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While high water pressure can seem like a good thing, if the water pressure is too high it can damage the faucets, showerheads, appliances, and water lines. With this in mind, homes located in areas with high water pressure will typically have a pressure regulator installed immediately after the main shutoff valve. There are times when calling a professional is the best way to increase water pressure. For instance, corroded main valves require shutting the water off at the street, and this is something most municipalities bar homeowners from doing.
Why Should I Test My Home’s Water Pressure?
If you don’t know the age of your home’s pipes, your local building department may have this information. You may also want to look into the age of the water main as well as the line and valve leading to your house. Learn how to increase water pressure with a water pressure booster pump. Limescale and other mineral buildup can be a bigger issue in areas with hard water. Due to the widespread network of pipes running through the home, this isn't an issue that can be resolved easily.
How to Test Your Home’s Water Pressure
While the aerator is off, turn on the faucet to be sure you’ve correctly diagnosed the issue. If low water pressure persists, the problem may not be the aerator after all but rather a clog in the line to the sink. Clogged lines are especially common in older homes with galvanized pipes, which are prone to develop mineral deposits. If you’re still no closer to determining the cause of the low water pressure, you’ll need to take a closer look at your plumbing. It’s time to pull out your home’s mechanical drawings (if you’re lucky enough to have them) and examine them carefully. Check whether the water meter valve is a ball valve with a lever that moves 90 degrees or if it is a gate valve, which has a handle that rotates like a wheel.
How to Adjust the Water Pressure in Your Home
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Contact a plumber to inspect and possibly replace the water lines. Also, consider investing in a water softener to help prevent this issue in the future. Generally, galvanized steel lines will start to corrode after about 20 years. Copper pipes last for over 50 years, while brass pipes are fine for about 40 to 70 years. If the pipes in the home are approaching the end of their life, then it may be time to replace the water lines before the pipes start to leak.
If your low water pressure stems from mineral deposits in your pipes, then installing a water softener can somewhat reverse the problem and prevent it from worsening in the future. A water softener uses resin beads to pull minerals out of your hard water and replaces them with salt. The result is softened water that won’t leave calcium, magnesium, or other minerals or sediment on the inner walls of your pipes to decrease the flow rate. Over time, your pipes can develop a buildup of mineral deposits, and the situation can be particularly bad if you have hard water.
Corroded or Clogged Water Lines
If you’re handy and have basic plumbing skills, you can install one of these. If your water pressure reading is normal, there’s nothing you need to do. Having too much water pressure can be hard on all plumbing lines and fixtures and can even cause blowouts in flex lines or washing machine hoses, which in turn can flood the house. Testing water pressure occasionally can catch a problem with the regulator before the high pressure can damage any plumbing.
How to increase water pressure at home - The Washington Post - The Washington Post
How to increase water pressure at home - The Washington Post.
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If water pressure is low in only one area of the home, it could be an issue of volume. For instance, if the affected bathroom falls at the far end of the supply branch, someone turning on the water in another area of the home could “starve” the pipes for water. In these cases, it’s often a good idea to install pressure-sensitive booster pumps that can supplement the system. Check for closed water valves, open valves that should be closed (such as hose spigots), and other issues that might affect pressure.
The water pressure in your home affects many different things in your home from your kitchen to your bathroom. Every time you take a shower or wash a dish, you will see the water pressure at work, and having it too high or too low will cause problems from an annoying sound to pipe damage. You will turn the screw in a clockwise direction to increase the pressure and counterclockwise to lower the pressure. Test the faucet’s water pressure every time you adjust the screw to see where you want the water pressure. If you notice that your water pressure has been off, whether it is too high or too low, you should know how to adjust it properly. Water pressure that goes passed the recommended range could do some damage to your pipes and plumbing.
This is a relatively common plumbing problem that can be caused by things like clogged pipes in a municipal water system to worn out components in a private water well. The good news is that in most cases the problem can be corrected with a minimal investment of time or money. A pressure booster is a pump that forces water from your main water supply through your plumbing system, artificially increasing your water pressure and flow rate. This can be a suitable option if the water pressure from your supply is decent, but you’re still noticing low pressure throughout your home.
You might need to reconfigure your water pressure to up to 75 PSI if your flow rate is low. I would recommend consulting an expert before increasing your water pressure to stay on the safe side. A common time for water pressure to dip is from 7 am to 9 am, when people typically get ready for work and school.
Resolve to finally achieve a healthy flow of water—for you and your houseguests—by trying these solutions for how to increase water pressure. If the supply valve is open and the fill valve is working properly, there could be an issue with the supply hose. Shut off the water to the toilet, get a small bowl to catch any water, and remove the supply line with a pair of pump pliers. If the supply hose is the cause of your problem, grab a new one at the home center and replace it. Some shower heads have tiny silicone or rubber nozzles that are very easy to clean.
Licensed plumbers have the tools and expertise to make these jobs much simpler. Most of the time, you will be able to raise the water pressure to around 75 psi by simply turning the pressure regulator a bit. But even if you want to have higher water pressure, you will not want to go above 60 psi because of the damage that could be caused.
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