Many different factors can cause low water pressure in your home, from the water valve to the possibly low supply of your water district. Finding the cause of the problem can take a lot of time, so the best single solution is to call the plumber.

Imagine yourself having a nice, peaceful breakfast at the table. When suddenly, your kid, all soapy and wet, from the second-floor bathroom yells, “There’s no water!!!”

Such panic can disrupt a supposed peaceful morning before going to work or school—all because the shower isn’t working as it should. The cause? The water pressure is low upstairs.

We’ll help you avoid this kind of situation. In this blog, we will talk about low water pressure in your home. We will cover the main reasons for this problem and how to fix it.

Identifying Your Water Problem

Plumber for Low Water Pressure Issues

Low water pressure is a common home plumbing issue. It affects not only showerheads, as in the scenario we mentioned, but also faucets, dishwashers, toilets, and other plumbing fixtures.

How can you be certain it’s related to the water pressure?

Well, it’s fairly simple. You live in your house, and you pretty much know the “normal” pressure of your water. Which should be anywhere from 40 to 46 PSI (pounds per square inch). So if that becomes disrupted, suddenly becomes low, or you experience no water at all, then that’s the problem right there.

Why You Should Call a Plumber to Solve Your Low Water Pressure at Home

Calling the experts in plumbing can bring you a great deal of benefits. When you have them solve your low water pressure issue at home, you somehow get relieved of the stress these plumbing issues cause you and your family.

Ensure Constant Water Pressure Levels

No matter what the cause is, your plumber is there to help you get consistent water pressure across all the floors in your home. Hiring a plumber ensures you get steady water pressure right when you need it.

Avoid More Serious Plumbing Issues

Hiring a plumber allows your water system to be checked thoroughly. Technical causes that affect your water pressure, such as leaks and pipe problems, will also be solved. Talk about hitting two birds with one stone, right?

Convenience

Our team of experts makes sure that you experience comfort and convenience while we take care of the issue. From finding the root cause to implementing the solution – all you have to do is sit back and relax while we get this all sorted out.

Peace of Mind

They say money can’t buy peace of mind. We say, nope! It definitely can! Especially when you use your money to hire an expert to solve your plumbing dilemma. When home issues like plumbing problems like this are solved, you sleep better at night knowing the problem is done.

Non-Technical Causes of Low Water Pressure

If you’re experiencing sudden low pressure in your home, you may be surprised that it can be due to a couple of simple causes that don’t really require fixing.

However, it can be frustrating, especially if you’re in the middle of a shower like the kid in our example above. And we totally understand why!

Too Many People Using Water Appliances

If you notice water pressure is not consistent if family members inside your home are using water appliances simultaneously, it means the pressure cannot keep up with the demand.

This typically happens on specific occasions when your family uses a combination of plumbing fixtures, like when your wife is using the sink while the children upstairs are each on their bath routine in the morning.

A few adjustments, like taking turns, can be made so that this won’t be a constant issue, especially when the water pressure seems fine throughout the day and night.

Water Supply is Low

If the problem is not inside your home, then it’s probably your neighbors. They might be using water in high demand, and the supply for other houses may become limited. It can be annoying to experience this loss or slow down in the water supply, and you can definitely blame your neighbors for that.

Unfortunately, it is not their fault. Your water supply district might not have informed you of a possible water supply change. This only happens when your municipal water supply district is fixing something in its chain. Or the water supply isn’t just enough to cater to everyone adequately.

Natural water resources are piped and directed to treatment facilities that serve your area. The water is then transferred to pressure tanks that provide water in your neighborhood. So, if the demand becomes too high, your provider might not be able to keep up.

Main Reasons for Low Water Pressure

After checking the water supply and your family’s usage – you realize the problem isn’t there. There’s a change in water pressure in the house. So where could the problem be?

Let’s move on to the main reasons you’re experiencing this low-pressure problem and where to look them:

Partially Closed Main Valve

If you’re wondering how you can increase water pressure in the apartment, checking the main valve can help. The main valve is found on the main waterline immediately after the waterline enters the home. It’s responsible for controlling the water flow inside your house. If it is partially closed, the water pressure is reduced, which can possibly cause the issues you’re experiencing that affect the whole house.

There are different types of main water valves. One is a lever that moves 90 degrees, and another is a gate valve with a rotating handle. If you want to open the valve completely, just rotate it counterclockwise until it can no longer turn, then turn it back a little bit to avoid possible leaks.

Partially Closed Individual Valves

Just like the main valve, when individual valves in your bathroom or kitchen, which are located beneath the sink cabinet, are partially closed, the water pressure becomes affected. Fixing water pressure in the shower can be as easy as opening its designated valve.

This occurs when the water is briefly closed and is not turned back all the way. The quick fix is just to rotate the handle counterclockwise to open the valve and turn it back a quarter fully so there won’t be a leak.

Partially Closed Water Meter Valve

Apart from the first two valves we discussed, there’s another valve you can check. This one is located in your water meter—the one that the local utility company uses to measure your water consumption. The valve is usually outside your home. If this valve is partially closed, then it’s the reason the water flow is restricted.

Pressure Regulator Failure

Both high and low pressure are not good—it should be just enough to adequately accommodate your home’s water demand. Too high water pressure can damage fixtures like showerheads, faucets, appliances, and water lines, while too little pressure can become a headache for the user.

How to repair low water pressure, then? Check your water pressure regulator if it has been set correctly. You can adjust this on your own or call a plumber to do the job.

If you find the regular on the correct setting, it could indicate a failure, and you might need a replacement. In this case, we recommend contacting a reliable plumbing company, like Pacific Plumbing Team.

Plumbing Leaks

Leaks are, of course, almost always inevitable—especially in areas you don’t see often. One issue they can lead to is low water pressure in your home as the water gets redirected out of the pipe.

This leak can be huge, especially if it’s affecting large areas of your home. If you need an emergency plumber, don’t hesitate to call us! We offer same-day service to fix your leaks on the spot.

Problems within Your Pipes

Corroded or clogged pipes can also cause the low water pressure you’re experiencing. Rust and limescale buildup are two enemies of your plumbing pipes that cause many plumbing issues. 

Galvanized steel pipes last around for 20 years. Copper pipes can go as long as 50 years. And the brass ones, up to a whopping 70 years. But no matter how old these pipes can last, they should be replaced at the end of their life.

If you live in an area with hard water, mineral buildup is likely, and thus, pipes can have a shorter lifespan. You need a professional plumber to inspect the condition of your pipes, especially when you need to replace them.

Clogged Aerators

A common issue of too low pressure of water in specific plumbing fixtures is having a clogged aerator. Aerators are the small attachments you can find in faucets, bidets, and showerheads.

Its function is to mainly regulate the flow of the water that comes out so it doesn’t splash when you use it. Oftentimes, mineral deposits and debris can clog the aerator, thus affecting the pressure of the water that comes out of it. So, how do you fix the poor water pressure? Cleaning or replacing aerators in your fixtures should solve the problem.

Small Branch Lines

Another cause of low water pressure is having small branch lines. This can significantly impact the water distribution to various fixtures in your home.

During periods of high water demand, small branch lines struggle to accommodate the required flow throughout the home. Upgrading these branch lines into bigger-diameter pipes can alleviate the problem and restore normal water flow pressure.

How to Deal with Low Water Pressure?

Dealing with water pressure issues at home involves identifying the problem that causes it at first. Second, we need to take action and solve the problem.

If you find yourself asking this, “My water pressure at home is low, what do I do?” We suggest checking all the possible reasons we listed above and listing down what you observe in each one.

Once you know the problem and the cause for it, move to coming up with a solution. If the problem is just a partially closed valve, it would be easy to just open it. But if the problem is more complex like pipe leaks and small branch pipes, we recommend calling the experts in plumbing.

Let Pacific Plumbing Team fix your water pressure problems!

Before searching for plumbers, remember that not every business offers the same services and the same level of expertise.

Our team of certified plumbing experts specializes in full-service plumbing, emergency repairs, and complex plumbing situations that need immediate solutions. With over 8,000+ happy customers across Los Angeles and nearby areas, we’re happy to add you to the count!

Give us a call for an upfront quote with no overtime charges!