[marilynm]

I just moved into a house that has very low water pressure, so low in fact that it takes forever to wash and rinse my hair and then it never feels completely rinsed out. What are my options. I am told that low water pressure is common in my area.

[jlisenbe]

Are you on a well or community water?

[marilynm]

Public

[John Da]

How old is home.
Please check to see if your water service is copper.or galv pipe,just scrape pipe to confirm.
What is piping through out house? copper or galv?
how old is water meter? If over 29 yrs,may need to be replaced,just call city
Let me know answers to these questions,Thanks John :)

[marilynm]

The house is 22 yrs old and I honestly don't know about the pipes! I'll find out. Thanks

[marilynm]

The piping is copper with plastic tubing if that makes sense.

[John Da]

OK--Check all faucet strainers-clean if needed.
Meter nay be original, installed in house, maybe you want town to change ot-ask them age on record with town.
Let me know after these are done, John :)

[John Da]

Forgot to ask,ranch home,or two story?

Have town take a water pressure test/flow test into a five gallon pail with meter removed. This will show volume to meter.

Is main valve at meter a Ball valve? You may want to replace if it isn't, main valve inside guts may be partially closed-blocking flow.

[ballengerb1]

Where do you live and have you asked the water department what pressure you should expect. The incoming line could be blocked but it is more likely the problem is in your pipes. Start at the main and check incoming pressure. Do you have better pressure at an outside spigot?

[marilynm]

John Da - I will find out all of this and get back to you - ballengerb1 - I do believe I do get better outside which, until now, I didn't really think about.

[marilynm]

House is a 2 story cape and is higher up - you drive uphill to get to it, I don't know if that matters

[ballengerb1]

Usually the outside spigot taps close to the main so it draws water before most of your other piping. Is the hot water pressure any different than the cold? 22 year old copper should not be plugging up but you may be in an area with lots of minerals. I would close the main and count the number of turns, then reopen the main to see if it can be opened further. Then shut down the main and open the fitting nearest the main, test the pressure there and come back to us.

[marilynm]

Thanks I'll do that.