Do you wish your home had better water pressure? Have you noticed that your water pressure is weaker than it was before? Low water pressure is a common problem that homeowners have, but how do you fix it? The first step to fixing it is finding out the cause. Once you know the cause, you can make the necessary changes. Here is a guide to help you understand this common plumbing problem and its causes.

Clogged aerator

Is your low water pressure affecting one faucet or every faucet? This question is the first one to answer, as it guides a plumber to the proper repairs. When one faucet has low pressure, but the rest don't, the problem likely lies with the faucet. So a plumber might take the faucet apart to find the problem. A common cause of low pressure in one faucet is a clogged aerator. An aerator is a small screen that filters water before it comes from the faucet. Unfortunately, aerators develop clogs from filtering water. A plumber can clean or replace the aerator to fix the problem.

The same is true for shower heads. If you have one shower with low pressure, the problem is likely with the shower head. Replacing or cleaning it might solve the problem.

Clogged pipes

In some cases, an entire home has low water pressure. This problem can happen for many reasons, including clogged pipes. The pipes that carry water to your faucets might have restrictions. In other words, they might be clogged with built-up minerals. Hard water tends to cause this problem in freshwater pipes. The minerals build up in the pipes, restricting waterflow. The result is low water pressure.

A plumber can fix this problem in several ways. First, they might suggest cleaning the pipes to see if this helps. This option is the more affordable method. The other option is replacing the pipes.

Water pump issues

Another possibility for low pressure in your whole house is water pump issues. When your system pumps water, it uses several components. The water pump is one of these. There are also valves and controls affecting how much water comes through the system. If these parts are not operating correctly, you can have low water pressure. A plumber can test everything to find the issues.

Call a plumber

If you have questions about low water pressure or another issue, contact a plumbing company near you.

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