How’s your water pressure? Too high? Too low?
The majority of complaints tend to centre around water pressure that’s too low. There are more reasons for that than there are for water pressure that is too high. However, both can be problematic.
Low water pressure can be more noticeable while you’re standing in a shower and the spray is so weak it’s a challenge to rinse the shampoo from your hair.
It could also impact your washing machine and dishwasher as in longer fill times for washing and rinsing. It could also take longer to fill a pot of water for cooking.
High water pressure may bring a different set of problems. If water pressure is too high it may impact fixtures that are not designed to handle more than 80 psi. PSI is short for ‘pounds per square inch’. Normal can range from 40-60 psi.
Too high and your faucet may spit when turned on or it can begin to leak or the toilet may run water. High water pressure can also shorten the life of your hot water tank, washing machine, or dishwasher as well as damage plumbing lines and fittings.
High water pressure is more common in municipal water systems. It could be happening because of a valve problem.
Adjustments to the water pressure can be made with the installation of a regulator on the main water line.
For homes that use a pump system, the water pressure can be lowered with an adjustment at the pump. However, this could impact the bladder water holding tank so it may need to be flushed or changed.
Low water pressure for those on municipal systems could be the result of multiple factors and affect different aspects of the plumbing system.
The hot water tank could have a build-up of calcium or silt and sand.
The valve on the main water line coming into the house may be partially closed. It could also be partially open at the curb stop outside of the house where the municipal water system meets the residential supply.
Valves may not be fully open at the sink or under the toilet.
Other issues could be due to aeration in your kitchen or bathroom faucets, shower as well as some appliances. The shower head, for example, may be plugged with dirt or calcium.
Dirt or calcium may also affect different parts of the toilet.
A water filtration system could be clogged with sediment. In addition, dirty filters will affect water pressure.
The water softener would be plugged if it hasn’t been set up properly or if it runs out of salt. The flow of water will also be reduced if the softener hasn’t been used for a long time. Sometimes regeneration will help.
The type of water that you have in your plumbing system could contribute to low water pressure. Hard water may build up deposits of minerals in the fixtures and faucets as well as the water heater. Hard water deposits can also build up in the plumbing lines.
In addition, there could also be a leak somewhere in the plumbing system which will slow down the water supply.
If low water pressure is a problem for those using well water, it could be an issue with the pump.
If the lake is your water source, it could be a build-up at the pump or a foot valve that is taking in sand or silt and clogging the plumbing system. Also, the holding tank at the pump could be taking in the air if there is a hole in it.
Contact Plumbtech Plumbing for all your water woes. Call 705-722-7209 and have an expert take a look and advise.
