The causes of low water pressure in your home
There is nothing worse than going to have a shower at the end of a long day, only to find that the trickle coming out of your tap or showerhead isn’t enough to wet your hands, let alone wash! Low water pressure at home can be incredibly frustrating, particularly if it happens consistently. But what causes low water pressure, and are there ways we can combat it and reduce the likelihood of it happening when we need our water most?
There are several things that could cause low water pressure, but the most common include:
- Pipe bursts
- Home plumbing problems
- Supply issues
- Network maintenance
If you have had a new appliance installed, sometimes your internal stop cock may not be fully turned on. Check this before you start to investigate other reasons for your lack of water pressure. Often, homes will find that their water pressure drops when there is network maintenance being carried out on nearby water mains. Whether that’s due to a water main bursting or just general maintenance, you should be informed in advance of any works being carried out that could affect your home water.
Steps you can take to increase your water pressure
Luckily, if you are faced with low water pressure, there are some steps you can take to try and improve your water before you take a shower!
Check with your neighbours
Are your neighbours experiencing the same problems? Contact them to find out what their water pressure is. If they are also facing low water pressure, it is likely to be something to do with work being carried out on a nearby water main. You can check if any maintenance work is being carried out due to a problem or bust pipe by checking with Thames Water or your local supplier.
Look out for leaks
Damaged pipes that are leaking water could be a significant cause of your low water pressure. If you have cracks or damage to your pipework, this could be siphoning off the water before it reaches its endpoint, meaning you are left with less water than usual. If you think you have a water leak, identify the leak and turn off your water mains to prevent any further damage from being done to your property.
Clear any debris
If your pipework is older, it will have a build-up of deposits – particularly in hard water areas. This could mean a lack of water getting to your showers or taps. It may be necessary to replace sections of your pipes that are the worst hit so that you can get back to optimal pressure again.
Install a water pressure boost
If you have failed to identify any plausible reason as to why your water pressure is so low, it may be a problem in your neighbour and house position. For this reason, we recommend installing a water pressure booster that will help to bring more water into your home and give you great shower pressure.
Open your supply valve
Is your water mains valve open enough? Generally located under the stairs or near your kitchen sink, it could be as simple as your water mains not being fully open. Check this before you move on to investigating other causes.
Could upgrading your bathroom increase water pressure?
If you are struggling with your low water pressure and want to upgrade your bathroom, it can be difficult to know which project to tackle first. Do you fix the low pressure or install a new bathroom and hope for the best? What if you managed to tackle both projects at the same time?
Installing a new bathroom could not only give you a tranquil place to relax, but it could solve your water pressure challenges. Your new bathroom installation may require work on your existing pipes, and if your pipes are older and clogged with mineral deposits, replacing them could improve your water pressure. Similarly, upgrading your shower and tap system could promote an improvement in water pressure.
With advancements in bathroom technology, your bathroom installation team could also look at installing a pressure system alongside your bathroom, so you get the best of both worlds. To start your bathroom installation project, contact Aylesbury Bathroom Centre today.
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Upgrade your bathroom with Aylesbury Bathroom Centre
With over 15 years in the bathroom design and installation industry, our team has gathered a wealth of knowledge and experience in making individual bathrooms work for our clients. We sit with you to plan the perfect bathroom based on the budget you have, the features you would like to incorporate and the style designs you are interested in. From here, we will design your perfect bathroom and invite you to look at it using our modern 4D virtual reality technology.
This means you can interact with your bathroom before it’s even been built. Make your last-minute adjustments, then get ready to see your bathroom design come to life as our installation team works their magic. If you are looking to upgrade your bathroom and improve your low water pressure, get in touch with our team today.
