Top Reasons For Low Water Pressure in Your House: An Edmonton Homeowner’s Guide

There’s nothing worse than low water pressure in your house in Edmonton. Have you noticed that your shower head and faucets aren’t producing as much water pressure as they once did? When you notice a sudden drop in pressure coming from your faucets and fixtures, then keep reading to find out the common reasons for low water pressure in your house.

In some cases, you may have low water pressure in your home because your water supplier is having its own issue. Before you start turning on bells or checking out the rest of your pipe system, ask if the neighbors are also experiencing low water pressure. To make sure that you have adequate water flow, consider the following reasons why you may have low water pressure in your house.

From faulty fixtures to debris buildup to closed valves all the way to leaky pipes, our professional Edmonton plumbers can help you pinpoint the source of your water pressure problem. There are many reasons why you could be dealing with low water pressure in your house. Keep reading to understand why you are experiencing this plumbing issue.

Understanding Low Water Pressure in Your House

How Does Your Water Supply System Work?

The water comes through your plumbing fixtures by connecting the city's water main. Water mains receive pressurized drinking water. The pressure applied to the water gives city water enough force to move to your fixtures. However, low water pressure can occur for a variety of reasons. Your water line system comprises the following components.

  • The water supply lines: Your water supply lines consist of two different supply lines: a hot water supply line and a cold water supply line.
  • Water meter: For your water to be metered by the utility there must be a meter installed on your water line. In Edmonton they are in the basement where the water main comes in through the floor.
  • Manifolds: Many water distribution systems will utilize manifolds to divide the water into the individual lines.
  • A shutoff valve: The shutoff water valve is designed to stop the flow of water in cases of emergency. They vary in size, diameter, and how they operate.

Your water line also has a supplier, which can include:

  • Wells: If your water line is supplied through a well that has a hole drilled into the ground to access the water in an aquifer. A pipe and a pump pull water from the ground, and screen filters clean it from any unwanted debris that could clog the pipe.
  • Utility Companies: The water line supplied by a utility company provides water to people within a district or division unit that is responsible for a publicly governed water supply system.
  • Municipal Water Supply: Water line supplied by your city municipality means that all pipes, mains, and structures are maintained by the city, relying on their governance to provide drinking water to the public water supply system. Anything owned by the government uses the municipal water supply system, including hospitals, schools, and libraries.

Keep in mind that water pressure issues may come from water suppliers, so it is worth looking into them if you are diagnosing low water pressure in your house.

Low Water Pressure in Your House from Dirty Fixtures

Checking out your fixtures is the best way to start when trying to troubleshoot low water pressure in your home. If only a trickle of water is coming from your fixtures, then you may be dealing with mineral deposit buildups.

For dirty showerheads, disassemble them from your shower faucet and soak all of their parts in vinegar. Afterward, thoroughly scrub and rinse the pieces before reassembling them. When cleaning, you will notice limescale and other debris coming off the shower head and its tubing.

For dirty faucets, use your desired household bathroom cleaner to scrub the faucet with a brush or sponge. You can also remove the aerator to see if it is plugged up with debris.

Additionally, you could be dealing with broken fixtures which can result in low water pressure. We can replace your faucets, toilets, showerheads, and other plumbing fixtures if the water pressure is coming from faulty fixtures.

Low Water Pressure in Your House from Closed Valves

Sometimes you are dealing with low water pressure in your home when you are dealing with valves that have not been turned open all the way. Homeowners need to know how to find and shut off their main house shutoff valve. If it isn’t open all the way, then you need to locate the valve and turn it counterclockwise as far as you can turn it. If it isn’t fully open, then you will be dealing with low water flow in your home, which will feel like low pressure.

As mentioned earlier, your water shutoff valves vary in operation, size, and appearance. If you cannot locate your shutoff valve, your Edmonton plumber will be able to locate the valve and ensure it is in proper working order.

Low Water Pressure from a Faulty Pressure Regulator

Sometimes your plumbing systems have pressure regulators installed. If you have one, then a faulty pressure regulator may be the reason why you are dealing with low water pressure in your house in Edmonton. If you are certain that you have a pressure regulator installed in your plumbing system, then you can try to test the regulator and its accuracy on your own before you reach out to a professional.

To do this, you can attach a water pressure gauge to your outside hose spigot (the closest one to your regulator, if possible) and turn the water on to see if you are receiving an immediate read from the regulator for the water pressure. If it is lower than what you usually see, then you may be able to solve the problem with low water pressure in your home by calling our professional plumbing team in Edmonton for a pressure regulator repair service.

Low Water Pressure in Your House Due to Clogged Water Lines

Clogged water lines? Actually yes, if you’re in an older home with galvanized water lines, this could be the case. Galvanized water lines look like new on the outside, but on the inside they have been corroding inwards since the day they were installed. This corrosion chokes the water so you experience very poor flow. Unfortunately there is no fixing these lines, they must be replaced.

Alternatively, if you have a water filter installed on your main water line, this could also be the cause of your pressure woes. If the filter hasn’t been serviced as required it could be stopping the flow of water as well.

Low Water Pressure Solutions: A Homeowner’s Guide

When you have a decrease in water pressure, follow these tips:

  • Clean your fixtures to get rid of mineral buildup
  • Contact your water company or the City to ask if they are experiencing any problems
  • Thoroughly inspect the shutoff valve to ensure it is turned on all the way
  • Contact Mr. Rooter Plumbing for a professional plumber to inspect your plumbing pipelines
  • Consider advancements such as water pressure booster systems, water filters, and water softeners

Your professional plumber in Edmonton can help you repair your water supply system. Contact us today to find out why you may be experiencing low water pressure in your house.

Low Water Pressure in Your House? Mr. Rooter Plumbing Can Help

Get consistent pressure from your faucet fixtures by calling our expert plumbers for plumbing repairs and other maintenance services. Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Edmonton can help address leaky and corroded pipes or faulty pressure regulators to provide consistent water pressure in your home once again. With our extensive knowledge of residential and commercial plumbing systems, we can inspect and repair a wide range of issues, including pipe repair, clogged drain repair, and plumbing fixture replacement.

When you notice a drop in water pressure in your home, try cleaning your shower heads or checking your valves but at the end of the day you may need to seek out the help of our professionals to get expert plumbing repair service to address piping issues or water supply issues.

Additionally, consider our water filter and water softener services in Edmonton to reduce the limescale buildup throughout your water line.

Call us today to get service from your Edmonton plumber to address the low water pressure in your home. We are available day and night, so if you are having emergency plumbing issues, you can count on us 24/7. We proudly serve Edmonton and the surrounding areas of Sherwood Park, Pleasantview, and Aspen Gardens.