The whole point of indoor plumbing is that it should be easy, clean and convenient–not a hassle. So it's understandable to feel a bit annoyed when poor flow prevents you from taking a nice, warm shower or the washing machine takes forever to fill. The problem could be low water pressure. This is a relatively common plumbing problem that can be caused by things like clogged pipes in a municipal water system to worn out components in a private water well. The good news is that in most cases the problem can be corrected with a minimal investment of time or money.
It helps to have a basic understanding of pressure and flow before you disassemble plumbing and run all kinds of tests, or place calls to plumbers, the city water department, or a well contractor. The terms pressure and flow are inter-related, but not identical. Water pressure is its force measured in pounds per square inch. The water's flow is its rate in gallons per minute.
Your home may have the pressure it needs, but still suffer from low flow created by corrosion and mineral scale buildup inside water-supply pipes. With their diameter greatly reduced and the inside surface rough like coral, it's no wonder that water barely gets where it needs to go.
Of the two problems, water pressure is the easier to fix. But as you investigate the various causes, and attempt some simple solutions, one of the best ways to cope with the problem (whether it's low flow or pressure) is to reduce simultaneous loads on your home's water system. If two people are showering at a time, or someone is showering while the washing machine is running, the large simultaneous demand on the home's water system will exacerbate the problem. Read on for a few simple tests that you can run to get to the bottom of the problem. |
The whole point of indoor plumbing is that it should be easy, clean and convenient–not a hassle. So it's understandable to feel a bit annoyed when poor flow prevents you from taking a nice, warm shower or the washing machine takes forever to fill. The problem could be low water pressure. This is a relatively common plumbing problem that can be caused by things like clogged pipes in a municipal water system to worn out components in a private water well. The good news is that in most cases the problem can be corrected with a minimal investment of time or money.
It helps to have a basic understanding of pressure and flow before you disassemble plumbing and run all kinds of tests, or place calls to plumbers, the city water department, or a well contractor. The terms pressure and flow are inter-related, but not identical. Water pressure is its force measured in pounds per square inch. The water's flow is its rate in gallons per minute.
Your home may have the pressure it needs, but still suffer from low flow created by corrosion and mineral scale buildup inside water-supply pipes. With their diameter greatly reduced and the inside surface rough like coral, it's no wonder that water barely gets where it needs to go.
Of the two problems, water pressure is the easier to fix. But as you investigate the various causes, and attempt some simple solutions, one of the best ways to cope with the problem (whether it's low flow or pressure) is to reduce simultaneous loads on your home's water system. If two people are showering at a time, or someone is showering while the washing machine is running, the large simultaneous demand on the home's water system will exacerbate the problem. Read on for a few simple tests that you can run to get to the bottom of the problem. |
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