Few situations are more frustrating than water that trickles out of a showerhead, kitchen faucet, or outdoor spigot. Whether the problem occurs suddenly or builds up over time, homeowners can do several things to diagnose and fix the issue. Try these troubleshooting tips before calling Viking Plumbing.
Talk to Your Neighbors
Do your neighbors also have low water pressure? If so, the problem probably doesn’t lie within your home but with your municipal water supply. Municipal water systems are prone to clogs, corrosion, and other issues. Contact your town’s officials to see if they are aware of the situation and find out what they are doing to fix it.
Check the Well Pump
If you get your water from a well and experience overall low water pressure, check the well’s pump. A faulty pump can be the culprit in your water pressure problem. Well pumps need regular servicing, so have a professional check yours if it hasn’t had recent maintenance.
Get a Water Pressure Gauge
if you have determined that the problem comes from outside your home, buy a water pressure gauge and screw it onto an outside water spigot. Make sure indoor water appliances are off, and then turn on the outdoor water. A reading of 60 psi is average, while anything below 50 psi is considered low.
Check the Main Water Valve
Have you had any recent contracting work performed where someone needed to turn off the water temporarily? Sometimes workers don’t turn the valve back on completely. A partially opened valve is another potential culprit when your entire home experiences low pressure.
Remove Clogs
Most homeowners are familiar with drain clogs, but clogs can also occur in showerheads and faucets. Beauty products, soap, food, and general debris cause drain clogs. Mineral buildup could also cause clogs in faucets and showerheads, especially if your area has hard water. To rid fixtures of mineral buildup, fill a plastic bag with vinegar and place it over the fixture, tying it in place with string and leaving it overnight. The vinegar will dissolve the minerals, allowing a free flow of water.
Check for Leaks
Leaks can develop slowly and may be hidden inside walls. If you don’t find any obvious leaks, let one of our professional plumbers from Viking Plumbing perform leak detection to discover where the problem may lie.
Old, Corroded Pipes
If you have old, galvanized metal pipes, the interiors will develop corrosion over time, leading to smaller openings that make it harder for water to flow through. If an inspection of your pipes shows considerable corrosion, the only way to correct this problem is through repiping. Contact us at Viking Plumbing for all of your plumbing needs in the Boise, ID area.