A common problem faced by homeowners is low water pressure. Low water pressure can be extremely frustrating with essential day to day tasks, such as running a bath, getting shampoo out of your hair, putting on a load of washing or doing the dishes becoming more difficult and time consuming each day. It is often challenging to determine the cause of low water pressure without the assistance of a qualified plumber, however, some of the causes that may be responsible for your slow-flowing taps are:
- Faulty valves
- Supply pressure problems from the mains or shared pipes with other properties
- The location of your home (for example, are you on the top of a hill or is your property higher than those surrounding you?)
- A build-up of debris and sediment that is blocking the pipes
- Corrosion build-up within pipes
- The size and age of the pipes
- Hidden leaks
- Blocked flow restrictors and aerators
Slow flowing taps and/or a low volume of water from taps are tell-tale signs that something is not quite right and expert assistance may be required. Besides these obvious signs, there are a number of ways to conduct a home test to determine if you have low water pressure.
How To Check For Low Water Pressure
- Turn on all the cold taps in your home, both inside and out. If some taps are flowing faster than others it is an indication that you have a plumbing issue
- Talk with your neighbours to see if they are also experiencing low water pressure. If they are not this is a sign that the problem is confined to your property
- Check all your taps for any obvious signs of leaks
- Consider the frequency of lower water pressure. For example, is there a specific time that the water pressure is slower? Sometimes water pressure is affected in peak demand times and this may be what is causing your problem
If you would like to read more about the causes of low water pressure and how you can check your water pressure you can do so by accessing the Unity Water website via this link – Unity Water – Water Pressure Issues
Things to Try Before Calling an Expert
There are a number of things you can do to try to improve water pressure in your home prior to calling an expert.
Stop Tap – Firstly, assess the stop tap. A stop tap is usually located close to the boundary of your property, near your water meter. It is important to check that the stop tap is fully open however this should only be done if it is safe to do so and easily accessible. If you are unsure about this it is best to contact a qualified plumber.
Faucet Aerators – Next, you can try to clean the faucet aerators (as shown in the picture to the left) to see if this assists in the flow and pressure of the water. The aerator is simply the fitting that screws into the end of most bathroom and kitchen faucets. If you are still having difficulties it is time to call in the experts.
A qualified plumber will attend your home and conduct a water pressure test at different locations throughout your home in an effort to try to determine where the main problem is stemming from. A plumber will also perform a leak test to determine if this may be the cause of the problem. Following these tests, you will receive a fully comprehensive report on the causes and the repair options available to you.
AK Gas and Plumbing are experts in this area and work daily on low-pressure plumbing problems. They are committed to finding the cause of the problem and working to rectify it as quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. AK Gas and Plumbing are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week so there is no excuse not to contact them today and return your taps back to the full pressure they deserve!
