When it comes to managing one’s plumbing system (no matter if that be on the residential or commercial side of things), there are a number of potential problems that may arise. Some of them can be resolved relatively easily, while others might require a little more work. Nonetheless, the one commonality amongst all of them is the fact that it’s always a smart move to get them fixed sooner rather than later. After all, the last thing you want is for a small issue to escalate into a major headache, right?
For those of you who are familiar with our plumbing blog, you’ve likely seen us break down some of these different plumbing problems. Whether that be in regards to faucets, water heaters, sewer lines, garbage disposals or anything else, having a general understanding of your plumbing system and consistently taking a proactive approach will help immensely. Having said all of that, with this week’s blog post, we’ll discuss a plumbing problem that is certainly capable of causing some problems (and also serving as an annoyance to homeowners and facility managers). What I’m referencing here are the different forms of water pressure issues. As you can likely guess, having either too high of water pressure or too low can present their own unique problems. In this week’s blog post, we’ll discuss each of these!
Before we start discussing the various water pressure issues, we would first like to say hello to anyone stopping by our blog for the first time. Welcome to Stine-Nichols Plumbing! Our team of plumbing professionals works throughout the Kansas City area, providing residential, commercial and new construction services. With years of experience, we’re confident in our ability to accurately assess any plumbing problem, formulate an effective solution and complete the needed work. To speak with a member of our team about a potential project, feel free to give us a call at (816) 348-3481.
Potential Water Pressure Issues #1: Pressure is Too High
To get things started, we’ll first discuss what can happen when one’s water pressure is too high. As you can imagine, when the water pressure exceeds the recommended levels, this can cause some serious problems for your pipes, fixtures and appliances. Simply put, they are not equipped to sustain operations under these increased water pressure levels. What follows can be leaks in your pipes and fixtures/appliances breaking down earlier than expected.
Are you concerned that your water pressure might be too high inside your home or commercial facility? Maybe you’ve noticed noisy pipes and are worried something may be up? If so, your first step will be to determine what it’s currently at. With the use of a gauge, you’ll be able to find out and then can act accordingly. In the event that it is too high, the next step will be to have a PRV, or pressure-reducing valve, installed (assuming you don’t already have one). Just as its name suggests, a PRV is designed to bring the water pressure down to a safe level, thus ensuring it doesn’t wreck havoc on one’s plumbing system. If there isn’t one currently installed and your water pressure is too high, hiring a plumber to install a PRV should be your next move. What about those that have too high of water pressure and already have a PRV installed? In these situations, there are two things you can do:
Try adjusting the PRV – Pressure-reducing valves are set up where you can change the water pressure entering your house. There is a chance it could’ve been set too high and simply adjusting the water pressure level will resolve your problems.
PRV has gone bad – If adjusting the PRV doesn’t work and the water pressure levels are still too high, then chances are the PRV itself has gone bad and needs to be replaced. As we often say, even with the right maintenance, no plumbing component is built to last forever. Given the wear and tear they experience, there is certainly an expected lifespan for each fixture and component. The same goes for PRV’s. If this is the case, then you’ll want your local plumbing company to complete the PRV replacement for you.
Potential Water Pressure Issues #2: Pressure is Too Low
In the previous section, we talked about how high water pressure can pose some serious problems to one’s plumbing system. Fortunately, with the help of a PRV, it’s easy to alleviate those issues. The one key caveat though is making sure you don’t procrastinate on having one installed or replaced (in the event that your existing one fails). Nonetheless, that is only half of what we’ll be discussing in this week’s blog post. The other side of the story is the instances when water pressure is too low. As you can imagine, low water pressure can certainly be an annoyance and frustrating to deal with. So…what should you do if you suspect your home’s water pressure might be too low?
Are your aerators clogged up? – One of the more noticeable ways in which people suspect they may have low water pressure is when the faucets and/or showerheads aren’t as strong as they should be. In many cases, this could actually be the result of a clogged aerator (due to mineral deposits). Fortunately, these can be cleaned relatively easily by soaking them in vinegar. If you’re experiencing low water pressure, make this your first step in resolving the issue. Regardless of whether or not you’re experiencing issues, cleaning your aerators is a worthwhile maintenance task worth adding to your to-do list, especially if you have hard water.
Is the main shut-off fully open? – If you’ve cleaned your faucet and showerhead aerators, and are still having low water pressure, it’s time to proceed to the next item worth checking. Do you know where your home’s main shut-off is? If so, locate it and make sure it’s completely open. If it’s not, that could be causing the low water pressure.
How about your PRV? Are there any leaks/clogs in your pipes? – We mentioned above how PRV’s can be helpful in alleviating high water pressure issues, but it could be to blame for your water pressure being too low as well. If there is a malfunction with the PRV, that could be the cause of your low water pressure. Likewise, any leaks and/or clogs in the water lines could also be to blame for low water pressure (and probably some more serious issues too).
What if the pressure is still too low? – If the low water pressure issues still persist, you may be looking at something that’s out of your control, thus forcing you to call the water company to decipher where the issue resides.
Call the Plumbing Pros at Stine-Nichols!
Here at Stine-Nichols Plumbing, we understand there are a plethora of potential plumbing problems. Considering all of the pipes and fixtures/components encompassed throughout one’s plumbing system, it’s easy to see why this would be the case. Over the course of this week’s blog post, we reviewed the downsides of both high water pressure and low water pressure, before discussing how you can resolve these issues. If you’re experiencing either and need some help resolving them, give us a call at (816) 348-3481 and we can get you taken care of in no time! Likewise, you’re also welcome to fill out the form HERE and a member of our team will be in touch to discuss your project in more detail.