It can be frustrating to deal with water pressure issues. It can make it much harder to wash your dishes, or to get a satisfying shower. So, when you’re dealing with low water pressure in Grand Rapids, MN, it’s important for you to consider what might be the root cause of the issue and what steps you can take to resolve the problem.
Here’s a quick overview of some of the most common causes of low water pressure in residential settings.
Closed water meter valve
Many homes have a couple different shutoff valves that control the water that enters the home. One of these is the water meter valve, located next to the water meter on the supply pipe that serves your home from the municipal water line. This is a valve you’ll almost never use, as it belongs to the water company.
Still, even if you never use this valve yourself, there’s a chance it could be partially closed if you’ve recently had some repair work done on your plumbing system. If you noticed the water pressure issues started after you had those repairs performed, you should check the meter valve. It could be located on an exterior wall of your home, or in a box underground between the house and the street. Depending on where it’s located, you may need to call in a professional to take a look.
Closed main shutoff valve
The other main valve that controls your entire home’s water is your main shutoff valve, located inside the house (most of the time) close to where the main supply pipe enters your home. This valve should be fully open to give you full water pressure.
This valve might also get left partially closed after any repair work has been done, so you should be sure to check this valve as well. This one will usually be easier to access than the water meter valve.
Old pipes
Does your home still rely on old steel pipes? There are circumstances in which old galvanized steel pipes get so significantly corroded that it begins to impede water flow. The pipes corrode on the inside, meaning you’re not going to be able to see the buildup of corrosion and scale, which makes this a difficult problem to diagnose, especially when you consider this problem develops slowly over the course of decades.
This can be a very serious and expensive problem, as in many cases the only solution is to take out the pipes and re-pipe the system with copper or PVC water supply piping.
Pressure regulator problems
The pressure regulator is a control valve that slows down the input pressure in your plumbing system to ensure it stays at a safe level to avoid damage to your pipes. Not every home will have a pressure regulator, but if you have one and it’s malfunctioning, it could cause either significant reductions or increases in water pressure, both of which can be quite problematic in their own ways.
For more information about what you can do to deal with low water pressure, contact Rapids Plumbing & Heating Inc. to schedule plumbing maintenance in Grand Rapids, MN.