How Do I Fix Low Water Pressure in My House?

If you have low water pressure in the bathroom sink, there could be a problem throughout your home’s plumbing system.

Although this situation can get frustrating, it is also possible to troubleshoot the problem and correct the issue. The following helpful fixes can help you increase the delivery force and improve flow consistency so that everyone can enjoy using a shower or faucet when they need water.

What Can I Do If I Have Low Water Pressure?

1. Have a chat with your neighbors.

When you experience low water pressure in the bathroom, it could be more than a problem with your home. The entire neighborhood might be dealing with a similar issue. If everyone is affected, the concern is with the municipal system and outside of your control. Those pipes can clog with mineralization, experience a leak, or degrade from corrosion like the plumbing in your home.

If everyone is affected by low water pressure, it might help to contact the city together to let them know how widespread the problem is in your neighborhood.

2. Test the water pressure.

You can test the low water pressure in the bathroom faucet with a hose connection and a testing gauge. You’ll need to screw the device onto a faucet and turn on the tap. All the other appliances and sinks should get turned off to ensure you receive an accurate reading.

If your reading is 50 PSI or lower, you have a potential pressure issue to correct at home. Anything around 60 PSI is what you want to see, while anything above 80 PSI could cause problems with your plumbing.

Once you know a city issue isn’t the cause of this problem, you can use this information to decide what to do next.

3. Remove the clogs in your pipes.

As time passes, your pipes tend to develop mineral deposit buildups that eventually restrict how fast the water flows through your plumbing structures. It’s a lot like what cholesterol does to your arteries.

You’ll eventually find that some faucets won’t get water because there isn’t a way for the water to get there.

Although an extreme problem would require pipe replacement, the issue is usually resolvable by introducing a dissolving agent into your pipes.

You can address clogging points at faucet exits by filling a Ziploc bag with vinegar and tying it to the end of the unit for an overnight soak. If that trick doesn’t work for you, there could be a more severe problem to address deeper in the system.

4. Open the water valve all the way.

When you experience low water pressure in the bathroom sink, the cause could be due to a valve that isn’t open all the way.

Every home has a main water valve. It’s usually located by the meter, but it could be at the entry point where the supply enters the house. You’ll want to check your basement, garage, or crawlspace for it because those places are where it gets found.

Since the valve doesn’t lock, it can get accidentally turned if someone bumps into it. The switch can also get turned off for repair and forgotten about, which means you’d eventually run out once the supply in your pipes is exhausted.

5. Replace the regulator for your plumbing system.

When you have a municipal connection for your home, the public water often has a regulator at the meter or where the main line enters. It’s there to ensure water isn’t rushing through the pipes. It can go bad, causing your pressure to drop at the bathroom sink and elsewhere eventually.

This part must be reset or replaced to correct the problem. It’s usually easier to contact a plumber for this job, although someone from the city might do the work for you.

6. Inspect the system for leaks.

When you have damaged or cracked pipes in your home, the escaping water can cause pressure problems. You’ll end up with a trickle at the faucet! After taking the time to ensure everything is turned off:

• Shut off the main valve.
• Take the number on your water meter and write it down somewhere.
• Recheck it in about two hours. If the number changes, you have a leak to find.

Resolving a low water pressure in the bathroom problem can translate into benefits for your whole home to experience. Although it takes a little work to solve this mystery, it is worth the effort!