Reasons for Low Water Pressure
Low water stress is rather rare here in Long Beach, CA which is why we wanted to do an article alerting you to what the cause may be if you are experiencing a decrease in your home’s water pressure.
A majority of homes in our area actually have high water pressure and have a pressure-reducing valve installed in the home to assist adjust the water flow accordingly. So if you typically have adequate water pressure and you’ve noticed a fall off in water pressure throughout your home, whether sudden or gradual, you probably want to have a certified plumber come and look it over.
There are a few possible causes:
If your home is old, you may still have galvanized water lines, which tend to accumulate debris over time. They get clogged a bit like arteries do; within their years of use debris just builds up until there’s less and less liquid able to flow through. One of our licensed plumbers in Long Beach, CA can help you determine what’s happening with your plumbing, and fix it for good.
Water flow could also be restricted at the fixtures themselves if water-saving inserts have been installed.
If it’s just one faucet that’s having difficulty with reduced water pressure, we advise that you start with cleaning the aerator (the web screen that many faucets have to out or decrease the water flow) and see if that solves the problem.
And about the serious end of the spectrum, very low water pressure can indicate that there is a leak (or multiple leaks) on your pipes. If this is the case, you’ve probably discovered that your water bill rising — or you might get quite the jolt next month.
Avoid Critical Damage from Your Water Line
When too little water arrives, you and your family probably find yourselves running the showers or sinks more than usual, attempting to get your hands or bodies cleaned; or operating a load of dishes or laundry a second time, because things are still soapy, or filthy.
What you may not realize is that a majority of the water coming into your lines may be escaping into the floor, or worse, the construction of your home. Aside from a high water bill, that can cause some serious damage to your home.