You were looking forward to a warm shower after a long day, but the water pressure has suddenly dropped? This is one of the most common and most annoying plumbing issues you can experience. Knowing the symptoms, the causes and the best solutions will help you prevent this problem and deal with it more efficiently.
Signs that You have Problems with Water Pressure
Low water pressure can be a minor temporary problem or a serious issue you need to address. Before you call your plumber, make sure to eliminate the first possibility. Firstly, you need to find out if there are water maintenance works in your area because this can be causing the water pressure to drop. The second thing to do is to check if your shutoff valve is properly open. It is a valve that controls the water supply, and it may be turned off either because of plumbing works or accidentally. Thirdly, you should also check how many taps are open. If you have many taps in your household running at the same time, low water pressure is not an alarming sign. If the problem persists after you shut them off, then the issue can be a serious one. The most important signs you need to watch out for include:
- It takes a long time to fill up the bathtub or sink
- Flow from your shower head is significantly weaker than before
- It takes too much time for water to start running once you turn the tap on
How to Check if Water Pressure is Lower than Normal?
Normal water pressure in WA is approximately 20 litres per minute. You can easily check if your plumbing system meets this standard by looking into your water meter. Firstly, turn all of the taps in your household off and then read the red and black numbers on your water meter. Next, you need to turn on the front garden tap for one minute and go back to the water meter. The difference between the two readings will show whether you have the desired water pressure or not.
The Main Causes of Low Water Pressure
Once you establish the water pressure is continuously lower than it should be, you need to start thinking about the possible causes. A professional plumber can inspect your plumbing system and determine the cause quickly. Here are some of the possibilities:
- Water leaks: you should look for water puddles, mould or wet spots around the house; remember that leaks can be hiding behind the walls or beneath the floors;
- Clogged pipes: build-up of dirt or minerals in water can clog up your pipes and lower the water pressure;
- Dysfunctional or overburdened hot water system: the cause of your water pressure problems might be the hot water system; the two common issues are a faulty water pressure valve or high water demands your hot water system can’t handle;
How to Deal with Low Water Pressure?
If the low water pressure is caused by a water leak, build-up in pipes or faulty hot water system, you need to address the problem as soon as possible. What seems a minor issue today can become a much worst problem tomorrow. Professional plumbers can inspect your pipes with small cameras to find the root cause and fix the issue. If the hot water system is causing the problem, then you might also need an experienced electrician. GA Perry has a team of skilful and experienced plumbers and electricians available at any time and capable of fixing any problem with your plumbing or electrical system.
