water pressure typically ranges between 40 and 45 psi. If you suspect that you have low water pressure, your pressure is most likely below this number.

Across showering, dishwashing and toilet flushing, the average American family uses 300 gallons of water per day. We do not stop to think about the source of that water or how it is coming out of our faucets. Few of us would know where to begin if one day the water pressure was low.

We’re here to discuss the leading suspects when it comes to low water pressure so that you know what to do and who to call if needed. Continue reading to learn how your house is functioning under pressure.

Your Water Supplier is Experiencing an Issue

Before you start to turn valves and banging on pipes, ask around. If your neighbors are experiencing the same problem, it’s unlikely that your low water pressure is related to something inside your house.

Call your water provider and see if they know about a problem with their water supply and are addressing it. If it’s something they are attempting to repair, then you will just need to wait for a period.

But if they refuse to acknowledge it or deal with it, then you might have to mobilize.

You didn’t imagine that to rinse the shampoo out of your hair properly you would need to petition, but perhaps you must.

Your City Has Changed Its Regulations

Your city might also have modified some of its water regulations, and your water supplier has no alternative but to do so.

Are you experiencing this? Then maybe you should get a water pressure booster system. Though you can set these systems up on your own, it’s better to call a plumber who can see to it that it’s properly installed.

Factors such as the size and age of the pipes can impact proper installation. You may also need to call in an inspector, after making this sort of alteration to your house. Hiring a plumber will make all of this much simpler.

The Main House Shutoff Valve Isn’t Open All the Way

If you discover you’re the only house on the block with low water pressure, then you need to begin looking for the problem around your own house.

As a homeowner you should also know how to locate and turn off your main house shutoff valve. Next, we discuss the implications of it not being fully open.

You haven’t touched this valve unless you’ve had an emergency leak/burst pipe. It could be outside, but most likely it is inside your house where the city supply pipe enters your home.

If it has a handle similar to the one you would turn to “turn on” your hose, it must be turned to the left or counterclockwise as far as it will go. But, if the handle resembles a lever, this should be positioned parallel to the pipe. If it’s not, then it’s not completely open which the reason for your low pressure is.

The Water Meter Valve Isn’t Open All the Way

The second is the water meter valve which controls the water intake into your house. This valve is owned by the water company and will not be directly dealt with by most residents. Some of them are really hard to find, especially if they are underground.

If you’ve done work on your house recently or that’s around the time you first noticed low water pressure, you might consider contacting your water company. The valve probably wasn’t left open all the way after the job was finished and someone will have to go in and open it all the way.

The Pressure Regulator is Failing

Not every plumbing system has a pressure regulator installed. This option is not for you if you don’t have one.

If so, there’s a test you can do to find out if the pressure regulator is failing to get an accurate read. It is best to screw a water pressure gauge onto the outside hose spigot nearest the pressure regulator.

Once you turn the water on, the pressure gauge will provide a real-time status of your water pressure.

If it is lower than what your pressure regulator reads, the problem may be the pressure regulator. These regulators allow the water supply pressure to be regulated down to a pressure that is safe for your plumbing. If it isn’t reading, it believes it is doing its job while it is actually passing a low PSI.

Replacing your own pressure regulator isn’t a particularly challenging task, but if you aren’t comfortable messing around with pipes, it would be wise to consider calling a plumber to assist you.

The Pipes Are Clogged

Clogs don’t only occur at drains, believe it or not. These can actually develop deep down in your piping and even a small clog can be enough to gunk things up, so that your water pressure isn’t what it should be.

Since there could be a clog of this nature anywhere under your house, this is another situation you’re going to want to call a plumber. You certainly don’t want to start pulling pipes apart and can’t get them back together.

Not to mention you have no idea what you’re knocking loose or contaminating your pipes with. That’s not to say it’s okay to send dangerous chemicals down your drain to eat clogs, but still… . Using any sort of questionable or dangerous chemicals in the pipes that are pumping your drinking water in is another.

The Pipes Are Corroded

What do you know about the piping in your house? Is it original to the home or recently updated? What’s it made out of?

Pipes, galvanized steel pipes in particular, have a shelf life. In fact, galvanized steel pipe can show signs of corrosion as early as 20 years. Copper piping generally has a lifespan of 50 years or more and brass piping generally lasts between 40 and 70 years.

If your home is older this may increase the likelihood of corrosion. Newer pipes aren’t likely to be galvanized steel, and their plumbing should be fine for years to come; hobutolder houses that haven’t been modernized may need to be re-piped.

You might have additional plumbing corrosion problems if you’ve added additional plumbing to your home, such as if you added a bathroom or a washing machine after the house was built.

If your house is complete and you start adding plumbing fixtures, you are expected to up-size your branch lines. Or else that portion of your pipes is over-working and is going to corrode faster.

Corrosion has one other thing in common: you can’t see it from the outside. It will do you good to know how old your plumbing is from previous homeowners or city records.

Your Pipes Are Leaking

If you’ve had a flooded basement or foundation, then you know your pipes are leaking. But it doesn’t take a leak that big to screw up your water pressure. Your water supply is being misdirected because of the leak, so even if everything else is functioning, you ain’t getting the flow.

If you can, access your pipes and visually inspect for any areas of dampness or pooling of water. Identify the leaking pipe and attempt a temporary patch.

First, shut off your water supply, and dry the leaking section of pipe as much as possible. Next, wrap a rubber patch around the crack or corroded area and secure the rubber patch to the pipe using electrical tape and a pipe repair clamp.

It won’t fix your problem permanently but may help keep it from getting worse for a few days. Though an immediate repair can be made, contact a plumber as soon as you are able. Leaky pipes can not only ruin your foundations, they can leach hazardous chemicals into your drinking water.

In reality, if you are experiencing changes in water pressure due to leaky pipes, there is likely more than just one leak occurring. Or, perhaps, a leak is one among multiple contributors to low water pressure.

What We Can Do to Increase Water Pressure

We can’t fight with your city or water supply representatives but we can assist with those pesky pipes to up your home’s water pressure.

Rest assured that we always do our due diligence before we begin to dig underground or pull apart your plumbing. We run our fiber-optic video line to identify the trouble spots, so we know exactly where to go to fix the issue.

Though we’re happy to replace your pipes, we also do pipe relining. Pipe relining is ideal for when pipes are having internal problems but don’t require full replacement. It’s also a great solution for your wallet because it is inexpensive.

Think We Can Help with Your Low Water Pressure?

Low water pressure can destroy all things from your shower to your dishes.

Contact Day & Night Plumbing at 505-974-5797 if you’re done with the low flow. The faster you address it, the less collateral damage occurs–and you’ll also be back to enjoying normal water pressure that much sooner.

Contact us today, whether you’d like to find the cause of your pressure problems or you’re ready for us to fight your plumbing problems at the source.