New Homeowner's Guide To Troubleshooting Low Water Pressure
As a new homeowner, there are a lot of different things you have to learn about in order to take good care of your home. Here is a quick guide on what to do when your water pressure gets low in your house.
Determine How Big The Problem Is
The first thing you need to do is determine how widespread the problem is. Once you notice low water pressure at one faucet, you need to check all the other faucets in your house, including the shower and any outdoor faucets you have. This will help you determine if this is a localized or widespread issue.
While you are checking the pressure at all the faucets in your house, try running both the cold and hot water at the same time, then running them separately.
Pressure Is Low With Only The Hot Water
If the pressure is fine when the cold water is running, but decreases when the hot water is on, then the underlying issue is with your water heater, not your water pump. You'll need to schedule someone to come out and inspect your water heater.
Pressure Is Low At Only One Or Two Locations
If the issue is only happening at one or two locations in your house, you need to check the aerator for that faucet. To do so, you'll have to remove the end of the faucet and take out the little screen that covers the spout of your faucet. If it is dirty on the other side that you can't normal see with build, up, this could be the problem. You can simply replace it or wash it by soaking it in vinegar.
When you remove the aerator, you should turn on the faucet. If the water runs low even when the aerator is removed, the problem does not lie with the faucet itself.
Pressure Is Low, The Faucet Is Clean, And The Hot Water Is Equally Impacted
If the faucet is clean, and the water pressure is low with both the hot and cold water, than you need to look beyond the specific faucet.
First, you should check your water lines and make sure that there are no leaks. If there are any leaks, you'll need to repair them.
Second, you should check the pressure reducing value, or PRV. You'll find it where your water line starts. To increase water pressure, you should just be able to tighten the screw by turning it clockwise.
Third, check your water pump. Check and see if the filters are clean and if all the parts are working correctly. As water pumps are very complex pieces of equipment, you may need to call in a professional such as Stettler Supply Co to inspect your water pump. A bad water filter or a loose part inside of your pump could be behind all of your low water pressure woes.
When the water pressure gets low in your house, you should start by figuring out how widespread the problem is and start with the simplest fix first. Work up from the easiest fix to the most complex fix. If you can't figure it out using the troubleshooting steps above, then it is time to call in a professional to assist you.