kitchen sink with low water pressure

Water Pressure

There’s nothing like coming home after a hard day and relaxing in a long hot shower. But not all showers are created equal. Even if the water’s warm – and stays warm – your shower could still be missing something. If your shower doesn’t have good water pressure, you may still get clean, but the experience will suffer.

In this post, we’ll examine some of the things that can cause low water pressure, and how you can improve it.

LOSING PRESSURE

A variety of factors can potentially cause your home to lose water pressure. The most typical is old or leaky pipes. If water is leaking where it shouldn’t, that means it isn’t getting to your faucet or showerhead and thereby weakening the pressure.

Another common (and easy) fix involves valves that aren’t fully open. You can check your home’s water shut-off valves yourself. Just make sure they’re fully open for maximum water flow.

THE TEST

Though it may be most noticeable in the shower, low water pressure typically manifests itself in all of your faucets. That means showers, sinks, and even outdoor spigots where you would attach a hose.

Those outdoor spigots are where you’ll need to test the pressure. This can be done by hiring a professional or using a pressure gauge. If using a gauge, just turn the water up all the way. The pressure should read between 45 and 55 psi. A psi above 55 could be damaging to your pipes and faucets.

If your valves are adjusted properly, and your pressure is still low (around 40 psi), then it’s likely that your water provided by the city just isn’t that strong. 

If you’re having an issue with water pressure, give City Plumbing a call today. We’ll investigate the causes and figure out a practical solution that works for you and your home. Set up an appointment online or by calling 432-366-2401. Give us a call and we’ll come running!