What’s Causing Your Low Water Pressure?

Whether you’re taking a shower or washing your clothes, you want your plumbing to produce a steady stream of water. When your water pressure is low, you’re not going to get that. Rather, you may be left with sudsy skin or shirts sporting lingering stains.

Sometimes, low pressure is caused by a municipal supply issue, and you’ll need to take that up with your city. In many cases, though, there’s a plumbing problem at fault. You’ll want to call a Tampa plumber to diagnose the issue and get your water pressure back up to par.

Faulty Faucet

A water supply issue could affect the water pressure throughout your home. If the pressure is low in only one spot, then it’s probably not a supply problem. Rather, you might have a worn-out fixture that’s due for replacement.

Over time, plumbing fixtures can become blocked with limescale deposits. They can get rusty over the years, too. Rather than trying to clean off this pressure-reducing buildup, you’ll probably find it more satisfactory to replace the faucet.

Our plumbers will take a look at your current fixture to see whether you’re a good candidate for a replacement. It’s also possible that your plumber will determine that you don’t need a whole new unit. Rather, the plumber may simply need to swap out one small part, such as the aerator.

Problematic Pressure Regulator

Many houses have a plumbing part called a pressure regulator. This component’s job is to keep your water pressure at a constant level.

The settings on the pressure regulator can be changed. It’s possible that yours will need to be reset. Making the necessary adjustment could solve your problem. However, if no one has recently touched the pressure regulator, that’s probably not the issue. Rather, there’s a good chance that your pressure regulator has stopped working properly. The fix for that is to have it replaced.

To determine whether the pressure regulator is the cause of your plumbing problems, your plumber will use a device called a water pressure gauge. They’ll check to see whether the actual pressure reading matches up with the setting on the pressure regulator.

Corroded or Clogged Pipes

Proper water pressure depends on having enough water traveling through your pipes. If anything is obstructing the flow, your water pressure may drop.

Corrosion in your pipes can hinder the flow of water. This problem occurs over time as the metal on the inside of your pipes oxidizes. It’s especially likely to affect galvanized steel pipes, which are common in older houses.

The result of corrosion is a rusty buildup that starts to take up more and more of the space inside the pipes. Not only can this affect your water pressure, but it can also cause long-term damage to the pipes. Corrosion wears tiny holes through the pipes, and those holes can become bigger over time.

Clogs are another potential way that your water pipes could become blocked. The likely culprit is mineral buildup, primarily from hard water. This is the same sort of buildup that can do a number on plumbing fixtures.

Our plumbers can assess whether it’s time to replace some of your pipes. They may also recommend testing your water to see whether you’d be a good candidate for a water softener or another type of water treatment.

Partially Closed Valves

Your plumbing system features several valves that control the flow of water. If one of them somehow gets partially shut, it can reduce water pressure throughout your home. A plumber can track down each of the valves and confirm whether it’s fully open and operational.

One key valve is the water meter valve. As its name implies, this valve is located near the water company’s meter. When it’s fully closed, no water will flow into your pipes.

Another important valve is called the shutoff valve. This valve, too, has the ability to stop the flow of water into your house. It’s likely located inside of your home, perhaps in the basement, in the crawl space, or near the foundation. A plumber is accustomed to working with various styles of shutoff valves, including wheels and levers.

Leaky Plumbing

If there’s a leak in your pipes, then not all the water is getting to where you want it to go. Instead, some of it is dripping out along the way. Perhaps the leak is an obvious location, and you can easily spot the evidence. It’s also possible, though, that the leak is hidden away somewhere. Tracking it down is going to take some serious detective work.

In either case, you’re going to want to call a Tampa plumber to deal with the problem. Plumbers have the ability to track down all sorts of leaks, including the ones that seem nearly impossible to detect. Plus, our plumbers have the know-how to handle effective plumbing leak repair.

There are several different strategies for fixing a leak. Sometimes, tightening a connection will do the trick. Other times, applying sealant or a clamp will prevent the leak from continuing. There are other situations in which it’s best to replace a section of pipe. Our plumbers can assess the issue and then determine which repair solution will best address it. Once their repairs are finished, you may once again have sufficient water pressure.

Shared Lines

You’re probably familiar with the drop in water pressure that can occur when one person in your house is showering and another person flushes the toilet. Suddenly, the shower fixture may be putting out half as much water as before. Fortunately, the problem will soon correct itself.

In some cases, though, there’s a demand issue that’s more complicated than that. It’s possible that you aren’t just sharing your water supply with the people in your own house — you may be sharing with your neighbors as well. When another family is using a lot of water, your household’s supply could be reduced. You probably can’t knock on your neighbor’s door and ask them to stop doing laundry, so you’re going to have to find a different solution.

Our plumbers can perform a pipe replacement that resolves this issue. That way, each household will have its own pipeline that delivers water to the home.

Tampa Plumbing Help

Home Service Heroes is your source for plumbing and other home care services in the Tampa area. Our plumbers can handle jobs like drain cleaning and water heater installation. In addition, our HVAC technicians provide repairs, maintenance, and replacements for air conditioners and heat pumps. We also have electricians who take care of surge protection, lighting installation, and electrical panel repair for both commercial and residential properties. Thanks to our great service and attentive care, we’ve earned local recognition as well as an Angi Super Service award. When your Tampa Bay home or business is in need of attention, our skilled professionals are ready to do the job. Book your next appointment with Home Service Heroes today.