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If you have low water pressure in your home, you’ll know that this can affect the quality of your shower. If, on the other hand, your home’s water pressure is high, this can cause many problems such as burst pipes, leaks, or rattling pipes. These issues are likely to increase the amount of water your family is using, which will affect your water bill.

If you live in Mansfield, TX, or the surrounding area and are looking for a plumber, don’t hesitate to contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing. A professional can test your water pressure and make adjustments where necessary. They can also detect and fix leaks or bust pipes.

As a homeowner, it’s crucial to ensure that your home’s water pressure is correct to avoid issues with your plumbing system. This article will look at how water pressure can affect your home’s plumbing system. We’ll also answer some of the most frequently asked questions about water pressure and look at how high and low water pressure will affect your home plumbing system.

What Is Water Pressure?

Water pressure is a measure of the water’s force. It tells you how much force the water is using to move through your mains pipes, into your pipework to the fixtures and appliances. Water pressure is changeable and varies significantly from home to home. It can even change at different times of the day.

Your Mains water pressure will depend on where your property is located. It is affected by the distance to the nearest reservoir or water supply. For example, if your home is on top of a hill, it’s likely that your water pressure will be weaker than if it was located at the bottom of a valley. This is due to how fast the water can flow to its destination. Water that is flowing uphill will take longer, and the flow will be weaker as it has to work against gravity. When water is flowing downhill, the flow will be stronger as gravity can be used to aid water flow.

Water pressure is also affected by the demand for water. If you live in a highly populated area, you may notice that the water pressure drops between 7 and 9 in the morning. This is because many people are showering. During warm summer evenings, there’s often a drop in water pressure as many people turn on their sprinkler system to water their gardens.

How Is My Home’s Water Pressure Measured?

Residential water pressure is measured in pounds per square inch (PSI). For most homes and plumbing appliances, the water pressure should be between 45 and 55 PSI. If your water pressure has increased to more than 60 PSI, this would be considered excessive.

To test your home’s water pressure, you can ask a plumber to install a pressure gauge. This will allow you to keep an eye on the water pressure to ensure that it’s set to the correct pressure. Professionals recommend that you check your home’s water pressure at least twice a year.

If you have a pressure gauge installed, testing the water pressure will be quick and easy. This simple appliance is very inexpensive to install and can help you to reduce your water bills over the long term as you’ll be able to keep your water pressure constant.

The Problem with High Water Pressure

For every ten minutes that you use water while your water pressure is too high, you’ll be wasting between six and twenty-six gallons of water. This not only has an impact on the environment but also results in a steep increase in your monthly water bills. Having high-water pressure will also put excess stress on your property’s plumbing system. It can also damage and reduce the life expectancy of your home appliances, such as dishwashers, water heaters, and washing machines.

High water pressure can cause damage and erosion to pipes and other plumbing systems. If your home’s water pressure is continuously high, there is a greater risk that your pipes will crack or burst. This will result in leaks, and you may even start to hear disruptive sounds such as banging and rattling coming from your pipes. When the water pressure is too high, you’ll experience a reduced lifespan for your pipes and your plumbing appliances and fixtures.

Banging or Rattling Pipes

If you notice any of these common signs, your home’s water pressure could be too high and will need to be adjusted by a plumber. Banging pipes indicate high water pressure. As water travels through your pipes, it will create a banging or rattling noise if its pressure is excessive. This is because the water will be traveling very quickly through your pipes.

Running Toilets

High water pressure can cause your toilets to run when they haven’t been flushed. This is less common but is neither the less a sign you’re your water pressure is too high.

Leaking Faucets

If you notice that your faucets have recently started to leak, or if they leak only at certain times of the day, this could be due to high water pressure. Sometimes faucets will leak when you’re using other plumbing fixtures; this is also caused by high water pressure.

How to Fix High Water Pressure

If you’ve noticed any of the above warning signs, call a plumber who will be able to check the pressure of your water and fix any leaks. A professional can also address the underlying cause of the problem. It’s likely that the problem will be easy to fix, but this depends on the cause of the high-water pressure.

There are many benefits of having your water pressure adjusted in your Mansfield, TX home. A plumber can help you save money on your water bills. Having the pressure adjusted will automatically reduce the pressure of your water and make your fixtures and appliances function correctly. This will help to reduce your family’s water consumption by approximately thirty percent.

Problems Caused by Low Water Pressure

Having your water pressure set correct will help to improve the quality of your life. Low water pressure can be just as annoying and cause many problems with your plumbing system as high pressure does.

You’re most likely to notice issues with low water pressure when showering or taking a bath. If the water pressure is low, household chores such as washing the dishes can become very tricky as water will be flowing at a very low rate.

What Causes Low Water Pressure?

Here are some of the most common plumbing problems that would indicate that your water pressure may be too low. If you notice any of these problems in your home, call in a plumber who will be able to access the situation and fix any issues.

Faulty Fixtures

One of the main reasons that homeowners experience low pressure is that they have a faulty fixture somewhere in their home. If you have older showerheads or faucets, the fixtures may be clogged with rust or limestone. This will stop the water from flowing as efficiently as it should and will reduce the water quality.

If you want to check whether this is the problem in your home, you should turn the faucets on one at a time. This will allow you to see if any of them are defective.

If you have a clogged plumbing fixture in your home, you should call in a plumber who can advise you about whether the fixture can be clean, whether it requires maintenance or if it’s best to replace it altogether.

Water Valve Problems

The flow of water to your home is controlled by two shut-off valves. One of the valves is connected to the water meter on the street side of the meter. The other will be on the home side of the water meter. You’ll likely be able to find both these valves on a wall near where the main water line comes into your home.

You’ll likely experience problems with your water pressure if these valves aren’t completely open. Your home will have a personal shut-off valve, which may have been left closed after a plumber did routine maintenance. It’s best to check these valves if your water pressure has suddenly dropped for no apparent reason.

Clogged or Blocked Pipes

Another possibility if your water pressure has suddenly dropped. But everything looks ok with the valves, is that you have a clogged pipe somewhere in your system. If you think a clogged pipe may be to blame, you should call in a plumber who can find the cause of the problem. Don’t attempt to loosen or unclog pipes yourself unless you know exactly what you are doing. DIY plumbing can be very dangerous. Clogged pipes can contaminate your drinking supply and may cause your family’s health issues, so it’s essential to find the source as soon as possible.

Failing Pressure Regulator

If your plumbing system has a pressure regulator and you’re experiencing water pressure issues, it may have stopped working. When a pressure regulator fails, your water pressure will no longer be kept at the correct pressure. You’ll either end up with high water pressure or low water pressure.

To fix this problem, you should call in a plumber who will be able to either fix or replace the pressure regulator. It’s also important to note that not all homes have a pressure regulator, so if you have lots of issues with water pressure over the long term, you may like to ask a plumber to install one for you.

Corroded Plumbing Fixtures and Fittings

If you live in an older property, corroded plumbing could cause issues with your water pressure. If this is the case, you may need to consider replacing your whole plumbing system. Obviously, this is a very costly and time-consuming project, but in the long run, it will be worth it as it will reduce the likelihood of a plumbing emergency and may even save you money on your water bills in the long run.

Insufficient Mains Water Supply

If your home’s plumbing system seems to be working well, the problem could be with the mains water line. A plumber will be able to look at your water service line to see if it has any issues.

A plumber can also obtain local records to check whether there have recently been any issues with your mains water supply. Sometimes, homeowners have plumbing fixtures or appliances added, and this has made the existing water supply line inadequate.

If you think there are issues with your mains water supply, you may like to call the city hall. The problem may be caused by issues with the public water supply in your area. This is likely to be the case if there has recently been mainline work in your neighborhood.

How to Fix Low Water Pressure

As many things can cause low water pressure, it’s best to call in a local plumber to assess the situation. A plumber can test your water pressure and will be able to identify blocked pipes, old fixtures and fittings, or a faulty pressure gauge. Getting professional help and advice is the best idea when trying to figure out what the problem is with your water pressure. Never try to do DIY plumbing as it can be very dangerous.

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Plumber, Mansfield, TX

If you’re worried about your home’s water pressure and are looking for a plumber in Mansfield, TX or the surrounding area, don’t hesitate to contact Benjamin Franklin. The company provides affordable, good quality plumbing services, including leak detection, pressure gauge installation, and general maintenance. They have achieved an A+ rating with BBB and are a top-rated Home Advisor business.

Benjamin Franklin of Fort Worth only employs plumbers that are highly skilled and kept up to date with current plumbing techniques. They are knowledgeable about water pressure and the associated problems caused by high and low water pressure— call 817-983-7876, to speak to a plumber today. The team is available for all types of plumbing work, and also emergency call out.