Introduction
What do we mean by low water pressure? Basically, when you turn on your tap, shower,
washing machine etc. the water is coming out slower and with less force than it
should. Sometimes this occurs over a period of time without you noticing until
the flow slows gradually to a trickle.
There are different reasons for reduced water pressure and
some of them are very easily solved with a little bit of DIY.
image:pixabay.com/photos/tap-water-kitchen-faucet-1728106 |
1. Taps, Showers and Machines
If the water pressure is low through specific taps or shower
heads, the most likely cause is blockage in the final exit point of the water
from dirt, lime-scale (a buildup of calcium) and rust.
a) Taps
Most taps have an aerator, a small mesh filter where the
water exits. This catches the dirt
particles and can also help to stop water splashing or coming out too
forcefully Over time it can become
blocked and will affect the speed the water exits the tap in a negative
way.
With some faucets, you can unscrew these by hand, but in most
cases you will need pliers or a wrench.
Be sure to place a piece of cloth around the area before you apply the
pliers so that you don’t damage the stainless steel.
Once you have removed the aerator, turn on the tap and check
there is now good pressure. If there is,
you know this was the problem. Also have
a quick clean up of the inside of the tap with a soft bottle brush.
Then simply brush gently to remove debris and run clean water
through it before reassembling.
b) Showers
As the water slows to a dribble from your shower head, the
most common reason will be because it is blocked.
The first thing you should do is disassemble as much of the
shower head as you can, depending on the model.
There are commercial lime-scale removers available but I find the
soaking the parts in white vinegar for approximately 6 hours works perfectly
and doesn’t damage any plastic parts.
Once the soaking is finished, brush all the parts with a soft
brush and poke a piece of wire through all the holes to get rid of remaining
traces. Then simply reassemble and
shower under a waterfall!
(You might need to do this a couple of times for badly
blocked shower heads.)
c) Washing Machines, Dishwashers, Ice Making
Machines
Most machines which are connected directly to the water
supply will be affected by low water pressure.
Many of these machines will have alert systems to tell you not enough
water is available to them.
In these cases, disconnect from mains electricity before
doing any work.
Making sure all water has been drained first so as to avoid a
flood in your kitchen or laundry room, disconnect the pipes from the back of
your machines and clean all the filters and pipe tips with vinegar and a soft
brush. You can also try poking a piece
of wire in any metal holes but avoid poking down plastic tubing with metal
wire. A Q-tip can also help smaller
holes.
Once reconnected, you should find the water flow has
improved.
2. Toilets
Toilets work by flushing enough water into the bowl to create
a suction that removes the waste down the pipe system. If your toilet
flushes slowly and incompletely you need to look at one of the following
possible causes:
a) Tank (Cistern) Is Not Filling Properly or Quickly
Open the lid of the tank and check if the water is filling to
approximately one inch below the drainage hole.
If it’s not, move the float upwards until it does.
If the water flow into the tank is low, check the pipes to
make sure they are not blocked or leaking.
Finally, check that the small holes underneath the rim of the
toilet bowl are not blocked. They allow
water to cover the entire bowl as it flushes through and can be cleaned with
dishwashing liquid and a brush alongside a small piece of wire to poke around
and remove all the debris.
b) Water Exiting the Toilet
If the problem is not in the tank and there is plenty of
water for the flush, then the problem is usually a blockage in the drainage
pipes that is stopping the waste leaving the bowl properly. You can try toilet anti-blocking chemicals,
(or try the more organic method of pouring one cup of baking soda into the bowl
and then2 cups of white vinegar, wait 3 hours and then flush) and then use a plunger to try and move
whatever is down there that shouldn’t be.
If this fails, you can rent a toilet auger (or toilet snake)
which you can thread through the pipes and dislodge blockages which are deeper
in the system.
3. Low Water Pressure throughout Your Home
If the water pressure is not limited to one pipe or outlet,
you should check your water valves as well as ensuring
water is not escaping in the wrong places:
a) PRV (Pressure Release Valve)
This is a bell shaped valve, usually found where the water
mains pipe enters your home. Gently turn
the screw on the top a tiny amount. Try
it in both directions but usually clockwise will increase pressure. A small turn can make a huge difference so be
careful
b) Shut-Off Valve
Most homes have a shut-off valve either near the PRV or near
the actual water meter. If this has
been turned slightly, it can reduce pressure so make sure this valve is fully
open.
c) Leaks
It is relatively easy to do a visual check on all your taps,
toilets, water outlets etc. But leaks
can occur in hidden places. The best way
to check this is to take a reading of your water meter and then, without using
any water (difficult I know!), take another reading 4 hours later. The result should be the same. If not, you have a significant leak and need
to call a plumber.
Summary
The above points will solve most of the problems but, if none
of these succeed, then call the professionals.
Too much amateur DIY behavior can lead to a very high bill for their
work!
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