I have water pressure issues. My pressure at any faucet is good until I us another faucet. For example, when I'm in the shower and someone flushes the toilet, I lose pressure and hot water in the shower. Some times when I'm in the shower and someone flushes the toilet I lose cold water and pressure. I lose pressure in all my facets, and the toilets fill slow when I'm using another facet. I have gas heat for and a new hot water heater. I figured it may be that my hot water heater was bad or small (30 gal). I had it replaced with a new one that is 50 gal. The problem has been this way since I bought the house some 5 years ago.
2007-01-26 13:29:29 · 11 answers · asked by Ron P 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The age of the piping is important. Generally, you have a restriction somewhere in your water service, the piping is too small, or you need a new service. If you have a regulator, it will be just after the meter, turn the screw into the valve to increase pressure, also some regulators have strainers that clog, there would be a nut underneath to remove and clean the strainer. Ask the local authority to change the meter, perhaps they will give you a recommendation from seeing similar problems in your area.
2007-01-26 13:44:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first thing to do is make sure all valves are fully in the open position, from the main water entry of your home straight to each plumbing fixture. It is doubtful that this is the cause of the problem, but it's always best to check these silly things first. The most probable cause of pressure variations when two plumbing fixtures are used at the same time is a combination of old supply lines which tend to be smaller than what we use now, along with dated faucets.
Replacing copper pipes all over the house can become a costly project, but gratefully the new faucets can help overcome the symptoms. Look for faucets which are indicated to have pressure balance systems and/or temperature balance. Depending on the model you choose, you might still lose some pressure but it will be balanced so that at least no one will risk being scalded while in the shower. Moen's faucets all have these features, and there is a company called Selection 25 which has some neat looking faucets at reasonable prices too. www.moen.com & I think the other is www.selection25.com.
The pressure problem you are having is quite typical of older homes, so I wouldn't be alarmed. If you like you can always call in a plumber to give you his 2-cents worth and an estimate to correct it from the source. Good luck!
2007-01-26 13:53:11 · answer #2 · answered by interior designer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have a few seperate issues going on here. First, the shower issue. Sounds like you need pressure balance, a.k.a. anti scald, valves. they are required by newer building codes . They only let the same amount of pressure through the valve at the same time. If the pressure drops on one side it will not let the other side over power the other. you will notice a slight pressure drop but there will be no change in temp when this happens. The way to test if you already have these valves or not is to turn off the valve on your hot water heater. then run a faucet untill the hot water stops flowing. Go to your shower and turn it on. If you still have even close to normal pressure, you dont have the newer valves. If it just barely dribbles, you have them. These will solve the scalding problem. Also sounds like your pipes may be undersized. Building codes in my area require no more than two fixtures on a 1/2" line. so most bath rooms are fed by a 3/4" hot and cold line. Then we are required to up size pipes per fixture units. Generally a house with 2 toilets can be fed by a 3/4" water supply. 3 toilets to 5 toilets require a 1" water supply broke down to only two toilets fed by each 3/4" line fed by the 1" and so on. Alot of older houses are fed by a 1/2" line,(mine is and) because they were built before building codes required more or even before building codes even exsisted. If this is the case then when more than one fixture is used at the same time there is not enough volume, not pressure, in the pipes to carry the needed amount of water to the fixtures being run. In reality the only way to cure this is to run larger sized lines. Just for kicks look at the lines coning out of your water heater. On older houses they usually have a 1/2" hot line going to the house and a 3/4" feeding the cold side of the heater. Sometimes even the heater is fed by only a 1/2" line. Like if the whole house is only fed by 1/2" then the heater will be too. There are other reasons for pressure loss too. Older pipes, especially galvanized, corrode and decrease in size, or debris and hard water particles can collect in fittings, valves, fixture stops, fixture components, etc. if I had to take a guess though Id almost put money on your pipes being to small for the demand and your valves not containing pressure balancing hardware. Your best fix is to have the shower/ tub valves replaced with newer ones and look into repiping the house. good luck!
2007-01-26 14:04:02 · answer #3 · answered by ender3113 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
start at the main water line and turn the water off then all the way on. Then move to the water heater and repeat. If there is a small blockage or the line wasn't opened all the way after they installed the water heater this may help. Those two places effect all the water in the whole place. If it's a home you might also try the main out in the street. call the city and have them come out and shut it for a made up repair then have them turn it back on.
COST "$0"
2007-01-26 14:32:42 · answer #4 · answered by zocko 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It sounds like the pressure set by the water co is not strong enough for your needs. This may be because you are in an older neighborhood where the plumbing is aged and they set the pressure low so to not blow any joints and elbows. You can change the pressure at the meter if you like or have the water co do it for you if you trust your plumbing? I have lived in my home for 23 years and used to have well water. When the city put in water we had to do alot of plumbing repairs because of the pressure changes. Another possible reason could be the size of your plumbing pipes. Older houses have 3/8 to 1/2 then newer to 5/8 and 3/4
2007-01-26 13:46:16 · answer #5 · answered by icruiseon2 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You problem is low volume due to any or all of the following:
1. Pipes are becoming filled with calcium and there is not enough room left to operate more than one water appliance.
2. The pipe into the house is too small and is limiting the amount of water into your house.
3. The main in the street is not capable of supplying sufficient water flow to your house.
4. The main from the pipe entering the house is too small.
5. You are very far away from the main and the pressure drop is sufficient to lower your flow considerably.
2007-01-26 13:47:16 · answer #6 · answered by MT C 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Probably these outlets are at the end of pipeline. Try with all other faucets closed. If there is no improvement look for blockades . Low pressure is also due to higher diameter of pipe.
2016-03-29 04:19:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a water line capacity issue. You might improve the situation by increasing your water pressure. There is a regulator that controls it.
2007-01-26 13:35:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Install a water pressure tank.
2007-01-26 13:37:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Check your water meter outside and make sure it is turned all the way on...
2007-01-26 13:40:03 · answer #10 · answered by Tony H 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋