Struggling With Low Water Pressure in Your House? Watch Out for These 7 Signs

Seven Signs You May Low Water Pressure In Your House

Despite turning your faucet to the highest output level, do you still receive diddly-squat water? Or do you notice that every time you shower, you don’t receive the effortless waterfall stream from your shower head as you once used to? Does your soap not lather as readily as you’d like? Do your dishes always have stains after being put through the dishwasher’s long wash cycle? These are all reflections of your home’s plumbing system, specifically a drop in water pressure levels. Low water pressure in your house is a phenomenon in which water doesn’t come out from your plumbing fixtures at full capacity and regular speed, usually due to a clogged drain and/or obstruction in the pipe, discoloured rust and corrosion, and other plumbing problems including the faucet’s valve not being fully open, your home’s main shutoff valve is also not completely open, a failing pressure regulator, a dirty and clogged aerator or old and damaged water supply pipes.

It may be about time to ask a local, licensed, and fully insured Ontario plumber from Hy-Pro Plumbing & Drain Cleaning to assess your home’s water pressure levels through a professional plumbing inspection and diagnosis. Call 1-877-554-9776 to speak with a knowledgeable customer service agent and get started today!

What is PSI?

Water pressure is normally measured in pounds per square inch (PSI) and is considered the force at which the water exits a faucet. The pressure itself pushes the water supply through your home’s pipes, and its forceful nature is created by altitude or elevation. For example, you’ll notice that water distribution systems, including water tanks, tend to position large storage units at higher elevations to take advantage of the pull of gravity to increase the pressure of water supplied. Most localities in Ontario utilize pumps and pressure stations to increase water pressure en route to your home’s water supply lines. Typically, a water pressure gauge calculates your home’s plumbing system’s water pressure, with the ideal and neutral range being between 45 and 55 PSI. Still, no more than 80 PSI as that would warrant a checkup from a professional plumber. If the water pressure is too low, your plumbing fixtures and water-based appliances will barely chug along or won’t work at all. If anything, your daily eating, drinking, bathing, and cleaning routines will be rudely interrupted. Supposedly, if water pressure is too high, it can permanently damage and rupture your plumbing fixtures, appliances, and pipes resulting in costly repairs. But reduced water pressure is not necessarily reserved to a specific spot in the house; for example, as a general rule of thumb, consider the following for lower water pressure:

• Faucet and taps → Likely reason? A clog.
• Specific room of the house including bathroom or kitchen and all the fixtures thereof → Likely reason? A corroded water pipe.
• Whole entire house → Likely reason? A damaged water main or well pump.

Although you can test the water pressure of your plumbing system using a store-bought pressure gauge by connecting the tool to the home’s exterior hose bib or hose faucet–this doesn’t resolve the problem. If you do find, however, the pressure reading falls outside of the range mentioned above; you may need the services of an expert plumber to restore your home’s water pressure levels to moderation.

What Are The Telltale Signs I Have Low Water Pressure in My House?

Leaky Pipes And Faucets

Overall, if there is lower water pressure in just one or two fixtures in a specific room of your house, it may be due to leaks in the pipe or plumbing fixture, such as the faucet. One of the most obvious signs you have water pressure issues is leakages in your plumbing fixtures, as this will cause your water pressure to plummet easily. This is because water is getting drained out rapidly because of the leak instead of being smoothly transported to your fixtures. On the other hand, the leak can be specifically reserved for a plumbing fixture, including the faucet itself, especially if its aerator, which serves as the entranceway of the faucet or cartridge, is clogged. Or the cartridge, which is located underneath the sink handle and controls the start and stop flow of water, is clogged as well.

Multiple Slow, Sluggish Plumbing Fixtures

If you have lowered water pressure in all of your plumbing fixtures, the problem lies with your water supply pipe, which may be clogged due to a solid blockage or rusted over from corrosion. A clog, for example, is due to accumulated debris, including dirt, soap scum, hair strands, flushable wipes, food leftovers, random objects, and more. These items can block out the waterways of the pipes and result in backups. Sooner or later, mineral and sediment buildup will stifle the streamlined flow of water and cause the pressure of water to decrease as there is less and less space for water to transport through the pipes. At Hy-Pro Plumbing, we are big advocates of preventative maintenance and recommend that you are proactive about routine maintenance. For example, you can prevent a clog from cropping up in the first place by cleaning out your faucet’s aerator, as sediment may not fully sieve through and get caught up in the sink’s pipes.

Discoloured Rust And Corrosion

A plumbing pipe becomes rusted over if it oxidizes, weakening its structural integrity and restricting the flow of water. Similar to a clog, a pipe will also rust and rupture as it’s exposed to accumulated debris, sediment, and calcium and limescale deposits. Because pipes corrode from the inside out, you may not notice it at first, but the problem does worsen and eventually closes off the pipe completely. Determining low water pressure in a house is tricky as the problem slowly develops over many years rather than all at once. But if you happen to purchase a pre-owned property, you may have noticed restricted water flowing from the taps, indicating corrosion and lower water pressure.

Disruption Of Everyday Chores

Concerned about: Dirty dishware, clothes not properly washed, or no lather for shampoo or soap? If you are frustrated that your daily eating and grooming routines are not as comfortable and relaxing as they once were, it may be due to low water pressure in your house. If you notice water streaks or stains on your dishware and cutlery, for example, it means they are not getting completely rinsed off in the dishwasher. It may indicate the dishwasher’s spray arms could be susceptible to lower water pressure. Moreover, you may need to wash your garments a few times before they are clean, as the washing machine’s water filter or inlet valve may be clogged and malfunction from lower water pressure. As a result, it takes the washer incredibly long to fill itself with water, causing the washer to not spin as readily as it once did. Due to the lack of water pressure, for example, the washing machine cannot pump the water at full blast for the given wash cycle. And lastly, if you can’t seem to lather, rinse and repeat during your daily shampoo no matter how organic and high quality the product is, indicating that you are dealing with low water pressure. This is made worse if you don’t have a water softener system installed in your home, as the hard water minerals will mingle with the lowered pressure levels to give you a pretty rough shower experience.

Trapped Air Bubbles

Similar to corrosion, this is another difficult problem you may not immediately foresee but is a plumbing problem nonetheless for lower water pressure in your house. Sometimes, the air gets trapped inside your water supply pipes which results in tiny bubbles which inhibit the smooth flow of water throughout the pipes. As a result, you will be susceptible to low water pressure alongside increasing the likelihood of rust.

Faulty Pressure Regulator

A malfunctioning pressure regulator can also result in lower water pressure in your house. If it happens to be broken, it can lead to excessive water pressure or no pressure at all. A pressure regulator is responsible for reducing the incoming pressure from your plumbing system to a safe and mandatory threshold level that will not damage your pipes. One of the biggest issues with a pressure regulator is accumulated debris, including sediment buildup in the valve itself, which can result in solid blockages or clogs, pumping problems, or short cycling. This can be remedied by replacing the pressure regulator with a brand-new one.

Water Meter Showcases Lower Reading

This one is a given as if you are vulnerable to lower water pressure in the house; the pressure level will be off-balance. The water meter illustrates fluctuations in the pressure of your home’s plumbing system and its network of pipes and gauges its overall hydraulic performance and accuracy. As mentioned, the ideal range for residential water pressure levels must clock in between 30 and 80 PSI, with 40 to 60 PSI being the sweet spot.

FAQs About Low Water Pressure in Your House

Can Low Water Pressure Cause Damage?

Although high water pressure is touted as being more harmful to your pipework, lowered water pressure is just as big of a culprit. If there is low water pressure in your house, it may highlight that there is a deeper underlying problem in the deep lagoons of your water supply and drain lines, including a clog that needs to be addressed. If left unresolved, the clog can result in costly and permanent water and moisture damage, including mould and mildew growth, given the excessive humidity levels in your pipes and home.

How Can I Make My Water Pressure Stronger?

A simple and easy hack to increase your home’s water pressure is to adjust the pressure-reducing valve, which is located nearby the water meter. If your pressure gauge indicates a lower pressure reading, you can make subtle adjustments to the regulator itself.

How Do I Know If My Pressure-Reducing Valve Is Broken?

Here are some telltale signs that indicate that your pressure-reducing valve or regulator is busted:

• Lowered or fluctuating water pressure levels
• Excessive water pressure levels
• No water pressure whatsoever
• Vibrating, humming, or even thumping noises from your pipelines
• Small holes and leakages in plumbing fixtures and pipes

Hy-Pro Plumbing Will Restore Your Water Works To Optimal Pressure Level–Reach Out Today!

Nobody wants to compromise on their daily living routine, all thanks to low water pressure in the house. Plus, it’s best not to be desperate and miss out on professional plumbing services to restore your home to moderate water pressure levels, as you will reap the benefits of improved energy efficiency. By achieving an optimal PSI level, you can save thousands of gallons per year in terms of reduced water consumption. Sooner or later, your monthly utility bills will decrease all because of the regulated steam of water at the correct pressure level.

At Hy-Pro Plumbing, we guarantee you will wonder why you didn’t ask sooner after you noticed you begin to receive a generous and cleaner supply of water. Go ahead and reach out to one of our friendly customer contact representatives, who can gladly schedule you a consolation or service appointment at 1-877-554-9776. Whilst you are there, inquire about our other residential and commercial plumbing services, from clogged drains, and drain cleaning to water heater repair. We earnestly await your call!