How to Put an End to Low Water Pressure in Time for Your Holiday Visitors
The week before your relatives are due, is the shower little more than a trickle? The prospect of a dozen guests all vying for the sink, toilet and kitchen faucet at the same time give you pause? You may be concerned the plumbing will not hold up with the house at capacity.
We hear it from homeowners often as the holidays approach: low water pressure is a frequent source of calls. Then there is The Plumber. We are a family and locally run operation in Mesa and the East Valley, and between us we have put in over 25 years in the industry. We do nothing but plumbing so our attention is where it should be. Give us a ring on (623) 471-7255 and we will tell you what is likely going on.
In most cases you can have the matter resolved before a guest even gets to the door. We have outlined the typical causes and remedies below.
What is Behind a Drop in Water Pressure
It seldom comes on overnight; normally some issue has been brewing and you only see it when the demand is put on it. In the Sonoran Desert the heat is a factor more than one might think. Over the years the high temperatures will do their damage to pipes and fixtures in a way a more temperate climate would not, and the minerals in the water leave their mark.
Weak pressure is usually down to one of these:
- Older galvanized pipe that has constricted
- A pressure regulator out of adjustment or on its last legs
- Mineral deposits in the aerator or showerhead
- Sediment at the bottom of the water heater
- An old leak somewhere siphoning off pressure from your fixtures
- Corrosion in the pipes
- Shutoff valves, main or otherwise, not quite open
Things to Try on Your Own
Do not jump to conclusions, a couple of minutes spent here and there can do wonders for a recalcitrant faucet or shower.
Rinse the mineral grit from the aerator of a bathroom or kitchen faucet by unscrewing it. Leave a clogged showerhead to the vinegar for the night to clear the deposits. Verify that the main and fixture shutoffs are wide open. See if the problem is confined to one spot or the whole house. Take a look around the water heater and under the sinks for any moisture.
If it is just one fixture, a clog is the probable cause. House wide low pressure is something else again and you would be wise to have a pro have at it.
More Than a Showerhead Can Fix
Some issues are beyond what a wrench and vinegar will do. With a full house in the offing, you cannot afford to make a wrong guess and waste time. A hidden slab leak or a regulator that is failing requires proper diagnosis.
Leak detection is important. A slow one behind a wall or in the foundation will put a dent in your pressure and your water bill, not to mention the potential for damage. We can get to the source of it without making a mess of the home. Should it be the pipe, repiping is the long term solution for an older desert property that has seen its share of heat and minerals.
There is no obligation to an estimate from us, we will put a number on any job free of charge. Call (623) 471-7255.
Make Sure the Big Day Is Uninterrupted
You want to sort out the pressure while the house is still empty, not in the thick of the holiday. It is a good way to forestall a leak becoming a flood or a water heater being put to the test right as people come in.
Call us and we will have it taken care of:
- Our work carries a warranty as per our published schedule
- Financing options exist for bigger repairs
- Veterans and seniors can put in for a 10% discount
- We are bonded, insured and fully licensed
- And we are on hand 24/7 in case of an emergency
Let The Plumber get to the root of it and put it right. Do not have your guests’ first shower be a disappointment. To set up your no cost estimate and face the holidays without worry, dial (623) 471-7255.