Can Re-Piping My Home Help Fix Low Water Pressure?
Determining the cause of low water pressure in your home can involve a variety of factors. Before resorting to repiping your home, it’s important to identify whether the issue is isolated to a specific faucet or room, or if it affects all of the water supply lines in your home.
In the event that the problem appears to be widespread throughout your home, it may be helpful to check with your neighbors to see if they are experiencing similar issues. If multiple homes in your area are affected, it’s possible that the root cause of the problem is the city water supply system.
In this scenario, it would be advisable to contact your local water municipality provider and report the issue to them. However, if the low water pressure is limited to your home, it may be necessary to enlist the help of a plumber for a comprehensive plumbing inspection to determine the underlying cause of the problem.
Step 1: Check to make sure all water supply lines are fully open.
Check your water main shutoff and your water meter valve, if you have city water, to make sure both of these supply lines are fully opened. If they are not, open them fully, then check the water pressure inside your home to see if the problem is fixed.
Step 2: Replace the affected faucets/fixtures.
If the low water pressure problem is just in one room of the home, there could be buildup inside the fixtures that is restricting water flow. Contact your local plumbing company to arrange a faucet repair service.
Step 3: Check your water pressure regulator and/or water pressure-reducing valve.
If your home has a pressure regulator or pressure-reducing valve, these could be the cause for low water pressure if they are failing or not set correctly. It is highly recommended to contact a professional plumber for assistance in adjusting these devices or replacing them to avoid causing more plumbing problems.
Step 4: Have a pressure regulator or pressure booster installed.
If everything else is in order, you can help boost water pressure in your home by having your plumber install a pressure regulator or pressure booster. A pressure booster is an electronic device that helps pressurize the water and keeps it inside a small storage tank. As the pressurized water is used, the device turns on and pressurizes the water coming into your home through the water main.
Step 5: Have your water supply lines replaced.
If you have an older home or well water, the problem for low water pressure could be from scale and sediment buildup inside the water supply lines. These deposits can create restrictions in water flow, which lowers the pressure. A whole-house plumbing re-piping service from a qualified plumber is the best solution if this is the cause of the low water pressure.
While re-piping can fix low water pressure problems in your home, you need to verify that this is the cause of the low water pressure. Simply replacing the water supply lines without checking the other plumbing items mentioned above will not guarantee the problem will be fully resolved.
For assistance in troubleshooting low water pressure problems in your Katy or Greater Houston Area home, please feel free to contact MET Plumbing & Air Conditioning at 281-603-9949 to schedule a residential plumbing inspection today!