Has the water in your shower reduced to a trickle? Is it taking ages to fill the bathtub with water? If so, then you most likely have low water pressure.
There are a range of reasons why you might have low water pressure and several potential solutions. In this article, we look at these in detail. Of course, if you’d like a trusted pair of hands to come look at this for you, our team of central London based plumbers is happy to help, whether this is a long-standing issue or you’re in need of emergency plumbers.
What causes low water pressure and how to fix pressure issues -
- Problems in your local area: It is sometimes the case that your water company might be doing some improvements to their network or due to water supply issues, they might have reduced supply.
It’s always a good idea to call your water company and check that there aren’t any reported issues in the area.
- Clogged or damaged pipes: This is one of the biggest reasons for low water pressure. Many of us live in old houses in London which means that our pipes are also old. As limescale builds up, it restricts water pressure in the pipe. Iron pipes in particular are susceptible to rusting, and sometimes become very corroded and break off.
Many people try home solutions. This includes pouring drain cleaning liquid down the pipes or using vinegar. These can be useful for clearing up small blockages, but if you’ve tried these and are still having problems, you should call TMT Central’s experienced team as you will need a professional plumber to resolve this problem. If the problem is very severe, you may need to have your pipes fixed or even replaced.
- Issue with your taps: Many taps are designed to be used with high pressure systems and are designed to have lower flow rates.
Double check the manual that came with your tap to ensure you have the right tap for your system. You might need to decide whether you’d like to keep your tap and accept low pressure or replace the tap.
There are also a number of taps in the market that can be useful in areas where the pressure is low overall.
- Blocked faucet aerator: An aerator adds air to the stream of water to create a more consistent flow of water. Just as with your pipes, an aerator can also become blocked due to mineral buildup and other debris.
You must be very careful when locating, removing and taking apart an aerator, and if this is something you’re not familiar with, do call your local plumber to avoid causing damage. The aerator will need to be cleaned properly and we recommend leaving it in a vinegar solution for a few hours if you are doing this yourself. Also remember to clean the inside of the faucet with the same solution, and then give everything a good rise before putting the aerator back in the faucet.
- Leaks in your water pipes: This is the worst case scenario, and will certainly need the involvement of a qualified plumber. If pipes are damaged enough to have a leak, that will mean less water in your pipes and the pressure will drop. To check whether you have a leak, just follow these easy steps:
- Make sure all of your taps are turned off and refrain from using them for two hours.
- Close your main valve and take a meter reading.
- Take another reading two hours later, and take another meter reading. If the number has increased, then you most likely have at least one leak.
Just as with clogged pipes, if you suspect a leak in your pipe, call a local plumber as they will need to locate the pipe, and then suggest how to fix the problem depending on the location of the leak.