Low water pressure can be a major problem in a home, so figuring out why it’s happening is critical. Fortunately, there are typically a handful of causes. Our plumbers tend to look at the following potential causes when trying to diagnose low water pressure.
Low Municipal Water Pressure
It’s unlikely that low municipal water pressure is the culprit, but you do want to rule it out early in the process. Most of the time, the main connection into a house tells you what the pressure is coming from your municipal water supply. We’ll check the water pressure to ensure that the main line isn’t the cause of the problem.
If poor municipal water pressure is the culprit, the first thing to do is determine if the problem is short term. Your water company could be dealing with an issue like a damaged pipe, and we can contact them to find out what’s going on. If your neighborhood has persistently low water pressure, you may need to look at a solution like a regulator to build up the pressure.
Another possibility is that your house alone has poor water pressure, which may indicate a problem with the main line going into your home. That is typically a problem for the water company to address. However, the issue could also be the regulator valve, and the solution is replacement.
Narrowing Pipes
Corrosion and mineral buildup in your home’s plumbing pipes can also reduce water pressure. Especially if a house was built before 1960, it may have galvanized steel pipes. These often suffer from narrowing as corrosion collects inside the pipe. All types of pipes can suffer mineral buildup, too.
A good way to check for this problem is to compare the house’s meter against the pressure at various points like showerheads, faucets, toilets, spigots, and other fixtures. If it seems like the pressure throughout the house is lower than the water meter suggests, then the pipes may suffer from mineral buildup or corrosion.
You can also look for discoloration. White mineral deposits often collect around fixtures with mineral buildups. Likewise, rust can collect in the water or stain bathtubs and basins.
The solution is usually as simple as flushing the lines. In extreme cases, we may need to run new lines. Especially with older metal lines, replacing them with newer flexible lines will reduce the risk of future narrowing. Households with persistent problems may also want to look at installing a water treatment system to filter out minerals and chemicals from the supply.
Water Heater Failure
If the low water pressure issue only traces to the hot water, there’s a good chance that your home’s water heater is failing. Worse, it could be a sign that the water heater tank is leaking. In many cases, we can drain the tank and treat it for sediment buildup. Serious damage, however, could call for replacing the tank.
Leaks
Water pipes can develop leaks for a variety of reasons. Major corrosion can cause holes to develop and require plumbing repairs. Another possibility is that a fitting has loosened over time. Similarly, seals can fail anywhere throughout the water line. Our plumbers have leak detection tools that allow them to quickly trace leaks to their origins. We can usually patch the leaks or replace the failing components to get your water pressure back to normal.
Leaks often produce dripping sounds, but you’ll need to search for them while the house is quiet. You can also turn off all the appliances and fixtures in your house. Take a reading from the meter at the start, and then compare it to a new reading after a few hours. If the meter shows a visible change, then there may be a leak somewhere.
Verne & Ellsworth Hann puts five generations of family experience to work for our customers. We serve Cleveland Heights, OH and the surrounding areas. Our business has been around since 1952, and you can see our well-deserved good reputation in the many reviews of our work online. We’re a BBB-accredited firm that’s also a winner of the Best of the Heights award. Our plumbers bring integrity and quality to every job.
We offer honest pricing, too. Our team can assist with all sorts of plumbing services, including water line installation, drain repair, leak detection, and more. If you’re worried about the water pressure being too low in your Cleveland Heights home, contact Verne & Ellsworth Hann and have a licensed plumber check out the situation.
