Are you frustrated with your home’s low water pressure? Turning on a showerhead only to get a trickle of water or waiting an unusually long time for the washer to fill can be extremely frustrating. When faced with this situation, many homeowners will try to DIY the solution. After all, sometimes low water pressure is as simple as cleaning your faucet aerators and making sure that your main water and water heater valves are fully on, and both of those things are something that you can do yourself.
To help you get to the bottom of your water pressure mystery, our plumbers at Lutz Plumbing have put together this guide on low water pressure. As you read, you’ll learn what to do when low water pressure strikes and when to call a plumber.
DIY Checks You Can (and Should) Do First
Check Individual Faucets
Are you experiencing low water pressure in one faucet or showerhead, or in every fixture? Before you call a plumber about your water pressure concerns, you may want to check your individual faucets. Checking each individual faucet lets you know if the problem is just with one faucet or area of the house or every faucet and showerhead. Even if you don’t fix the problem, you’ll be able to tell your local plumber about your water pressure problems in more detail.
To check a faucet, turn it on. If the water pressure is low, turn the water off, remove the aerator and remove all of the debris from the wire screen. Then, screw the aerator back onto the faucet. If the water pressure is correct, the dirty aerator was the problem.
Once you’ve checked all of your faucets, check your showerheads. Showerheads tend to lose water pressure due to lime buildup. To remove the limescale, unscrew the showerhead from the shower arm. Next, fill a large bowl or plastic baggie with vinegar. It’s okay to use 100% vinegar if you suspect you have a lot of lime in your showerhead. Submerge the showerhead in the bowl or baggie for 30 minutes.
Once the time has elapsed, take the showerhead out of the vinegar. At this stage, you can use an old toothbrush to clean any visible lime from the outlets and sprayface.
After you’re done cleaning the visible lime, thoroughly rinse the showerhead with cold water and reattach it to the showerhead arm. Next, turn on the cold water to flush the showerhead. You can also observe the pressure of the water. If the water pressure has been restored, you don’t need to call a plumber.
Check Your Shut-Off Valves
If cleaning your aerators and showerheads didn’t restore your water pressure, you should check your main water shutoff and the valve on your water heater to make sure they are fully open. Main water shutoff valves are usually located near the water meter or where the water enters your home.
Main water valves typically have one of two types of valves, including a gate valve or a ball valve. Gate valves typically have round handles, like the handles on your outdoor hose bibs. To ensure the valve is fully open, turn the handle counterclockwise until it stops. This helps ensure that the maximum amount of water is entering your home.
Gate valves typically have a lever-type handle. If the handle is pointed down, the valve is completely closed. If the handle is parallel to the pipe, it is fully open.
Once you’ve made sure that your main water shutoff valve is open, you should check the valve on your water heater. If you see a gate valve, turn it counterclockwise until it stops. If you see a ball valve with a lever, the lever should be parallel to the pipe.
Ask Your Neighbors
Sometimes, the low water pressure issue is on the municipal side of the system. Consider asking your neighbors if they’re also experiencing water pressure problems. If they are, it’s probably due to low water pressure in the city’s water system. To find out when the low water pressure problem will be resolved, you can call your local city.
Red Flags: When to Stop and Call Lutz Plumbing
If the Pressure Dropped Suddenly
Sudden pressure drops are a plumbing emergency. When your plumbing system loses pressure rapidly, it could mean that your pressure reducing valve has failed, or it could mean you have a large leak in the system. Both of these issues will require the help of our professional plumbers in Kansas City.
If You Have Old, Galvanized Pipes
At Lutz Plumbing, we see a lot of severely corroded galvanized pipes, especially in the older Mission Hills and Northland homes. This is because galvanized pipes start to corrode the moment their zinc coating wears away, and over time, those pipes can corrode so severely that the buildup can restrict or even stop the flow of water through the pipe.
If You Suspect a Hidden Leak
Modern plumbing systems are hidden inside walls for aesthetic reasons. This means that homeowners can’t visually assess the pipes in order to determine their condition. This means that homeowners need to be vigilant in looking for signs of a hidden water leak. A few common signs include heating water when no taps are turned on, damp spots on your walls or floor, and a running meter when all the taps are turned off.
If Your PRV is Failing
Pressure relief valves are designed to lower the pressure from the city water supply so that it doesn’t put a strain on your residential plumbing pipes and water-using appliances. The water flowing from the treatment plant is often much higher than what’s needed for residential and commercial use. The reason is because the city has to make sure that its water reaches every home connected to the system.
Residential homes only need water pressures of between 40 and 80 PSI. Anything higher than 80 is too high and could damage your plumbing system. Anything below 40 is considered low, and water pressure below 30 PSI is considered very low. Pressure reducing valves reduce the city’s water pressure to what is safe for residential plumbing systems and water-using appliances.
When a pressure reducing valve (PRV) goes bad, you might notice fluctuating pressure inside your home. When you go to use the water one time, it may be very high. The next time, it may be low. This is a sign that the PRV is no longer able to hold its setting. You may also notice humming noises, and when the valve finally quits, it could fail with a mostly closed setting. This means that the flow of water to your home would be significantly restricted. The good news is that our plumbers at Lutz Plumbing can remove your old PRV and install a new one.
Conclusion
If you notice a sudden drop in water pressure, there are things you can check. Make sure your main water and water heater valves are fully open. Check to see if the aerators in your faucets are clogged, clean your showerhead with vinegar, and ask your neighbors if they’re experiencing problems with their water pressure. However, if your city’s not experiencing low water pressure and cleaning your aerators and showerheads failed to resolve the situation, it’s time to call a professional plumber in Kansas City.
Your low water pressure doesn’t have to be a mystery, and you don’t have to live with it. Our experienced plumbers at Lutz Plumbing can diagnose the cause of your low water pressure and implement the fix. To schedule an appointment, contact us today.