Just a Trickle when you Shower

One of the more common complaints we hear here at Bellows Plumbing & Heating is a lack of water pressure. As water travels from your city’s water tower, down through the vast network of water mains into your home, a host of factors can contribute to low water pressure.

Your home’s elevation in relation to the water tower may cause low pressure, because water loses its gravitational force as it passes over peaks and valley en route to your home. Low water flow from a faucet or showerhead is often interrupted as low water pressure. In many cases, low flow may be caused by a water conserving flow restrictor known as a pressure reducing valve. These valves are important because they lower the water pressure as it comes into your house. This is important because high water pressure will reduce the life expectancy of plumbing fixtures and pipes. But, low water flow may also result from a constriction somewhere in the water line. Before you invest in a pressure pump to boost water pressure you should check for the possibility of constriction.

Water line constriction may have several causes. On houses supplied by a municipal water system, check the shutoff valves on both sides of the house’s water meter to make sure they are fully open. If either valve is partially closed, it will reduce pressure. If the water inlet pipe uses a reducing valve, check that its strainer is not clogged. Also, check exposed copper pipes for kinks. In some cases restriction can be caused by the natural accumulation of sediment and mineral deposits inside the pipe. Over time a 1 inch pipe may be reduced down to less than a ¼ inch with all the mineral and sediment deposits.

A professional plumber can quickly inspect all the possible causes and will likely be able to provide a quick remedy. If all the normal pipe – and valve related causes are ruled out, you may consider installing a pressure booster pump, which starts up on demand when you open a tap and runs continuously – without pressure fluctuations – until you shut off the tap.

If you faucets and shower are running slow and low, feel free to call on us to figure out the problem – and the right solution.

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