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camycakes · Mar 2, 2009, 07:23 PM

My house was built in 86, I have lived here since 2001 and have had awesome water pressure throughout the house until now. On Saturday I noticed that water pressure was not as strong as it usually is. By end of day today, I cannot run my dishwasher or washer machine and very little water comes out of every single faucet. I also cannot flush any of the toilets in my house. I do not think it has anything to do with my boiler. I have a bell shaped object attached to some piping which I assume is my pressure regulator. I have no idea what to do regarding this as I have a household of six and definitely need some good water pressure. Any suggestions would be helpful. Please let me know if you need more info from me.

Thanks

massplumber2008 · Mar 2, 2009, 07:43 PM

Hi Camy...

Does that bell-shaped valve look anything like my pictures below..

These are pressure reducing valves. They are used when incoming water pressure exceeds 80 P.S.I.

It is possible that the STRAINER (present in both pictures, but only pointed to in 1st pic.) is clogged... or it may simply be time to replace the unit.

Let me know if I am headed in the right direction... O.K.

MARK

camycakes · Mar 2, 2009, 07:48 PM

No, it doesn't look anything like that. I went over to the object and it says water softener on it. Oops, my bad. I am plumbing illiterate so you will have to forgive me.

massplumber2008 · Mar 2, 2009, 07:53 PM

Water softener could also be clogged...

Any chance there is a bypass around the softener? Here, somewhere near the water-softener there should be a couple valves that direct flow... in this case, one valve would be open (going to softener) and the other closed (the bypass).

You would close the one going to the wate rsoftener and open the bypass valve to test if the water softener is clogged...

Let me know what you find... ;)

MARK

camycakes · Mar 2, 2009, 08:03 PM

I will have to check that in morning. On a side note, I just noticed that all three toilets in my house have a strange drumming sound coming from behind the wall where they sit. I have never heard this sound before.

mygirlsdad77 · Mar 2, 2009, 08:10 PM

Mark gave you a great place to start. There may also be a built in bypass on the softner.

The pic above shows the red knob(says push to by-pass.) Start here and let us know if this solves the problem. If not we will take the next step. Granted, your softener doesn't look like this, but the bypass may look something like this.

mygirlsdad77 · Mar 2, 2009, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by camycakes

I will have to check that in morning. On a side note, I just noticed that all three toilets in my house have a strange drumming sound coming from behind the wall where they sit. I have never heard this sound before.

Lets get the pressure problem solved first. Most likely it is related.

camycakes · Mar 3, 2009, 05:42 AM

OK, I have checked and no bypass valve. Now what?

massplumber2008 · Mar 3, 2009, 06:07 AM

Camy...

Are there any valves near this water softener that look like the valves below? There should be... if you chase the in pipe and the out pipe back there should be shutoffs...

Let me know...

camycakes · Mar 3, 2009, 06:12 AM

I just called my town water company. They are coming out right now as they think I have an outside leak. I will keep all of you updated.

massplumber2008 · Mar 3, 2009, 06:12 AM

OK... good luck!

camycakes · Mar 3, 2009, 07:19 AM

Unfortunately the problem is an expensive one to fix. I have a leak somewhere between the shutoff on the street to my house. I have to have a septic company come in, find and fix the leak. HOLY CRAP! Thanks for all your help guys. It is truly appreciated.

mygirlsdad77 · Mar 3, 2009, 07:00 PM

Ouch, sorry to hear that. Hope it all goes smoothly.