Although water pressure woes are an issue that you would experience at some point or another as a homeowner, determining the source of the problem can be quite frustrating. The reason it is so challenging to discern the cause is that there are multiple reasons why low water pressure may start to affect your plumbing. Nonetheless, knowing what the possible origins could help you whittle down the reasons why you have developed this problem. So what are the usual suspects of low water pressure in households?
Use of the wrong pump
When purchasing a water pump, some homeowners will base their decision on the lowest price point rather than taking into account what their household's needs will be. Thus, what may have been sufficient when you first bought your home could steadily start to become inadequate as your family grows. If you think you have an incorrectly sized pump, the simplest way to fix this would be to have a professional plumber come and analyse your requirements.
Some of the considerations that they will take into account when sizing your pump for you include the amount of friction that is lost when pumping water, the volume of water provided from your water source, the horizontal as well as the vertical runs of your plumbing pipes and more. You can then get an estimate of what type of pump would be best suited for your residence to ensure adequate water pressure.
Unchecked clogs
Some homeowners associate clogs with foreign debris that gets down their drains. Therefore, as long as they take a plunger to their drains to eliminate hair and food particles, they assume that their plumbing is fine. However, these are not the only clogs that you should be worried about. With time, soil and dirt can make their way into your plumbing, particularly if the pipes are vulnerable to root intrusion. This type of debris will begin to impede how the water lows, and you find your home becomes susceptible to low water pressure.
A different kind of clogging that you should be wary of is the accumulation of mineral deposits within your plumbing. These mineral deposits are particularly common if your home is supplied with hard water. It would be prudent to have a plumber routinely clean your pipes to prevent any calcification of the minerals inside them.
Lastly, your low water pressure could be due to old piping. Pipes that are manufactured from iron do have the propensity to corrode after decades of use. The rust starts to accumulate and not only causes low water pressure but water discolouration too.
