Plumbing Repair: Why Is My Water Pressure Low? | Denton, TX

9/15/2020

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You might not think about it very often, but there are a lot of tasks that require high water pressure. When the water pressure in your home suddenly drops far below its usual level, you should call a plumbing repair company to take a look at everything. Sometimes low water pressure isn’t a big deal, but sometimes it’s caused by a major problem in your plumbing system. If you’re having a problem with the water pressure in your home being too low, here are some of the most common causes for low water pressure and what to do about them.

Aerators

As silly as it may sound, the aerators in your faucets can actually play a fairly large role when it comes to water pressure. All the water that runs through your faucet eventually runs through the aerator, which is responsible for making sure you get a steady stream of water at the right pressure. Most of the time your aerator’s job is to smooth out the flow of water, but in doing so it can actually restrict water flow.

Aerators have a screen or series of screens which are filled with tiny holes. When you run water through the screen, it picks up a little bit of sediment and minerals from the water. Over time, this can clog up the screen, which means it’s time for a plumbing repair call.

The easiest way to tell if your low water pressure is caused by a clogged aerator is to check water pressure throughout your home. If you’re getting plenty of pressure from one faucet but not from another, chances are you don’t need any major repairs. Low water pressure in a single faucet is most often caused by a bad aerator.

Shutoff Valve

The best thing you can hope for when it comes to low water pressure is a simple problem with a shutoff valve. These shutoff valves can be closed to stop the flow of water to your home, which means a partially closed shutoff valve can cause a lack of water pressure throughout your home. The best part about this problem is that you don’t have to spend a bunch of money on plumbing repairs.

If you’re not sure where the shutoff valve in your Denton, TX, home is, you should have a plumber show you where it’s at. Not only is it important to be able to check this in the future if your water pressure is low, you also need to be able to shut your water off when you have a plumbing emergency. Shutting your water off when you have a leak can save you hundreds or even thousands in plumbing repair costs.

Water Meter Valve

In addition to the main shutoff valve you can open and close yourself, you’ve also got a water meter valve that controls the flow of water to your home. The trouble is, only professionals from the city are allowed to open and close the valve on your water meter. If the city recently worked on your water meter, that could be the reason for the lack of pressure.

If you have a lack of water pressure in your home due to a closed water meter valve, you can have a plumbing repair expert take a look at the valve and get it turned back on. Keep in mind that this probably isn’t going to be the cause of your low water pressure if you haven’t had anybody do work that involved shutting off your water meter valve recently.

Old Pipes

In some cases, low water pressure in your home can be caused by old pipes that aren’t letting water flow through as it should. If your pipes are very old and are starting to fail, you need to have a plumbing repair professional repipe your home. Not only do old water pipes have the potential to cause a lot of damage, they can also leech things into your water that you don’t want to be drinking.

The truth is, pipes are only designed to last a certain amount of time. This lifespan depends on the type of pipes you’ve got, but it also depends on the soil composition and hardness of the water that flows through them. Hard water leaves behind more mineral deposits than soft water, which means it also wears pipes down quicker. Additionally, certain types of soil can wear down certain types of pipe over time.

As far as copper water lines go, they’re generally made to last about 50 years, although some can go as long as 75. Brass pipes can last anywhere from 40-70 years. Galvanized pipes are the most fickle, with a lifespan that varies between 20 and 50 years.

The Importance of Maintenance

If you want to make sure you don’t have to deal with low water pressure, the best thing you can do is have a plumbing repair expert look at your pipes every now and then. Things like aerators and pipes degrade over time and eventually have to be replaced, so you should have somebody check on them every once in a while. Additionally, you can have a plumber take a look at your water quality and determine whether or not you need a water softener to protect pipes, fixtures and appliances.

Make the Call

A lack of water pressure might not seem like a huge problem, but it’s a good reason to call a plumbing repair company. Low water pressure makes it tough to wash dishes, rinse yourself off in the shower and get your hands clean, so it’s not something you can just deal with.

Looking for the best plumbing repair services in Denton, TX? You can count on the team at bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of North Dallas to take care of all your problems. Whether you’ve got low water pressure or a leak, all you have to do is call us at (469) 214-2582.