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A common problem that can affect many households in Haslet, TX is low in-home water pressure. The average in home water pressure should be about 40 to 45 pounds per square inch. If the water pressure dips below this number, you’ll likely see a huge difference. For example, when you turn on the faucet, only a dribble of water might come out. This might not be enough for you to wash your hands or even wash your dishes.

Fortunately, low water pressure can be easy to fix depending on the cause. In this article, we will look at some of the most common causes behind low pressure, as well as the type of plumbing services that might be able to solve these problems.

If you don’t have any prior plumbing experience or knowledge, it can be difficult for you to diagnose the problem yourself, which is why you should always rely on a plumbing service to do the job for you. By relying on a plumbing service, you can also protect the validity of your insurance, as well as the warranty for all of your appliances and plumbing.

Understanding the Difference Between Fixture-Specific and Temperature-Specific Low Water Pressure

In order to determine the cause behind the little water pressure, you first need to determine whether the problem is fixture-specific or temperature-specific. Figuring this out can provide you with further insight into the problem and can help you determine the type of plumbing service that you likely need.

Low water pressure can be fixture-specific. This means that although the water pressure in your home is adequate overall, a few fixtures are affected. When you turn them on, only a dribble of water comes out. If you’re facing a fixture-specific issue, the problem likely lies with the actual fixture itself rather than the entire plumbing network. The Haslet, TX plumbing service should focus on inspecting the specific fixtures that are affected. For example, if you only get low water pressure from one faucet in the home, the plumber may spend a lot of time inspecting the aerator to see whether it’s clogged.

On the other hand, if the low water pressure is temperature-specific, it likely means that the water pressure is low only at certain temperatures. For example, if you notice that the water pressure is low whenever you turn on the hot water, the most likely culprit is the water heater.

The low water pressure can also affect the entire home and at all temperatures. If this happens, the problem likely lies with the plumbing in general. The problem can be much more difficult to diagnose.

7 Common Causes of Low Water Pressure

Surprisingly, low water pressure can be caused by a handful of things. Because of this reason, the plumbing service will spend a lot of time inspecting different components of the plumbing. Many different issues can contribute to the low water pressure. If you only fix one of the problems, the other problem they still worsen. You’ll still be left with a little water pressure after several weeks or even a month.

Below are some of the most common causes of low water pressure, as well as the plumbing services that are needed to solve the problem.

#1. Clogged Plumbing

Clogs aren’t only located beneath drains. It’s really easy for the pipes to become clogged as well. In fact, your plumbing can get clogged because of grease that you’ve tossed down the kitchen sink or because of hair and soap scum that has traveled down the bathroom drains. If clogs gum up your plumbing further downstream, it can have a huge effect on the overall water pressure.

The problem with clogged plumbing is that it can be extremely difficult to determine the location of it. You’ll need to hire a professional plumbing service. The professionals will have specialized equipment and tools, like video cameras, that can travel down the plumbing and find the location of the clog.

Once the clog has been located, the solution is simple. The plumbing service will usually recommend some type of specialized drain cleaning service using either an auger or even hydro jetting tools that should get rid of the clog in no time. However, this will not necessarily stop the problem from happening again. You’ll need to be mindful of how you treat your plumbing in the future to prevent this situation from happening again.

#2. Failed Pressure Regulator

The water pressure in your home is likely controlled and regulated by a pressure regulator. If you’ve noticed that the water pressure in your home has dropped, one of the first things that you should do is to check out the pressure regulator to see whether it is able to provide an accurate reading.

You’ll need to attach a water pressure gauge to the outside hose spigot. When you turn the water on, the pressure gauge will be able to give you an immediate reading of the water pressure. If the reading is lower than what the pressure regulator is reporting, then it likely means that you’ll need to replace your pressure regulator with a new one.

Fortunately, replacing the pressure regulator with a new one is a straightforward process. You can actually attempt this DIY job on your own. However, if you’ve never tinkered with the plumbing before, it’s still a better idea to call a plumbing service instead.

#3. Issues with the Main Shut-Off Valve

If you’ve noticed that the water pressure is low after you’ve played around with the plumbing, the main cause behind the low water pressure might lie with the main shut-off valve. When you were tinkering around the shut-off valve last time, you might have neglected to turn it all the way back on when you were done.

This is actually one of the most common reasons why there’s low water pressure within the home. If you call a Haslet, TX plumbing service to come take a look at the issue, you’ll have to spend money on the consultation. The easiest thing that you can do is to check out the main shut-off valve yourself in order to ensure that it’s turned all the way on.

#4. Issues with the Water Supplier

If the low water pressure has just happened right now, the issue might not be with your plumbing at all. In fact, the water supplier might be the one having an issue. Because of this reason, you don’t have to be so quick in contacting a plumbing service. Confirm whether anyone else in your neighborhood is experiencing these problems as well before you call a plumber.

If everyone else is dealing with the same problem, the only thing that you can do is wait. You can also consider contacting the water supplier to make sure that they are aware of this problem. In most cases, the water supplier will be able to resolve the problem within several hours, if not a day. You won’t be affected for long, so just be patient.

#5. Shared Pipelines

Another thing that you have to consider is whether you share any of the pipelines with your neighbors. If you do, a lowered water pressure might be caused by more usage.

Shared pipelines will run water into more than one residential building. This means that if your neighbour takes a shower, the water pressure is going to go down. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean that you’re paying for their water usage. However, it does mean that your quality of living might be slightly affected.

The most cost- effective solution is to take a shower at a different time or changing up your routine a bit. Depending on how irked you are about the situation, you can even try to get the pipes replaced, so that you’re no longer sharing pipelines. You’ll need to speak with a plumbing service in order to see whether this is a possibility. Most plumbing services will not recommend this option because it is quite a costly solution. It’ll also take some time to complete, so you might have to move into a hotel for the time being.

#6. Leaky Pipes

Leaky pipes can easily have a huge effect on the overall water pressure. In fact, if you notice a change in the water pressure within your home, one of the first things that a plumbing service will do is check for leaks. You definitely want to patch up the leaks as soon as possible in order to prevent them from causing even more damage. The longer that you wait, the worse the problem becomes.

The leak misdirected the water supply, so that not all of it entered your appliances and plumbing. This means that the low water pressure is due to the fact that you’re not getting the full flow of water. Everything else is working properly. There’s nothing wrong with the plumbing appliances or the main water line.

In order to determine whether you have any leaky pipes, you should look for wet patches and stained areas. If the leak is so bad that it makes a noticeable change in the water pressure, there’s a good chance that you’ll be able to catch where the leak is located. If not, you might have a lot of smaller leaks within your plumbing. This could be a bit more troublesome to deal with. If there are many leaks, there’s a good chance that the plumbing is in poor condition, so you might want to consider repiping your entire home.

Depending on the number of leaks that are present, as well as where they are located, you might be able to get away with patching up the plumbing or you might have to replace entire sections of the plumbing in one go. This could turn out to be quite a costly venture.

#7. Changed City Regulations

Last but not least, the low water pressure might be because of changed city regulations. This is why it’s so important to be up-to-date with the things that are decided in the City Hall meetings.

If the city has indeed changed some of its water regulations, the water supply will have no choice but to comply. The low water pressure may not be able to satisfy your needs if you’re used to a higher water pressure.

With that said, there’s really nothing that you can do about this issue. The only solution is to install a water pressure booster system. Call the plumbing service to install the system in order to make sure that it’s done correctly. If the booster system is installed improperly, you might see a peek in your utility bills, and you could end up damaging your plumbing.

Fix the Water Pressure by Calling Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth

If you find that the water pressure in your home is too low, the easiest and simplest solution is to call a plumbing service in Haslet, TX. The solutions can be quite complicated. If you don’t have any prior plumbing experience and knowledge, you might not be able to do them by yourself, so it’s always best to rely on professional help. While the plumber is inspecting your home, they can also check to see whether there are any other problems that require immediate attention.

Finding the right plumbing company for your home can take some time. Since there are so many options out there, your main concern should be whether the plumbing company is reputable and whether they provide affordable plumbing services whenever you need them. Out of all of the options that are out there, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth has one of the best reputations around. We have decades of experience in serving residences in Haslet, TX. We’re also able to offer a wide range of plumbing services, from inspections to repair work.

Reach us at Benjamin Franklin of Fort Worth immediately by calling 817-983-7876. If you’re not in a rush, you can also fill out our contact form online, and one of our representatives will get back to you as soon as possible.