Low Water Pressure in Home

Low water pressure in homes is a predominant problem throughout the civilized world. Right from the days of the Romans who built the first water transporting canals for their splendid baths, man has been grappling with the problem of effective plumbing for his dwelling. In this article I discuss the major causes of low water pressure in home fixtures.

Most day-to-day jobs in the house are impossible without water. Just having water is not enough, but it should also be supplied at the right pressure. A low water pressure problem can be frustrating and can make many jobs around the house extremely time-consuming.

Causes of Low Water Pressure in Homes

The water delivery system of a city is often strained due to the high volume of usage and rising population. Maintaining the behemoth of a plumbing system spread over a whole town is a difficult job. There are many causes of low water pressure in bathroom sinks and kitchen sinks which can range from problems with the larger plumbing system to problems with the home plumbing system. A low water pressure problem in shower heads may just be due to a physical blockage in the head or it may be a part of a larger problem that besets all the water fixtures in your home. Clogged water filter or crimped pipes are the major reasons for a low water pressure in shower heads. Read more on shower heads to increase water pressure.

I list the major reasons for problems ranging from low water pressure in kitchen sink to low water pressure that may be affecting every installed water faucet or fixture in your house. In case you cannot narrow down a low pressure problem to an anomaly in the fixtures themselves, here are the things you need to look out for.

Peak Usage Problem
One of the reasons for low water pressure in home fixtures might be that your peak water usage time is coinciding with the peak usage period of most of your neighbors. Since you share your main water supply line with your neighbors, changing your water usage schedule and making sure that it doesn't clash with majority of your neighbors might just solve the problem.

Pipe Blockage By Mineral Deposits
One of the most common reasons for low water pressure is the narrowing of galvanized iron pipes by mineral depositions. This reduces the volume of water delivered to your home. The only way out of such a problem is to repair the pipes (cleaning out the mineral deposits) or get them replaced. You will need to contact a plumber for repairs in this case.

Leaking Pipes
The water supply made to your house is measured by an installed meter. To check if the problem of low pressure is due to leakage through damaged water supply pipes, shut off all the water fixtures in your house and observe the meter reading for some hours. If the meter keeps ticking, you have a water leakage problem. You may need extensive repairs or even replacement of supply pipes to take care of the problem.

Water Source Elevation
Water pressure is often dependent on the elevation of the water source or tank compared to the elevation of your house. The low pressure problem might be caused by insufficient elevation of the water source. In this case, an elevation of the water supply tank or restructuring of the piping mechanism might solve the problem for.

Bad Water Pressure Regulator
A malfunctioning of the water pressure regulator placed below the front hose of your house might be the reason for low water pressure in your house. A simple replacement or repair of the regulating mechanism will restore water pressure to normal levels. This job is best left to a plumber.

Hope this article helps you in troubleshooting low water pressure in home fixtures. The trick is to go to the root of the reason for the low water pressure problem through step by step elimination. Taking help of an experienced plumbing professional will definitely help.