How to Detect and Fix Low Water Pressure in Your Home

Anyone who’s lived here for long enough has surely experienced the frustration of stepping into the shower only to be met with a weak, unsatisfying trickle. Or going to run the dishwasher and having to wait an eternity for enough water to trickle in and get the cycle started.

Chronically poor water pressure can seriously disrupt your daily flow. Washing dishes, bathing, trying to spray down the driveway, and other tasks that are supposed to be simple become extremely frustrating. And it’s not just annoying – it’s also a sign that something is amiss with your plumbing that you need to address right away.

This guide will dive into the root causes behind that maddening low flow so many of us Chicago-area residents have to endure. There are several potential culprits worth investigating. 

Once we identify the likely source, we’ll provide some DIY tips on how to troubleshoot and resolve the issue yourself. We’ll also cover when it’s time to wave the white flag and call in professional backup to get that water pressure back up to an invigorating, powerful stream. No more piddly dribbles – it’s time to bathe like a human again!

How to Detect Low Water Pressure in Your Home

If you’re constantly battling dribbles and sad trickles, it’s time to get real and accept that low water pressure is cramping your home’s style. Here are some telltale signs to watch out for:

Signs of Low Water Pressure

• Faucets and showerheads putting out a weak, unsatisfying flow no matter how far you crank them
• Appliances like the washing machine or dishwasher taking forever to partially fill up
• Having to carefully stagger water usage so the toilet can refill its tank without the shower losing all pressure
• Sprinklers and hoses struggling to properly power through and cover your whole yard

If those sound familiar, it’s time to break out the real tools and get to testing.

Checking Water Pressure with a Gauge 

For a definitive reading, you’ll want to pick up an inexpensive water pressure gauge from the hardware store. This lets you measure the actual psi (pounds per square inch) flowing through your pipes. Ideally, you want a reading between 40-60 psi for optimal household water pressure.

To use it, just shut off all the fixtures and attach the gauge to an outdoor spigot or water intake valve. Let it stabilize for a minute and check the reading. Anything consistently below 40 psi means you’ve got a pressure problem to address.

Comparing Pressure Between Fixtures 

Once you’ve got a baseline measurement, it’s smart to also check the pressure at various fixtures around your home. Hook up the gauge to kitchen and bathroom faucets, showerheads, even the laundry taps. If certain areas are showing significantly lower pressure than others, that can help pinpoint where the blockage or leakage issue is localized.

When Low Pressure Might Be a Neighborhood Issue 

Sometimes extremely low pressure readings across multiple fixtures could indicate the problem is bigger than just your home’s pipes. Reach out to neighbors and see if they’re experiencing similar low flow issues. You can also contact your local water department to check if there are any system leaks or planned maintenance that could be temporarily reducing pressure in your area.

If everyone around you seems to have normal pressure, then you’ve at least narrowed it down to an issue within your home’s plumbing that needs further investigating. But if it is a neighborhood-wide problem, at least you can take solace in not being alone in your low flow woes!

Common Causes of Low Water Pressure in Chicagoland Homes

Now, let’s play plumbing detective and get to the bottom of what’s choking that water pressure. Here are some of the usual suspects for Chicagoland residents:

Clogged or Corroded Pipes

Let’s start with the gunk factor. Those of us stuck with older homes and hard water have likely accumulated years’ worth of mineral and rust buildup coating the inside of our pipes. It’s basically like having a crusty layer of plaque restricting flow – no wonder you can barely coax out more than a trickle! Corrosion from aging galvanized pipes can also cause leaks and obstructed water paths. This should call for a repiping job.

Leaky Pipes

Speaking of leaks, even a tiny crack or hole in your plumbing can seriously mess with pressure. Think of it like a slow flat tire – all that water is seeping out before it ever reaches your showerhead or faucet. Leaks under your slab or behind walls are especially hard to detect.

Faulty Pressure Regulator

Your home’s pressure regulator is kind of like a gatekeeper, controlling how much water force is allowed through. If it starts malfunctioning or gets stuck, it can cause pressure to plummet or spike way too high. Either way, say goodbye to that perfect balanced flow.

Municipal Water Supply Issues

Sometimes the issue is completely out of your control as a homeowner. Construction crews could have cracked a water main on your street. Or the city might be dealing with a larger system leak that’s lowering pressure across your neighborhood. Temporary pressure fluctuations are common when water providers are making repairs or upgrades.

Partially Closed Shutoff Valve

Here’s an easy one to check – is your home’s main interior shutoff valve all the way open? It’s not uncommon for these to get accidentally turned a bit, restricting overall water flow to your plumbing system. Give it a full spin counterclockwise and see if that helps.

Issues with Water Heaters

While we’re on the topic of valves, let’s not overlook that water heater! If the temperature and pressure relief valve is faulty or the tank itself is clogged with sediment buildup, it can severely impact your home’s hot water pressure. An improperly set thermostat could also be a factor.

Any of those sound like they could be contributing to your low flow plight? There’s a good chance one or more of those issues is the culprit.

How to Fix Low Water Pressure: DIY Solutions

Okay, so you’ve identified the likely culprit behind your home’s sad shower dribbles and toilet trickles. Here are some simple DIY fixes any reasonably handy homeowner can try first to get that water pressure back up to a satisfying blast:

Cleaning Faucet Aerators and Showerheads

One of the easiest things to check is whether your fixtures themselves are the issue. Over time, those little aerators and showerheads can get clogged with mineral deposits and gunk buildup, restricting flow. But they’re usually easy to remove for a quick cleaning!

For faucets, just unscrew the aerator at the mouth using pliers or a wrench. Soak it in some vinegar or descaler solution to dissolve any sediment. You can use an old toothbrush to scrub off stubborn buildup. The same goes for showerheads – unscrew it, soak in a vinegar solution, and use a toothpick or pipe cleaner to poke through any clogged holes.

Checking and Adjusting the Pressure Regulator

If your home has a pressure regulator valve (usually located near the main shutoff), that could be the key to amping up your flow. First, use a pressure gauge to check the current setting. If it’s reading below that ideal 40-60 psi range, you may be able to adjust the regulator.

There should be a locking nut or bolt you can loosen, then turn the main screw or bolt clockwise to increase the pressure setting. Go slowly and keep checking the gauge until you hit that sweet spot. Just be careful not to crank it too high or you could end up with bigger issues!

Flushing Your Water Heater

For those dealing with poor hot water pressure specifically, it’s worth giving your water heater some TLC. Sediment can gradually build up in the tank over years, clogging things up. Most models have an inlet valve near the bottom you can hook up a garden hose to in order to drain the full tank.

Once it’s emptied, try briefly opening up the water inlet to stir up any lingering sediment at the bottom. Flush it thoroughly until the water runs clear. This will clear out any gunk choking your hot water flow.

Fixing Leaky Pipes

If you’ve got evidence of leaks under sinks, in basements, or behind walls, that could be why your water pressure is taking a major hit. Shut off the main water supply and check all visible pipes and fittings for any moisture, discoloration, or active drips. For minor leaks, you may be able to use some plumbing tape or epoxy sealant to patch things up.

For bigger problems like cracked pipes, you’ll likely need to call in professional backup. But sealing up even small leaks can make a big difference in restoring overall pressure!

Those are just a few DIY methods to get that water pressure back into peak form. If you’ve exhausted all those tricks with no improvement, it may be time to bite the bullet and schedule a plumber to do a more thorough inspection of your home’s pipes. But don’t underestimate your own handyman skills first!

When to Call a Professional Plumber

As much as we might want to be self-sufficient fix-it masters, there are certain scenarios where an expert plumber is your best bet.

Persistent Low Pressure Despite DIY Fixes

You cleaned out those mineral deposits. You flushed the water heater within an inch of its life. You tightened up every pipe connection looking for leaks. And yet…that water pressure still isn’t bouncing back to full force. If you’ve utterly exhausted all the basic DIY troubleshooting with zero improvement, something bigger is likely going on that requires professional diagnostics.

Complex Pipe Corrosion or Blockages

Maybe your home is just getting up there in years and the pipes are extremely corroded or blocked up from decades of mineral buildup. You can try snaking a drain or two, but once those obstructions are severe and widespread, you’re out of your DIY depths. Corroded pipes may need to be replaced, which is definitely a job for licensed pros.

Diagnosing Larger Plumbing System Issues

Low pressure plaguing every fixture in your home could signal an issue with your main water line or overall plumbing system. Stuff like failing pressure regulators, broken water meters, or slab leaks are complex problems that really need an expert’s assessment. A plumber can do comprehensive pressure testing and inspections to diagnose the root cause.

How a Plumber Can Help Detect Hidden Leaks

One of the toughest things for a homeowner to locate is those sneaky hidden leaks. Whether it’s a slab leak, underground pipe crack, or moisture trapped in your walls, you’d never know it was there sapping your pressure. Plumbers have access to specialized leak detection equipment that can accurately pinpoint the source of those invisible drips and get them repaired.

There’s no shame in admitting defeat on those low pressure problems that are beyond your DIY capabilities. Unless you want to risk causing thousands in water damage by guessing wrong, it’s best to call in the big guns once you’ve exhausted those home remedies.

Don’t Let Low Water Pressure Leave You High and Dry!

At the end of the day, battling low water pressure is one of those uniquely frustrating homeowner problems. But you don’t have to keep tiptoeing around that weak dribble! 

Whether you’re a DIY warrior tackling clogs and leaks yourself or it’s time to call in professional backup, Precision Today has your back. Our plumbing experts use state-of-the-art tools to quickly diagnose and fix even the gnarliest low pressure issues. 

Don’t resign yourself to another sad shower – dial (630) 425-8995 and let us get that water pressure pumping again!