4 Unexpected Reasons You May Have Low Water Pressure At Home

The cause of low water pressure can be many things, including the usual one of lime scale, or minerals such as calcium and magnesium clogging the fresh water pipes. But some causes are surprising. Here are three of them: Problem At The Water Company A town’s municipal water works is subject to the same plumbing problems that are found in the home, and possibly even more so. A broken pipe or gate valve at the water works can cause the water pressure to decrease suddenly for its customers. Wrong Type Of Pipes Technicians have learned over the years that some plumbing pipes that bring fresh water into the home are better than others. Galvanized pipes tend to be more at risk of corrosion than other types of pipes such as PEX. The corrosion in galvanized pipes can build up to the point where the water pressure drops. Pipes that are the wrong size may also contribute to low water pressure after time. Though it’s a bit counter-intuitive, plumbers recommend replacing an old, worn main pipe with one that’s a little larger in diameter to increase the water pressure. Hidden Slab Leak A home that’s built on a slab has its fresh water pipes installed beneath the slab before the concrete is poured. If a homeowner notices that the water pressure is low but can’t find a leak anywhere else in the house, there’s a possibility that it’s beneath the slab. Other signs that the slab pipes may be leaking are warm or wet spots in the slab and the sound of running water coming from beneath the concrete. The bad news is that the slab is going to need to be jack-hammered open to access the pipes and fix them. Hot Water A lot of homeowners notice that their cold water pressure is fine but their hot water pressure is low. This is because the hot water has to pass through the water heater tank before it enters the rest of the house. The tank has its own pipes and internal workings that are subject to corrosion and lime scale, and the hot water pipe that exits it is more likely to have lime scale or debris than the cold water pipes. There are many reasons why water pressure may be lower than the homeowner likes, and some of them are unexpected. If the homeowner can’t fix the problem by tying a bag full of vinegar to a shower head and leaving it overnight, or opening a valve all the way, they should call in a plumber such as Roto-Rooter Sewer & Drain Cleaning Service. If the plumber can't find the problem, it’s probably time to call the water company.