How Low Water Pressure Might Be The Result Of Clogged Pipes
One of the reasons homeowners have low water pressure in their homes is due to the condition of their pipes. While this is not typically a cause of low water pressure in newer homes, it could be the cause of your low water pressure if your house is on the older side. If you suspect that this might be the reason for your low water pressure, here are several things you should know.
How Pipes Restrict Pressure
The pressure of the water that comes into your home should be around 40 psi to 45 psi (pounds per square inch). With this level of pressure, you should not feel like your water pressure is too low; however, just because water is entering your home at this rate does not mean it is coming from your faucets at this rate. Over time, pipes that supply fresh water to your faucets can actually become clogged or can narrow, and this happens from the minerals and sediment found in the water that is entering your house. If you have city water, this is not likely to happen, as cities generally treat their water. With a well, though, this can happen.
As water passes through the pipes to reach your faucets, little pieces of sediment and minerals will not make their way to your faucets. Instead, they will attach to the pipes and will cause them to narrow over time. As this happens, less water gets through the pipes, and you end up with lower water pressure.
How You Can Fix the Problem
If you hire a plumber and determine that this is the cause of your low water pressure, there are several different things the plumber will discuss. The first is whether you want to clean your pipes or replace them, and this will generally depend on the age and condition of the pipes. If they are not that old, cleaning them out is probably the best option. If the pipes are around 50 years old, though, the plumber might recommend switching them out.
In either case, the plumber might recommend a second step, which involves adding a water treatment system to your home. If you do not treat the water that enters your home from here on out, you will end up with the same problem in the future. While it may take 10 years for the pipes to clog up again, it will eventually happen, and you can prevent this by treating the water before it reaches the pipes.
If you have questions or problems relating to low water pressure, contact a plumber from a company like Ez Flow Plumbing to set up an appointment at your home today.
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