4 Ways to Troubleshoot Low Water Pressure
You turn on and off a tap hundreds of times every day. The truth is that you probably never think much of this simple act. However, not everyone in the world has this luxury. In fact, there are approximately 790 million people in the world who don’t have access to a quality water supply.
In Australia the maximum water pressure is set by the government; it should not be more than 500kpa. If the pressure goes above this, it can place excessive strain on your pipes, joints, and appliances. But, what about if the pressure is much lower than this?
If you think you have low water pressure you should try the following 4 ways to troubleshoot, and contact the Plumbing Detectives; their expert help can actually save you a lot of time and money.Check Your Faucets
The first thing you need to do is verify whether the pressure is low at all the faucets in your home or not. It will probably be obvious when you turn the water supply on. However, if you’re not sure you can time how long it takes each faucet to fill a bottle of water. The time should be roughly the same for each one.
Identifying the faucet which has an issue can help you to narrow down and identify the issue.
Test Aerators
If you’ve managed to narrow down your search area then you need to check the aerator inside your faucet. It could have debris in it which is slowing the flow.
You can access the aerator by removing the end of your faucet, but make sure you turn off the water supply first!
Soaking an aerator in a vinegar and water solution should be enough to clean off any debris and restore your faucet to full working order.
Take A Look At The Mains Valve
It is worth looking at both the mains valve and the pressure relief valve in your system. A pressure relief valve could be faulty, constantly allowing water to escape and reducing the pressure in the system.
Alternatively, you may find that there is a pressure regulator on the mains valve. This can be adjusted to improve the pressure. However, if this is not effective then you probably have a defective regulator and are going to need to have it replaced.
Look For Leaks
When considering water pressure it is important to compare your pressure with that of your neighbors; you can’t expect to have a much greater pressure than they all have if you’re using the same supply lines.
However, your pressure can be dramatically reduced if you have a leak. Turn off all water appliances in your home and then take a look at your water meter. It should be stationary. It’s a good idea to take a reading and then take another reading 5-10 minutes later. If the reading has changed and all appliances are off, you have a leak that is costing you money and reducing your water pressure.
You’ll probably need professional help tracking the leak down.
