What is Causing Your Low Water Pressure?

Low water pressure is more than just an inconvenience to you and your family. Depending on the cause, it could be a quick fix, or an issue that you may need to escalate to the local water department. In either case, check on a few things to see if you can diagnose, or even fix the issue yourself.

One common cause is a clog in your pipes. Finding that clog and clearing out the blockage should bring everything back to normal. If you are certain there is no clog and the pressure is still low, then look at your shutoff valve. When the shutoff valve is not open, it will restrict the flow and cause low pressure.

The ideal range of water pressure for a house connected to city water should be within the range of 45 to 55 psi. To check the water pressure yourself, you will need a pressure gauge, which can be found at many home improvement stores. Connect the gauge to an outdoor water spigot, and turn on the water to get a reading.

A reading at or below 40 psi means that the city is delivering your water at a low pressure. Contacting your city’s water department might help discover the problem, or they may be willing to help increase your pressure.

In the case the city cannot help fix your issue, you can take matters into your own hands and attempt to fix the problem yourself. One way to do this is by installing a pressure booster. A booster uses an electric pump and a pressure tank to help increase the pressure of the water that comes in from the street.

A dial on the pump can adjust the pressure to the ideal setting, and the tank holds a reserve of pressurized water so the pump need not run every time somebody runs a faucet. It will also help increase the flow of water when the demand for water is high.

Whereas low pressure can be inconvenient, high pressure can cause serious problems. Eighty psi or greater can cause you to waste water, and waste energy in needing to heat it. High water pressure will also cause damage to faucets, appliances, water heaters and seals.

You should be happy and comfortable in your own home, so don’t let low water pressure bring you down. If you need help to find and fix the cause of low water pressure in your house, call Sunrise Heating and Plumbing today at (616) 293-9326. We pride ourselves in providing nothing but exceptional customer service.