Is your home experiencing low water pressure problems, especially when you are using more than one water-using appliance in your Brevard County home, like your dishwasher while taking a shower? Low water pressure problems are fairly common in older homes. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to increase your home’s hot and cold water pressure.
Common Causes of Low Water Pressure
Low water pressure can happen to any home, whether it’s in Florida, California or Ohio, and the reasons are typically the same. As a plumbing service provider, we’ve noticed that corroded pipes, leaks and low city water pressure can contribute to water pressure problems in your home.
Your Pipes Are Corroded
When your plumbing pipes are corroded, you may notice poor water pressure in the shower or at your sinks. Corrosion occurs in metal plumbing pipes over time. This means that if your home has copper or galvanized steel pipes, your low water pressure problem may be caused by a scale buildup inside the pipe. When scale and deposits build up on the inside walls of your plumbing pipes, it restricts the flow of water, causing problems with the water pressure in your house. The poor water pressure may only be noticeable with a few fixtures, depending on where the pipe restrictions are located, or it may be throughout your home.
You Have Numerous Leaks
If your plumbing pipes are several years old, they may have developed numerous small leaks. As water escapes through these leaks, it decreases the overall water pressure. If you do have small leaks, you may notice water spots on your walls or ceilings, an increase in mold and mildew and a musty smell permeating through your home.
Your Hot Water Heater Has Corrosion and Sediment
When you have low hot water pressure, it can be due to corrosion and sediment in your water heater. Over time, your water heater collects calcium, lime and grit. This typically tends to settle in the bottom of your water heater. When the water heater has a lot of sediment, it can flow through your hot water plumbing pipes, causing them to clog. Having your water heater regularly flushed can help prevent this problem.
The Water Pressure in the City is Low
In some instances, your city’s water pressure may be low. While cities take steps to ensure that the water pressure is consistent, leaks, corrosion and water pipe maintenance can lower the available water pressure in the municipal system. Usually, this is temporary, but if your city regularly has low water pressure problem, you may want to install a water pressure booster.
Low Water Pressure on Second and Third Floors
Water pressure is typically highest on the lower levels of your Space Coast, Florida home. As the water travels higher, it loses pressure, which can result in low-pressure situations on your second and/or third floors. In this case, a pressure booster can help keep water pressure consistent throughout your home.
Solving Low Water Pressure Problems
Here at U’GO Pros, serving California and Ohio as well as Brevard County, FL and Space Coast, we want to help you with your cold and hot water low-pressure situations by providing you with plumbing services and advice you can trust. For low water pressure situations in your home, we recommend checking for leaks and signs of corrosion and considering installing a water pressure booster pump.
Testing and Checking for Water System Leaks and Corrosion
If you have pipes that are not located inside your walls, you can visually inspect them for signs of corrosion. This can be accomplished by simply looking at the metal. If it is discolored, the pipe is probably corroded. Likewise, if you see a white scale on the outside of the pipe, especially hot water pipes, this usually indicates a pinhole leak. If you do not have any visible pipes in your home, like in the basement, you can turn off all your water-using appliances and check your water meter. If the dial or needle is moving, you have at least one water leak that could be causing your low water pressure. When this happens, it’s best to call our service professional to have them come out and test your water pressure and repair any water leaks and replace any severely corroded water pipes.
Flushing Your Water Heater
If you’ve noticed low water pressure in your hot water pipes, it could be due to an excessive amount of buildup in your hot water heater. This is especially true if you’ve noticed murky or cloudy water coming out of your faucets when the hot water is on. Thankfully, our professional plumber can come out to your house, inspect the quality of your hot water and your hot water heater’s operation and flush it.
Installing a Water Booster Pump
Having a water booster pump installed in your home can help stabilize the water pressure in your entire house, especially if you are having water pressure problems on your upper floors. As your plumbing service provider, we can evaluate the water pressure throughout your home to determine if a booster pump would solve your low water pressure problems. If it can, our experienced and professional plumber can install the pump.
Contact U’GO Pros
If you live in Brevard County or elsewhere in Space Coast Florida, California or Ohio and have questions about improving the efficiency of your water heater, contact U’GO Pros. You can call them or visit their website at www.ugopros.com. They can provide valuable tips and insight into enhancing your water heater’s efficiency, or simply point you in the direction of a certified professional.
