If low water pressure is making your showers drizzle or is slowing down the fill-up of your sink, it’s usually not just an annoyance. It’s often a sign that something is amiss in your plumbing system.
Dirty Screens Clogging Waterflow
You know those screens that cover the faucet and shower aerators? Over time, minerals in the water build up on the screen. Eventually there is so much deposit hat the water flow is slowed down.
The best way to eliminate and prevent screen build-up is by regular cleaning. By soaking the aerators — the tips of the faucets where water comes out — in distilled vinegar for a few hours, the deposits will usually dissolve.
Once the aerators are clean, you can grab an old toothbrush and scrub them every month or so to try to prevent future mineral clogs.
Debris in the Water
If you have older galvanized steel pipes, your low water pressure might be the result of gunk in the water. Metal pipes corrode over time with the metals building up and clogging aerators.
The corrosion also leads to the thinning of the pipe walls and can result in small holes and leaks.
If you’re experiencing any of these issues, you might want to consider replacing your old steel pipes with copper or plastic pipescopper or plastic pipes, which are durable and more flexible than their older steel counterparts.
Overall Low Pressure
If you find the water pressure is low throughout your house, you likely have a more universal plumbing issue on your hands. It might be the pressure reducing valve or the main shutoff valve. You’ll typically find the PRV valve on the home’s main shutoff valve. If the valve is broken or not working, you’ll likely need to replace it.
You can also check your main shutoff valve. Even if the valve has turned just slightly, it can decrease the water pressure.
If neither the PRV or the main shutoff valve appears to be the culprit, you could have a water leak somewhere in the house. Check the toilets first; they are the most common sources of water leaks in the house. You can also check your service meter, which should have a leak indicator that will turn if you do indeed have a leak.
If you still can’t find the source of the leak, contact a plumber or your local water company to help you find the cause and get it fixed.
For answers to your questions, contact the Pink Plumber today.
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