Homework: Low water pressure

1. Is the whole area like this?

Check to see if your water pressure is prevalent in your neighborhood. You'll often see low water pressure in houses that are located on a hill or very close to a water tower that helps create pressure in a municipal water system.

2. Maybe it's debris or a kink

There can be many causes. The main water line feeding your home could have a kink in it that's restricting water flow, the line could be partially clogged with deposits or there may be some sort of in-line water filter that's clogged with debris. 

3. There could be a clog

If your home is an older one and has galvanized iron water pipes, the horizontal pipes that run under floor joists also could be clogged. This is very common, though the vertical pipes that run between floors don't tend to suffer from this sedimentation issue to the same degree.

4. Check the faucets

Some homes suffer from point-of-use low water pressure in showers and kitchen and bathroom faucets. To comply with federal water-use regulations, showerheads contain flow restrictors that have very tiny holes in them to slow down the flow of water. Unfortunately, very tiny pieces of sediment can quickly clog these openings. When enough openings get clogged, water pressure drops fast. Water pressure drops significantly at a kitchen or bathroom vanity faucet for the same reason. But in this case, the pieces of sediment clog holes in a plastic disc and the aerator that creates the uniform flow of water.

5. Open the shut-off valve

Shut-off valves within your system could be partially closed and cause a problem. Sometimes, someone will turn down the main shut-off valve and not open it up fully after a repair is completed.

6. Gauges can help

Home water pressure also can suffer because of a faulty water pressure relief valve. You can determine this, with some effort, by installing a water pressure gauge on each side of the pressure-relief valve or a pressure-reducing valve. The gauges tell you the pressure of the water being supplied by the municipal water main or the well pump. But the secondary pressure gauge, installed downstream of the other valves, will tell you how much the pressure has dropped because of those other devices in your water system.

7.  Clean the showerhead

If you have water pressure issues at only a few faucets and your showerheads, you can pretty easily solve the problem. Remove the aerator from a faucet and carefully take it apart away from the sink, so parts don't fall into the abyss. Remove a showerhead and pull out the flow restrictor. Use a pin or needle to push sediments out of the holes. Soak the parts in warm white vinegar to remove scale buildup. Let the parts soak overnight, then lightly scrub with an old toothbrush.

8. Know what you're doing

If you're thinking of adding pressure gauges or replacing clogged pipes, be sure you test your plumbing skills first. Also, make sure you're allowed to perform DIY repairs on your water pipes. Some localities prohibit this and require work to be performed by a licensed plumber.