Clogged drains and leaking pipes are the most common reasons why you call a plumber. However, sometimes your home’s plumbing can have an effect on your home’s water pressure. The typical inlet pressure at a residential home is 40-45lbs per square inch. If you have noticed a change in your home’s output, you may be dealing with low water pressure.
The average American home uses a lot of water, around 300 gallons a day to be precise. Nearly 75% of that use comes from our indoor fixtures. Water getting to our house and faucets is not something we think about all that often. And if our pressure drops, most of us have no idea why, or where to look for a problem to fix.
The Mesa & Queen Creek plumbing experts at Angry Pipe Solutions are here to help. We’re going to cover the most common plumbing-related water pressure issues your East Valley home may be experiencing and what you can do to mitigate the issues.
Your Water Municipality is Experiencing an Issue
The most common cause of low water pressure comes not from your home’s plumbing, but from an issue with your water provider. Before you call a plumber or start banging around on pipes, talk to your neighbors and see if they’re also experiencing issues.
Contact your water supplier and find out if they are aware of and working on an issue with their water supply. If it’s something that they are in the process of fixing, you’ll have to sit tight for a bit.
If they are, you’ll want to contact your water provider and ask if they are aware of any issues. If they are aware, hopefully, they will be able to provide you with a timeline to fix the issue.
New local regulations
As cities and municipalities put a greater emphasis on environmental protection, they may have changed their regulations in regard to water flow.
Thankfully, these generally result in a minor drop in your water pressure and will definitely help you out on your water bill.
However, if you like your water pressure the way it was, you may want to purchase a water pressure booster. While we have seen customers who installed these themselves, you’ll probably want to call your expert East Valley Plumbers at Angry Pipe Solutions to make sure your system is installed properly.
The Main House Shutoff Valve Isn’t Open All the Way
So you’ve talked to your neighbors and you are the only one experiencing issues with your water pressure!!! It’s time to start looking around your house for a potential cause.
Unless you’ve had an emergency involving a leak or a burst pipe, you haven’t messed with this valve. It may be located outside, but chances are it’s inside where the main city supply pipe enters your home.
If it has a handle similar to the one you would use to turn on your hose, it needs to be turned counterclockwise as far as it can go. If the handle looks like a lever, the lever needs to be parallel to the pipe. Otherwise, it’s not fully open, which is why your pressure is low.
The Water Meter Valve Isn’t Open All the Way
The water meter valve is the second valve controlling the water intake in your house. This valve belongs to the water company, so most residents will never deal with this valve directly. Some of them are quite difficult to reach, especially those that are located underground.
If you’ve had work done on your house recently, especially if that’s when you started to notice your low water pressure, you may want to contact your water company. Chances are, the valve was not opened all the way after the work was complete, and someone will need to go in and open it all the way.
The Pressure Regulator is Failing
Not every home in Mesa and the East Valley is equipped with a pressure regulator. If you don’t have one, obviously this solution isn’t for you.
If your home’s plumbing is equipped with a pressure regulator, there’s a simple test you can perform with a water pressure gauge. Simply attach the gauge to an outdoor spigot (preferably closest to the pressure regulator). If the numbers fall below what your pressure regulator is reading this may be your issue. Again, you may be able to replace the regulator on your own – however, we recommend calling in a plumber.
The Pipes Are Corroded or Clogged
Corroded and clogged pipes are the most common reason we see for reduced water pressure.
Over time, minerals in the water can build up. These minerals are sometimes corrosive to your home water supply pipes. The minerals also build-up and reduce flow. Obviously, if your water flow is reduced, your pressure is reduced.
Unfortunately, replacing the main water line in your house is not a job for an average homeowner. We recommend giving us a call.
Our team will come out to perform a video inspection of your line and show you exactly where your issue is. We will also provide you with a free estimate to replace or repair the waterline.
Your Pipes Are Leaking
Second to corroded and clogged pipes is leaking pipes. Over time things like tree roots, temperature changes and just plain old age can take a toll on your pipes. It doesn’t take much of a leak to cause a significant drop in water pressure.
Similar to our process of diagnosing clogged and corroded pipes, we will perform a video inspection and provide a quote to repair the leaking pipes.
Think We Can Help with Your Low Water Pressure?
Low water pressure can ruin everything from your shower to your dishes. If you’re tired of dealing with a low flow, let us know. The earlier we deal with it, the less the damage will spread–plus, the sooner you’ll be enjoying your regular water pressure again.
Whether you want to know the root of your pressure problems or you’re ready for us to tackle your plumbing head-on, contact us today.