[ajspencer42]

We just moved into a dream home and the ONLY drawback is the danged water pressure. Turn the sprinklers on in back, no water pressure to the WHOLE house. Turn both the front and back sprinklers on at the same time? No water pressure to the rest of the house and BOTH sprinklers don't have any pressure. I checked the water main valve at the street and it seems to be turned on correctly. I also checked the intermediate valve on the front porch through an access tube and turned it all the way on. Seems to not have helped at all.

Do I call a plumber? Call the city? Anyone have any suggestions? We have a gas water heater and I wonder is that the next place to check?

Any info would be greatly appreciated by anyone with some knowledge...

[Milo Dolezal]

First you have to know what's the INCOMING pressure to your house. Take pressure gauge, crew it on hose valve located before pressure regulator and see how much pressure you get.

Then, measure pressure on the INSIDE of your house. Take same pressure gauge and screw it on Washing Machine cold water outlet. See how much pressure you get there.

If you have Water Pressure Regulator - turn it ALL THE WAY UP - in other words: ocrew adjustment screw IN to increase pressure

Front and Rear sprinklers should be connected to the system BEFORE pressure regulator - not after.

Front and Back sprinklers should NOT run at the same time. Adjust them so you have only ONE station running. There is rarely enough volume to allow more than I station to run at the same time.

To get lot of spray from sprinklers, PVC pipes have to be properly sized. If not, you don't have adequate water volume to support demand. Moreover, too many heads on same branch will inhibit proper water delivery to each sprinkler head.

Let me know what you've found out... Back to you... Milo

[ajspencer42]

Hey Milo. Thanks for the insight. I took a pressure reading on the front hose faucet and it read 84 PSI when I just turned that on. I could understand not having enough water pressure for both hoses. But when it cripples everything else in the house, down to the bathroom sinks just trickling out water, it starts to wear on the nerves. You mentioned the water pressure regulator. On my front porch, there is a round PVC type pipe, pretty wide with a lid and at the bottom, a faucet knob. I opened this all the way up, but turned the front hose on right by it and then turned the knob all the way closed and the water stopped flowing out of the hose faucet. Is this the water regulator for the house or the whole property? I haven't measured the pressure INSIDE my house yet. I will do that when I get home tonight... Feel like I am playing Sherlock Holmes trying to find out what the heck is causing this and if there is anything I can do about it=)

[Milo Dolezal]

84 psi is a lot of pressure. It should be enough to give you adequate water flow throughout the house. Something is cutting down your water volume delivery ( like 1/2 closed valve, etc ) Since it effects entire property, I would suggest that you look for the problem between the curb and your house.

There are few additional things I can think of:

1. Undersized pipes. House is plumbed in 1/2" pipe cutting down water delivery
2. Clean your strainers, aerators and shower heads. Runs showers w/o shower head installed. Run faucets with aerators removed.
3. Malfunctioning back flow preventer. See if you have one. It can be stuck in closed position ( or installed backwards )
4. Main water valve: Valves with yoke have tendency to get stuck in 1/2 open position cutting down water flow significantly.
5. Make sure ALL valves are in OPEN position
6. Any water device installed on your house, like Water Conditioning System, Filter System, booster pump, etc...
7. Make sure your WATER METER is fully OPEN. Water meter is usually located at the curb on property line.

If I understand your description correctly, what you have in your porch may be a shut-off valve for hose valves and sprinklers

Let me know what you've found out... Milo