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Plumber Tips: Why Should I Be Concerned Over Water Pressure? | Katy, TX
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Low water pressure can be inconvenient at best or interfere with your plumbing at worst. Some water filtration systems, especially reverse osmosis systems, don’t work right without adequate water pressure. Normal household chores. such as washing dishes or clothes, showering, cooking, and cleaning, which can take much more time than usual. Low water pressure may also be a sign that something is wrong with your plumbing. Call a professional plumber in Katy, TX to find out what’s causing low water pressure and resolve the issue. High water pressure can also be a problem and should be addressed as soon as possible.
Possible Causes of Low Water Pressure
Before calling a plumber, there are some things you can check. Make sure your home’s main shut-off valve is open all the way. The handle should be parallel to the pipe. A partially closed valve can cause low water pressure. If this doesn’t work, make sure that the problem really is affecting the entire house. If you only have water pressure issues in one or two fixtures, the problem could be a clog, a cracked pipe, or a clogged aerator. Unscrew the little screen on your faucets and make sure it’s clean before reattaching. Your plumbing professional can also do this for you.
Sediment and Hard Water
It’s usually best to contact a professional plumber when it comes to water pressure issues. There are so many different possible causes that the problem can be hard to pin down. If the problem only seems to occur with hot water, you may have sediment buildup in your water heater. Mineral residue tends to be present in high concentrations in water heaters when a household has hard water. Plumbers can flush out the sediment on a yearly basis. Not only does sediment affect water pressure, but it can also reduce energy efficiency or contribute to leaks in your water heater tank. Faulty water pressure regulators may be the problem as well. A licensed plumbing company can inspect your regulator and repair or replace it if necessary.
Clogged Pipes
Clogged plumbing pipes are also a reason for low water pressure. Sediment and minerals start building up within pipes and restrict water flow. Your plumber can conduct an inspection using a camera to see exactly what’s happening inside your pipes. If mineral residue is a significant problem, your plumbing company can also install a water softener to remove the magnesium and calcium from the household water supply.
Constant Pressure
A constant pressure system is also an option if you can’t pinpoint an exact cause of low water pressure. Constant pressure systems keep water pressure from dropping when multiple fixtures, such as showers, washing machines, faucets or dishwashers, are used at the same time. If you’d rather not take this route, you can try to avoid using too many fixtures at once to avoid drops in pressure.
Problems with High Water Pressure
High water pressure isn’t always better than low pressure. Most of us here in Katy, TX, enjoy high-pressure showers, so we aren’t as likely to identify that as a problem. It’s best to have constant, normal water pressure. Ideal water pressure should be between 45 and 55 PSI. Anything above 55 PSI is considered higher water pressure.
Damaged Plumbing Fixture
High pressure can put a lot of strain on appliances, fixtures, and plumbing pipes, not to mention higher water bills. Your appliances, such as washing machines and water heaters, may wear out early, and pipes could crack or break more often. You may also notice louder and more disruptive baning or knocking noises from your plumbing and excessive noises from appliances like washing machines, garbage disposals, and dishwashers.
Wasted Water
Up to 26 gallons of water can be wasted every 10 minutes from a shower tap or faucet under high water pressure. Excessive pressure may even cause a toilet to run when no one has used it. Other sources of wasted water include leaking faucets, and any leaking pipes can release a lot more water under high pressure than normal pressure. An unexpectedly high water bill means you’re using more water than usual. Although the problem may be a leak or faulty plumbing, you should also call your local plumber to check the home’s water pressure.
Burst Pipes
High water pressure that damages pipes becomes an even bigger problem if a pipe bursts. Call a plumber right away if this happens, even if you need to make an emergency call outside of normal business hours. Find the shut-off valve for the household water supply and stop water flow as soon as possible.
Some fixtures may have localized shut-off valves, which may let you stop the uncontrolled flow of water more quickly. An added benefit of localized valves is that you can still use other plumbing fixtures in the home while avoiding the problem areas. A broken pipe under high pressure can release an enormous amount of water very quickly, and this can leave you dealing with a flooded home and water damage.
Turn off your water heater immediately as well to prevent further damage. If possible, turn off the electricity too. Large amounts of water under high pressure are almost always going to come into contact with electrical wires and outlets, which can lead to even bigger problems. Although a plumber should be your first call, you may need an electrician as soon as possible too.
Contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of West Houston to handle all of your plumbing issues in Katy, TX. These licensed plumbers have plenty of training and experience to help you with water pressure problems and other plumbing issues that could disrupt your household. They also offer an emergency service to assist with problems like burst pipes and other occurrences that can’t wait for a solution.
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