Low water pressure can make washing the dishes or taking a proper shower a lot harder to accomplish. Learning how to increase water pressure in your home can be easy if you follow these simple directions.
The first step is to find what is causing the low water pressure in your home. The low pressure can be attributed to a couple of different things, so isolating the problem is key. Low water pressure may be caused by valves that aren’t in their proper position. There are usually two valves that control water pressure – the home valves and the customer valves. The home valve is often in front of the house where the water line enters the home and looks almost like a wagon wheel. To check and see if this valve is in its proper position, turn the valve clockwise to temporarily shut off the water and then turn it counterclockwise as far as possible to open the valve completely, while also getting rid of anything that may have been deposited within the valve. The other valve, the customer valve, is located in your meter box. You will also want to check and see if this valve is on, while utilizing this same method if it is not.
If both of these valves are on and fully functional, the problem lies elsewhere. The pressure regulator is another area where water pressure can be controlled. The pressure regulator is a valve that works to automatically maintain a certain level of pressure. These valves are often located near the water main outside the house. Once you have found the valve, you must adjust the screw to alter the water pressure. Tightening the screw (by rotating it to the right) will increase the water pressure in your home. A couple, controlled rotations should be all you need to increase your water pressure. Make sure not to increase the pressure by too much or you risk damaging your pipelines. One quick way to test the pressure is by keeping a sprinkler on nearby, allowing you to see how your adjustments impact the water pressure.
Utilizing these methods should allow you to easily increase the water pressure in your home. If none of these methods work, find a plumber because it is possible that other issues might be at play, such as a leaky pipeline or deposits within pipes that have mineralized over time. If you do need help, consider using TalkLocal to find a plumber. TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with top-quality, reputable plumbing companies in your neighborhood within minutes. Just enter in your specific problem, location and availability, and up to three companies will call YOU directly, saving you the time and stress of finding one yourself.
Are there any options if water pressure drops because of “peak” timing in the neighborhood? and someone is unable to schedule their water useage at another time? Thanks!
I would think that the utility company should be able to make adjustments to available water pressure, but I really can’t say for sure. Try talking to your utility provider or even a plumber to see if there is anything that can be done. We can find a plumber for you as well.