Low Water Pressure Remedies
We’ve all experienced it… You get home from a long day at the office and you want to take a nice relaxing soak in the tub. However, by the time enough water has trickled into the tub, it is already cold. Or you’re trying to shower, but there’s simply not enough water pressure to rinse out the shampoo. Nobody wants to walk around with sticky, itchy skin or hair that was not rinsed properly, so it’s important to find a fix for your low water pressure problem quickly. Here are 4 Low Water Pressure Remedies.
What Causes Low Water Pressure?
There could be any one of several causes for your low water pressure problem, including more than one faucet being used (or the shower and dishwasher) at the same time. However, if you’re not washing clothes and running another faucet at the same time, and your water pressure is still low, it could be a bigger problem. The most common cause is usually a broken water main supply line. If that’s the case, you will need a professional Atlanta plumber to come out and replace the water service. Expert Tip: You might be tempted to live with the low water pressure for a little while longer in order to delay the cost of plumbing repairs, but we’d like to urge you to rethink that strategy. Delaying the repair of a broken water main does not save you money. On the contrary, all the water that should be coming into your home is leaking into the soil surrounding your pipes. You’re paying for the water while your property is being damaged by standing water. You’d be happy to know, too, that water service replacement is not really as costly or daunting as the name implies. It does not necessarily mean that all the pipes in your home will have to be replaced. When you call Ridgeway Mechanical to handle your low water pressure problem, we will follow a proven system to diagnose and treat your issue.
1. Visual System Inspection and Testing
Our plumbers will walk through your home, doing a visual inspection of all the plumbing pipes, fixtures, toilets, tubs, showers, and sinks. We will also check any other areas of the home that may have pipes, such as the garage, attic, crawl spaces or basement for any signs of leaks and corrosion.
2. Replace the Water Meter, Pipe and Main Valve
We will locate the opening of the hose bib closest to the water meter and install two full-port, one-inch ball valves on either side of the new meter, along with drains. Sometimes, low water pressure could be caused by fittings that are too small for the pipes, so the meter will restrict the water pressure. If building codes allow, a bigger model can be installed and this is often enough to compensate for the restrictions down the line.
3. Replace All Stop Valves
If need be, we will move through all the water-using rooms in your home to replace all the old stop valves on toilets and sinks with new ball valves and water supply tubes.
4. Pipe Replacement
We will first blast your pipes clean using high-pressure water jets to remove any blockages or mineral build-up, which should improve water pressure. As a last resort, we will go about full water service replacement, which involves replacing the old horizontal pipes with new copper or PEX piping, complete with new tees and elbows. This will reduce the corrosion in your pipes and will improve your water quality at the same time. If required, we will also run new vertical pipes, but this is only recommended after all other remedies have been exhausted.
