Guide to Dealing With Water Pressure Issues

Your home plumbing system has many different components, like your water heater and piping. One thing you may not consider is the water pressure that’s necessary to deliver adequate hot and cold water to your various faucets and appliances. From time to time, you may experience an issue with your water pressure that will require prompt intervention.

Why Does Water Pressure Matter?

Your plumbing system delivers water at a set pressure, measured in pounds per square inch (PSI). A safe operating range for most households is between 40 and 60 PSI. If your water pressure is under 40, you’ll have weak flow to your fixtures that can increase your sink fill times and reduce your cleaning power.

Conversely, if the pressure is above 60 PSI, it can lead to premature deterioration of your water-using appliances, alongside leaks and bursts in your piping and plumbing fixtures. Having the right water pressure ensures comfort, cleaning capability, and longer lifespans for both your plumbing system and water-using appliances.

Can You Test Your Water Pressure?

If you’re interested in discovering the exact PSI of the water supply in your home, you can test this by using a water pressure gauge. Simply screw the gauge onto your outside spigot and turn the water on full blast. The gauge’s needle will move to the appropriate PSI of the water pressure. You can also contact us to have one of our professionals do a thorough pressure test for you.

The Signs of Water Pressure Issues

There are several key signs that you have low water pressure. These include weak shower streams, trickling faucets, reduced spray from your irrigation system, slow-filling toilets, and inconsistent flow at your fixtures. Just like with low water pressure, high water pressure has some key symptoms too. These include faucets that forcefully spray, banging noises from your piping, frequent plumbing leaks, and shortened appliance lifespans.

Key Causes of Low Water Pressure

There are various reasons why you may experience low water pressure in your home. One of the simplest is that your city’s municipal supply has a malfunction, like a water main break, that’s diverting the majority of the water away from your home. Another culprit behind low water pressure is a clogged or corroded pipe.

If you live in an area with hard water, that mineral sediment can eat away at the inside of your metal piping and lead to excessive corrosion that can restrict the flow of water through the line. The same holds true when mineral buildup gets so thick inside your pipes that water can’t flow through at its normal rate.

One other common reason for low water pressure is a leak in your water supply line. Any time that there’s a leak, water will flow out of that location, and less will make it to your plumbing fixture. A faulty pressure regulator can also cause unexpected drops in pressure. Our team can detect hidden leaks that are behind walls, floors, or slabs.

Culprits Behind High Water Pressure

While not as common as low water pressure, you can experience high water pressure at your home due to a couple of different factors. The first is that your water pressure regulator is faulty, or you simply don’t have one in place, and your municipality’s water supply is at a higher pressure than necessary.

Another potential reason for high water pressure is due to the process of thermal expansion. This happens in hot water lines where heat causes the line to expand and allow more water to flow through it.

Troubleshooting Low Water Pressure Issues

If you’re experiencing low water pressure at your home, there are a few different things you can do to remedy the situation before calling one of our professionals. One of the very first things to check is one or more plumbing fixtures. You want to figure out if the issue is simply in one area or multiple areas in your home. This can help you better determine the root cause of your low water pressure.

If the problem is with all your plumbing fixtures, it can be helpful to head to your main water shut-off valve to see if someone accidentally knocked the valve handle. If the valve is not in the fully open position, it will restrict the flow of water through your piping. However, if the valve is fully open, take note of any visible water supply lines in the area to see if there’s an obvious leak that could be causing the low-pressure issue.

If you do locate a leak, it’s necessary to shut off the water supply to prevent additional property damage. It can be helpful to see if there is a smaller shut-off valve near the location of the leak that can allow you to stop the flow of water to that particular area while still maintaining water throughout the rest of your home.

If there isn’t a valve to do that, then you’ll want to shut off your main water supply valve until the plumbing leak can be repaired by one of our professional plumbers. It’s important to be proactive in cleaning up any excess water near the location of the leak to minimize the damage to your home. You should never allow water to sit, as it will prematurely deteriorate the building materials in your home and likely lead to toxic mold and mildew growth.

If you don’t see a leak, another great step to take is to check with your local water company and ask if they are aware of any present problems. Many of these municipalities will send out a notice when they experience an issue like a water main break that could affect the pressure to your home. However, you may not have received such a notice, which is why it is good to call just in case. If your low water pressure is the result of an issue with your municipal water supply, there’s nothing you can do but wait for them to restore it.

If the issue is narrowed down to one plumbing fixture, then the issue likely lies with the internal components of that fixture. It’s not uncommon for minerals and sediments to build up on the faucet aerator and cause a clog that restricts the flow of water out of that fixture. It can be helpful to unscrew the aerator and give it a good cleaning to help restore the flow of water.

Troubleshooting High Water Pressure

If you have an issue with high water pressure, the first place you’ll want to look is at your pressure-reducing valve. This valve should be located just past the main water supply line headed into your home. If there’s no valve, it’s necessary to have one of our plumbing professionals install a valve for you. This will help to extend the longevity of your pipes and plumbing fixtures. Sometimes it may be necessary to adjust the screw for the pressure-reducing valve to further reduce the pressure.

Reliable Plumbing Repair Service

Alphalete Plumbing Drain Heating & Air offers reliable plumbing service for the Colorado Springs, CO community. We can also assist with all your plumbing inspection, new installation, and replacement needs. Just call us today to book your next service appointment with one of our licensed plumbers to solve all your water pressure problems and prevent costly damage.

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