(412) 364-9114
You turn on your sink but it’s barely a trickle. Your shower doesn’t even feel like it’s trying. What’s going on? Low water pressure is nearly always a problem that has to be addressed, but the scale of that problem can vary. Here are a few things you should to do troubleshoot the problem.
Is the water pressure problem in your entire house? Is it in a single room? Or is it just in a single faucet? Finding out where the water pressure is low is the first step towards troubleshooting the problem. If the water pressure is low in your entire house, then it’s likely a problem with the lines going to your house. If the water pressure is in a single room, then you may have a blockage or a leak inside your home. If the water pressure is low in a single faucet, shower head, or appliance, it’s a localized issue.
Check both your hot or cold water. If only your hot water is low, it’s likely to be a problem with your hot water heater rather than a problem with your pipes.
This is often going to be a serious issue. However, there is one simple thing you can check: you can locate the water shut-off valves and pressure valves to your home. These could have been shifted at some point. Open up the pressure valve and see if it does anything to the water pressure.
If your water pressure is still low throughout your house, you either have a slab leak or a leak to the main water supply. It’s possible that tree roots have infiltrated your water line or that something like an earthquake has unsettled it. You’re going to need a qualified plumber to find out where the leak is and resolve it. Sometimes you can even figure it out yourself; if there’s a water leak coming to your house, you may see an area where the grass is growing much faster.
If the water pressure is low in a single room, it’s more likely there is a leak somewhere in your home. You can look for signs of moisture, but ultimately you’re going to have to call a professional because an internal leak can be damaging to the structure of your property very quickly.
Do you have hard water? If so, that could be the problem in and of itself. Hard water minerals can calcify in faucets, shower heads and appliances, and prevent water flow. You may need to change the aerator of a faucet or simply switch out a shower head. This is one of the easiest low pressure problems to fix.
Low water pressure could mean that there’s something seriously wrong with your line and your home. If your low water pressure persists, you should contact a professional by making an appointment today with the experts at Terry’s Plumbing.
When in doubt, give us a call at Terry’s Plumbing! As your reputable plumber in Pittsburgh, we can help you with your plumbing-related issues. Call today at 412-364-9114.
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