On average, homes in the Plainfield area have their water pressure set from 40-45 pounds per square inch (psi). If you’ve noticed a recent change in your water pressure while washing your hands, watering your plants, or even showering, you might be dealing with a low water pressure problem.
We know that low water pressure can negatively affect everything in your usual daily routine. We recommend understanding these common causes of low water pressure to see if you can make an easy fix before calling in the professionals.
Restricted valves
Unless you’ve had a major water emergency, odds are you haven’t touched your main house shutoff valve or water meter valve.
Your main house shutoff valve is located where the main water supply pipe enters your home. Much like a handle you’d use for your hose, it must be turned counterclockwise as far as it can go to fully function. If your water meter valve handle is a lever, it needs to be completely parallel to the pipe. Double check that you cannot turn the handle any further or that it’s parallel to the pipe to ensure that it’s fully open.
The water meter valve is the other valve that controls water intake in your home. Most homeowners never deal with this valve because it belongs to their water company. If you started noticing a drop in water pressure after having recent work done on your home, it is possible that the valve was not fully opened after the work was finished. This valve can be hard to find, so you can call a professional and have them bring someone out to open it for you.
Clogged whole house filter
Whole house water filters are great appliances that provide pure, clean water throughout your whole house. Regular wear-and-tear, a faulty O-ring or a crack in one of the fittings can cause your whole house water filter to leak. The good news is, simply removing or installing a new filter will fix the problem
Failing pressure regulator
Not all plumbing has a pressure regulator; if you don’t have one, this one cannot affect you.
If you suspect your pressure regulator is not getting accurate reads, you can attach a water pressure gauge to an outside spicket closest to your pressure regulator. When you turn your water on, the pressure gauge will give you a read of your water pressure right away. If you find that the gauge shows a lower reading than your regulator, that could be the problem.
To replace your pressure regulator, you can call our team at Justin Dorsey Plumbing and we’ll send one of our technicians to your Plainfield home to change it for you!
Clogged or out-of-service water softener
When your water softener no longer removes hardness, it can interfere with your day-to-day tasks. If you’ve noticed that your water doesn’t have its usual quality, or notice soap spots on your dishes, your device needs maintenance or repair. Put your water softener into bypass and then call us so we can come out, assess the problem and provide you with options for a new softener if there’s a need for a total replacement.
One possible pipe problem could be corrosion. Since all pipes have an expiration date, older homes have an increased likelihood of pipe corrosion, especially if they’re made from galvanized steel. Corrosion can also occur after new plumbing fixtures have been added to your home. If you installed another washing machine or built a bonus bathroom, the older pipes could be overworked from accommodating the added fixtures.
Another common pipe problem is a major leak. Check your crawl space for water. Then, call your plumber.
You can walk around your home and try to identify any wet spots or pooling water. However, since most of your pipes are housed underground, you’ll need professionals for backup. With plenty of experience fixing faulty pipes, our technicians can identify the problem and fix it in a timely manner so you can go back to your usual routine.
With more than 30 years of professional plumbing experience, we understand the frustrations of low water pressure. If you think your low water pressure problem might be more than just double checking a valve, we’re here to help! We are proud to serve the Plainfield area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 317-648-2140 or Contact Us through our website today!