Increase Water Pressure in Your San Diego Home

Do you know how to increase water pressure or change the water pressure in your home? It often seems like a daunting chore. There are many causes of low water pressure, and many surprisingly simple remedies that you can perform yourself to increase water pressure.

Top Causes of Low Water Pressure

The top causes of low water pressure in a home are:

1. Leaks in the plumbing system
2. Clogged pipes or fixtures
3. Corroded pipes
4. Malfunctioning pressure regulator
5. Municipal supply problems
6. Insufficient water supply line size
7. Well water pump problems.

Here are some steps to guide you as you learn how to increase water pressure.

Step 1 – Locate the Supply Line

First, you need to locate the water system line that provides water to your residence. Once you have actually found the line you will certainly be able to find the water meter. This is typically installed in the basement if you have one. If you live in an apartment or a home on top of a crawl space in cooler environments, the meter is normally not in the crawl space as it might freeze, it may be under the cooking area sink or in a utility room.

Step 2 – Find the Valve (Regulator)

As soon as you have found the water meter, find the valve. The valve is made of brass and has a bell-shaped mid-area with a medium-sized screw at the tip of the bell. Make sure that your supply line has adequate pressure before adjusting the pressure valve.

Step 3 – Adjust the Screw

Now that you have located the valve and the screw, you need to loosen the locknut all the way with the wrench. The screw is your adjuster and it can be steered just by loosening the locknut. You increase the water pressure as you tighten the screw and as you loosen the screw the water pressure reduces. Turn the screw clockwise to tighten it and enhance the pressure, or turn it counterclockwise to reduce the pressure.

Do not be too rash. You need to tighten the screw little by little, in slow increments. Examine the result each time you tighten up the screw. If the water pressure is too high, it could result in leakages and force the toilets to run all the time.

Step 4 – Check the Pressure

Once you have adjusted the screw and the water pressure you need to check that it is now at an acceptable level. Inspect the faucets in your home to see if the pressure is now as you want it. Also, be sure to check there is no leaking in the pipes.

If you find that after adjusting the pressure valve there is no significant enhancement, your valve might be defective and will need to be changed.

Changing a valve could be a bit challenging and it is usually best to seek help from an experienced, professional plumber

Do You Need to Increase Your Water Pressure?

Our experienced and licensed plumbers can help you with all kinds of water pressure problems.  Call us at (858) 536-4161.

Serving San Diego and San Diego County for over 25 years with quality work and great service. We also service these cities – El Cajon, La Mesa, Lakeside, Poway, Ramona, Santee, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, University City, Tierrasanta, Rancho Penasquitos, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Santa Fe, Encinitas, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Leucadia, Sorrento Valley, Miramar, Mira Mesa, Scripps Ranch, Vista, Carlsbad, San Marcos, Fairbanks Ranch, 4S Ranch, and Sabre Springs.