When was the last time you tested your home’s water pressure? Never? If you have given little to no thought to learning how to test water pressure in your house, you might want to reconsider. Here is what you need to know.
Too much water pressure and you could damage your plumbing. Too little and you can’t take a comfortable shower. In some cases, you may not even realize that your pressure is not what it should be, but that problem is easily fixable with a few simple steps.
If you have ever wondered how to test water pressure in your house, these tips are for you.
The Shower/Toilet Test
Have you ever noticed how the water pressure changes while you are showering when someone else flushes a toilet? If you have, you might want to take a closer look. Turn on your shower and watch what happens when you flush the toilet. Does the pressure drop significantly while the toilet is refilling? If so, it might be time to call a plumber to diagnose the problem.
Buy a Pressure Gauge
If you do not notice anything when you try the shower/toilet test but you still suspect you have a water pressure problem, you can get a more accurate reading of your home’s water pressure by buying a pressure gauge. You can purchase this tool at most home supply stores. After you hook up your pressure gauge to your faucet, make sure no other water is running in the house, then run the water to get a baseline reading of your pressure. Depending on your preferences and your home, you want to get a reading between 30 and 80 psi.
A Few Potential Causes
Now that you know how to test water pressure in your house, let’s talk about what might be causing the problem. When you have low pressure, the cause could be a few different things.
One potential cause could be a leak somewhere in your plumbing. A leak in one pipe decreases the pressure in the rest of the house. To fix this plumbing problem, you will need to locate the leak and repair it. The problem could also be a partially blocked pipe due to mineral buildup.
The low water pressure problem could also be due to your municipal supply, though that is more often the cause of high pressure. If you live at the bottom of a hill, you may need to install a pressure regulator.
Hire a Plumber So You Don’t Have to Learn How to Test Water Pressure in Your House
If you need help determining why your water pressure is too low or too high, get in touch with the experts at Custom Plumbing of Arizona. We will help you achieve optimal pressure in your home.