Plumbing issues don’t just come in the form of leaky pipes, broken boilers and clogged pipes. Water pressure, for example, is something that every home relies on to make sure that water flows freely out of the taps and outlets. Water pressure means more than just having a good shower, and if you have issues with your pressure, it can cause failures in your plumbing system and serious damage if you leave it for too long. Your home’s water pressure system is comparable to the blood pressure in our bodies, and it’s important to find a happy medium rather than a pressure level that’s too high or too low. Here are a few common water pressure problems to help you identify whether there’s an issue in your home, and what you need to do about it.

Low water pressure

A key indicator of low water pressure is a trickle of water coming out of the pipes, rather than a constant flow. This makes filling up the kettle extremely time consuming, meaning that your shower is weak and disappointing, and generally can be a nuisance. Low pressure is often caused by a pressure regulator that needs replacing, the use of two large appliances at once, peak periods, or more seriously, a water leak in your home. A way to detect a water leak is to turn off the meter in your home and make note of the reading, and return to the meter for another reading two hours later. If you have a leak, your meter reading will increase.

Leaking faucets

Another common water pressure problem is leaky faucets. A crack or leak in the pipe can mean that water is exiting the pipe before it reaches the end of the faucet, which will lead to a low flow rate or trickle of water. It may also be caused by corrosion in your pipes, so you’ll have to call in a plumber in to assess your pipes and find the cause of the problem.

High water pressure

The maximum recommended water pressure psi is 70, as anything higher can cause issues in your plumbing system. Although you may think that high H2O pressure isn’t a bad thing, as it’ll mean that you get a nice, strong shower, it’s actually one of the primary causes of leaks, flooding, and burst pipes so it can lead to a lot of damage in the long run.

Looking for a reputable plumber in Vancouver to check if you’re experiencing one of these common water pressure problems? Get in touch with Mr. Plumber today!