I find bathroom and kitchen low water pressure to be very irritating. There is little more disappointing than looking forward to a hot shower and having to suffer a pathetic dribble coming out of the spigot. The worst thing about insufficient pressure, though, is the inadequacy of a toilet’s flush. I got sick of dealing with stopped up toilets and waiting interminably for my glass to fill when I wanted a glass of H2O so I taught myself how to ramp up the water pressure.

If you are going to do this on your own, you need to identify your source first. Solving low water pressure problems requires different steps depending on whether your pipes come from a well or from a municipal source. The most common cause for low water pressure problems is a leak somewhere in the piping system.

Municipal Sources

If you get your liquid from a municipal source, follow these steps.

• Look for leaks in the piping. This includes all the piping in the house as well as that leading to the water main in the street. This step is important because you do not want to do anything to increase the pressure if there is a leak somewhere along the line. This would cause a disaster. If there is a leak beyond this point, then it is the city’s problem and you can call them to fix it.
• Get on the phone to your plumber and ask him or her to measure the incoming flow of fluids. If you have low pressure with the pressure regulator set to wide open then the city may not be supplying enough pressure. Low water pressure may also be due to inadequate pipe size inside your home or leading up to your home.
• If the city is not sending in enough pressure to supply a comfortable shower, then do not despair. You can boost the pressure with a pressure booster pump.
• If you cannot see any leaks and the pressure coming in to your building is still too low, then the problem may be the height of your building and the location of your apartment or other dwelling. You can still boost pressure with a special pump.
• If you have low water pressure issues at just one fixture, such as the sink, then you can narrow down the pipes that are the problem. Review the pipes leading up to that fixture for leak or crimps.

Well Pump

Take these measures if you receive your liquid refreshment from a well.

• Check the foot valve if your well pump keeps losing pressure. It may need to be replaced.
• Review the check valve. His is located on the piping near to your house. Leaks at these valves can drastically drop pressure coming into the house.
• Look inside the pump itself. Sometimes the low water pressure happens because the water is dirty and a filter is interfering with the proper flow.

Written by Reeves Family Plumbing specializes in quality plumbing repair in Dallas and surrounding areas. Let Reeves be your partner in all things plumbing.