Low water pressure: reasons and what to do

What should be the optimal water pressure in the system?

To begin with, it would not be superfluous to decide what normal water pressure should be. After all, this indicator is standardized and can be determined quite easily.

In an urban network, a 40-meter column of water, or 4 bars, in the generally accepted measurement system, “presses” on the inner walls of the pipeline.

Generally speaking, there is no fixed figure in this regard. However, in any case, the pressure that does not drop below two atmospheres is considered normal. It is under this condition that optimal pressure is ensured. If we measure this value in pascals, then pressure fluctuations from 0.03 to 0.6 megapascals are permissible.

If the reason lies in the main pipeline

A huge part of the mains has been in operation for a long time and does not meet modern water consumption standards.
Close-knit residents of apartment buildings consider it a cost-effective solution to install common pumping equipment for the entire house, or replace the existing product with more powerful equipment. Indeed, this is much cheaper and more efficient than buying pumps for each apartment to increase the weak pressure of cold and hot water. Such stations include several pumps and automatic control units. This equipment turns on automatically when needed, and turns off automatically when it is no longer needed. To install such equipment you will need:

unite all residents of the house;
find an appropriate specialist who can correctly calculate the required power;
install equipment and perform its maintenance in a timely manner.

After carrying out these measures, all problems with weak pressure of cold and hot water will be finally resolved.

There are a huge number of different structures that relate to cold and hot water supply pipelines. This confuses people; the consumer does not know who to contact and who can help with poor cold or hot water pressure. There are certain rules that clearly indicate responsibility for the condition of the water supply:

The owner is responsible for the internal wiring in the apartment and independently carries out repairs and maintenance of this equipment;
The housing office or management company is responsible for the pipeline from the main to the consumer;
the local water utility division is responsible for the cold water supply line;
State Unitary Enterprise TEK is responsible for the supply of hot water and its quality.

Everyone understands where the water in the apartment comes from. In order to provide residents with it, builders lay communication networks, which, unfortunately, sometimes fail. A clogged and worn-out line can lead to problems when there is low cold water pressure in the apartment. What to do in such a situation?

Residents of such houses most often encounter a situation where there is low water pressure in the apartment. What to do with such a problem and how to help yourself?

It is no secret that the water that comes through pipes into houses is sometimes of very poor quality. Over time, the impurities contained in it settle on the inner surface of the pipe. Rust appears and a coating forms, which reduces its clearance, which provokes weak water pressure in the apartment. What to do, where to go in a situation that cannot be resolved by the residents?

So, if the riser itself was clogged, then the worn-out pipes need to be replaced in time. It should be noted that it is recommended to replace the riser completely, not partially. Sometimes adjusting the pressure using equipment installed in the basement of an apartment building will help solve the problem, but this is only effective in some situations.

When there is low water pressure in the apartment, what should you do? This is the first question for residents who want to deal with this problem. Often the reason is not the poor performance of utility workers, but the poor condition of the pipes directly in the apartment. Moreover, this is the most common reason for insufficient water pressure.

As experts note, most often, clogged pipes and a decrease in water pressure occur due to rusted joints of plastic and metal pipes. Fortunately, the problem is easily solved. The main thing is to have the necessary finances and time. To restore pressure, it is necessary to clean the pipes. If this procedure turns out to be useless, then it is recommended to completely replace the metal pipes with plastic ones.

The main reasons for the drop in water pressure

We can highlight a unique TOP of reasons why there may be a drop in the pressure level in a cold or hot water supply system:

There is a blockage inside the faucet. Before contacting a service company, it would be a good idea to make sure that the faucet is not clogged with a rust plug, or that children have not put anything small inside. The flow intensity may be weakened, for example, by clogged filter mesh. In this case, the problem should only occur in one tap in the house.
Formation of blockage inside the pipe. In this case, as a rule, all water consumers in the house suffer. The solution is, of course, to remove the blockage. If it is impossible to determine the location of the blockage yourself, then you need to call a specialized company.
Weakening of water pressure on the side of the waterworks. Failures at a station can be caused by a variety of reasons - from equipment breakdown to preventive maintenance. You just need to be patient and wait until the problem is fixed. But calling and clarifying the problem still won’t hurt.
Pipe rupture or water supply seal failure. Breakouts are usually repaired by professionals. Especially when it comes to breaking a highway.
The reason for the loss of water pressure may also be the fact that in the private suburban sector a building was erected that exceeded the permissible standards in number of floors. If in cities special pumping stations are responsible for maintaining pressure, then in villages, as a rule, they make do with the natural formation of pressure through water towers. Accordingly, the higher the building, the lower the pressure level will be. In this case, special pumps that cut into the water supply system can help.
Finally, a violation in the design of the water supply system may also be to blame. This is especially true for private housing. For example, pipe diameters, lengths, etc. may be incorrectly selected. To avoid this kind of trouble, you need to order the design of water supply organization only from professionals in this field.

Having dealt with the possible reasons why the water pressure is disrupted, you can move on to possible ways to eliminate them.

Water flows poorly: there is no water pressure in the riser

For the normal functioning of a washing machine, water heater, and simply for the comfort of water users, it is necessary that the pressure in the water pipes meet certain standards. These standards are established by SNiP (Building Norms and Rules) 2.04.01-85 clause 5.12. According to the rules, the hot water pressure should be no more than 4.5 atmospheres, and the free water pressure should be no less than:

-0.2 atm. in the washbasin and toilet with cistern,

- 0.3 atm. in the bath and shower.

Many users complain that the water pressure in the tap is weak. If the cause of improper pressure depends on the owner of the premises, he is obliged to eliminate it himself. For example, this could be a clogged water filter. In this case, it is enough to clean the filters yourself and the pressure will be restored.

The filter can be installed directly in the riser; in this case, its cleaning must be coordinated with the housing and communal services service. However, this reason is also easily removable.

Unfortunately, the most common reason that there is no water pressure in the riser

, this is
the overgrowth of pipes with rust
, which leads to an automatic decrease in the flow of water. Replacing water pipes in an apartment does not lead to a positive result, because the reason is external. Only the utility service can combat this. Replacing pipes is a very expensive and time-consuming undertaking. Many wage wars with housing departments for years in order to achieve at least a major repair of the water supply.

If the water supply riser itself becomes unusable

, the repair of which is also charged to the utility service, this is easier to solve for residents of one entrance.
Residents of apartments using one riser calculate the cost of new pipes, purchase them and hire a worker for installation. This is a drastic measure, and the reason for low pressure in the water supply may simply be a clogged riser
. In this case, it is also cleaned with the help of housing department specialists.

Another reason that the water flows poorly is the valve that regulates the water supply to the house. It is located in a service room (substation, basement, boiler room), where there are pressure monitoring devices in pipes and a utility worker responsible for their readings. The faucet may be faulty

, and if this malfunction is proven, all you have to do is get the breakdown fixed.
A more global problem of the lack of sufficient pressure in the pipes may lie in the almost fraudulent actions of housing department workers
: the pressure is specially reduced to prevent the breakdown of outdated water pipes, but during any check the pressure meets the standards.

Finally, with the beginning of the heating season, the central heating system often starts to air out.

. If water pipes are directly connected to heating pipes, this can also reduce the water pressure in the tap. The most important sign of such a situation is incomplete heating of the radiators. Opening the valve and bleeding air until water appears in the battery by everyone associated with the problem riser should solve the problem.

In addition to knowing the water supply system of an apartment or house, the owner must know the laws

, in particular “Rules for the provision of utility services to citizens” (approved by RF PP No. 307 of May 23, 2006), which regulate the actions of the consumer in a problem situation:

“In case of failure to provide public services or provision of public services of inadequate quality…. notify the emergency dispatch service"
“A message about the failure to provide utility services or the provision of utility services of inadequate quality.... subject to mandatory registration with the emergency dispatch service"

These actions serve as the basis for officially contacting higher authorities and solving the problem of low pressure in the water supply.

What to do if the problem is a clogged tap

Clogging of the aerator in the mixer is a fairly common occurrence associated with the quality of the water flowing through it.

If it has been determined that a clogged tap is to blame, it is recommended to perform the following manipulations:

Using an adjustable wrench, unscrew the aerator from the tap. An aerator is needed to make the stream of water foam. It is equipped with very small holes that can periodically become clogged with all kinds of debris. Then the aerator must be thoroughly rinsed under fairly strong pressure of cold water and the holes must be cleaned manually;
If it turns out that the aerator device is clean, but there is a problem with water pressure, then you can look for the problem at the locking unit - the axle box. To do this, dismantle the faucet handle and unscrew the lock washer, which holds the locking elements in the body. Then the locking assembly is removed from its body, and the contamination is cleaned from it. Now all that remains is to assemble the tap in the reverse order. Of course, before starting to disassemble the tap, it is necessary to shut off the flow of water from the main system - so as not to simply flood the house;
It is possible that the problem is not in the faucet, but in the shower sprayer. Then you will need to first block the access of water to the sprayer, then remove it from the stand or from the hose. This is done using an adjustable wrench. Now you can immerse the sprayer in a container with vinegar for a while and heat it up. All that remains is to wash off the remaining scale with water and return the shower head to its place.

Instead of vinegar, you can also use a weak solution of citric acid. To do this, you will need to dilute approximately 100 grams of powder in a liter of clean water. This mixture does not have such a strong unpleasant odor as vinegar.

Finally, you can simply call a mechanic who will clean the taps and mixers.

Low water pressure: ways to solve the problem

Many people face this difficulty. And here two points should be distinguished: whether the pressure was always insufficient or such a situation arose recently.

Case one. Always weak pressure.

More often than others, this problem worries summer residents, owners of private houses, or people living in old neighborhoods where there are problems at distribution centers. There are two recommended options here. The first is to mount a storage tank. This option is suitable for dachas or the private sector, where it is easier to get out of the situation in this way than to diagnose the problem of the main water supply. The second is to install a booster pump. It can also be used in an apartment. If it is the first or last on the shelf. This method is not suitable for middle floors, because it will deprive your neighbors of water while you wash or do laundry. Due to the expensive cost, it is sometimes purchased by the owners of the entire entrance together if they are also affected by this problem. In addition, it is worth inviting a specialist from the management company to assess whether it is possible to adjust the pressure in the internal communications located in the basement.

Case two. If everything was fine before...

Obviously, there's a blockage here. If replacing water supply pipes is not part of your immediate plans, let's start with

Inspection for the mixer

Let's check the aerator - a mesh that disperses the flow of water. Particles of rust and impurities settle on it, so it must be removed and cleaned. Does not help? Let's go further and inspect the valve axle or cartridge. Perhaps they have mechanical damage or a sediment of water stone remains. The problem can be solved by replacing parts or the entire mixer.

Clogged filter

If the above manipulations do not bring results, rinse the inspection plug of the filter for rough water purification. There is a little secret that will help you understand for sure whether the mesh is clogged or not. Before putting the part in place, place a container under the connection point and turn on the tap. Does the pressure remain weak? Then look for a reason somewhere else.

Check valve or pressure reducer

Check that each of them is working correctly. If the gearbox has not been changed for a long time, start with it. depending on its type, you will have to change either one membrane or the entire product. The check valve can be separately built-in (metal) or built into the American meter (plastic). And when it stops working correctly, the water begins to move not into the apartment, but back.

What is your wiring?

If a tee option was chosen when replacing water supply pipes, the small diameter of the lumen can cause a pressure drop. In this case, it is worth carrying out reconstruction in this area and preferring the collector method of wiring. Incorrect water supply pipe wiring diagram If a weak flow pressure appears after repair work, the reason may lie in an incorrectly chosen plumbing connection diagram. Or in narrowed joints of polypropylene pipes (if the water supply system is made from them), this happens due to poor-quality sealing. If you cannot wash the dishes while another family member is washing, this is direct evidence that the master who carried out the work turned out to be unprofessional. The best thing to do would be to seek help from highly qualified specialists. It is unlikely that the issue will be resolved any other way.

The riser outlet is clogged

If, after checking each of the previous points, nothing has changed, then replacing the water supply pipes will not help. You need to go beyond your home and think in terms of the riser. First, let's see if the entrance to the apartment is clogged. This option is most likely, since the diameter of the riser is 25-32 mm, and the diameter of the riser is 15 mm. How can I check this? We write an application to the management company, on the specified day a master comes to you and drains the water from the riser. We inspect it and act depending on what type of crane is in front of us. - Valve. We unscrew it from the outlet on both sides of the riser. We clean the hole with a cable. We only tighten it on the riser, we don’t touch it in the apartment yet. - Ball. from your site, unscrew the fitting and clean the pipe section with a cable of suitable thickness. After water is supplied to the riser, drain it briefly. It will most likely contain dirt and debris. If you connect the tap before that time, there will be a blockage in the apartment. After everything comes off, we connect the outlet to the stack.

The whole riser is clogged

If the problem is not solved, 99% that the problem is not in your home. This means that either the riser is old and its clearance has narrowed due to dirt and rust, or something is mechanically stuck in it; in the second case, you need to call a technician who services the common property. And in the first - change the riser. This can be done entirely, if all neighbors agree, or only on your site (undesirable, but possible). This type of work is very responsible and affects the safety of all apartments that are connected to it. Therefore, we do not recommend doing repairs yourself. Otherwise, you will have to compensate for possible damage out of your own pocket. A leaking riser can damage property on several floors at once.

Procedure

As you can see, there can be many reasons for low water pressure. Where to start looking for them? - Talk to neighbors from the lower and upper floors. If they have the same problem, it is obvious that you are not the one to look for its causes. — Next, you need to find out where the blockage is: in the riser or on the main line. A conversation with residents of neighboring houses will help. If their flow pressure in the taps is also low, this is apparently due to a worn-out central pipeline. Here you need to contact your management company, your deputy and the district government. — If your neighbors have no complaints, concentrate your search in your home. — To understand whether your problem is systemic or local, compare the water pressure in different rooms and faucets. One section has been pumped up. You'll get by by replacing the faucet. Is it bad everywhere? Then check all the wiring of water supply pipes according to the points that we indicated above.

Fast decision.

If you need qualified help or want to complete a task quickly, please contact us. We will need from a couple of hours to a couple of days for you to finally forget about the discomfort! In some cases, this will be even less expensive than doing it yourself. When looking for the cause of low water pressure, a non-specialist has to change a number of elements in the chain to find the weak link while we apply.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? CALL US +7 OR CHAT

All plumbing work comes with a 1 year warranty. Rehau work is guaranteed for 2 years.

Prices for plumbing work do not include materials;

The minimum price for plumbing work is 2000 rubles;

The plumber has the right to apply a surcharge if plumbing equipment and communications are located in a hard-to-reach place;

When carrying out work in the Moscow region, a transport surcharge is established;

The prices indicated in the price list are basic; they may change depending on the complexity of the work.

What can you do if the problem is in the filters?

If it was found that the problem is not in the taps, but in the filter system, then you can try the following options.

First of all, it is necessary to turn off the water using the central valve, which is usually located near the meter itself. Now you will need to dismantle the so-called coarse filter. The wire cassette is removed and thoroughly washed. Then the filter is returned back to its place, the seal is renewed, and the plug is screwed in.

Clogged coarse filter.

When you have dealt with the coarse filter, you can move on to the filter system for fine cleaning. First, it is also disconnected from the water supply. Then you need to check the pressure level in the free pipe. To do this, simply open the central valve slightly. If everything is in perfect order, then you will need to rinse the filter bowl to remove dirt and change the filter insert. After which the filter unit is reassembled. You can start using the system.

But it may also be that the filters have been cleaned, but the water still does not flow with the same pressure. Then, most likely, the cause is in the water pipes themselves.

Why does the pressure drop?

Weak hot water pressure

We list the most common reasons why the water pressure in the tap weakens:

Clogging. This is a common occurrence when, as a result of the formation of a plug of scale or rust, the flow of hot water in the tap is significantly weakened. In this case, the aerator, filter device or axlebox may become clogged.
The pipe gets clogged. In such a situation, blockages occur not in the filter elements, but in the pipe structures themselves. Only in this situation, rust or scale does not block the aerator or mesh, but the filter device installed in the water supply itself. The worst situation is when the flow diameter of a fitting or pipeline is blocked.
Reduced pressure level in the water supply system. In this situation, the main cause of the problem may be depressurization of the system or certain problems with the functioning of the pumping unit.

To avoid such problems during the operation of the plumbing system, it is better to order its installation from qualified specialists in this field.

What to do if it's all in the pipe

Clogged water pipes over many years of use.

It should be noted that identifying a blockage in a pipe or the location of its depressurization is far from the easiest task for an ordinary consumer. Most likely, if cleaning the filters does not lead to any positive results, it makes sense to call a specialist from a service company.

Note! You can localize the leak to a certain extent on your own. Specialized repair kits are available for sale for this purpose. If they are unavailable, you can make do with improvised means in the form of a rubber seal, strong wire and insulating tape. But you still can’t avoid calling a plumber.

Or maybe the mixer is to blame?

Sometimes it happens that the mixer is the reason that there is low water pressure in the apartment. What to do and how to increase the water pressure in this case?

So, the mixer can influence the force of the water jet only if its cartridge or faucet axle has failed. The operation of these spare parts is affected by settling dirt or mechanical damage. All this leads to the fact that the mixer begins to flow poorly and the pressure decreases.

By the way, an aerator, which costs mere pennies, can also improve the pressure and flow of water. True, sometimes it gets clogged. Therefore, from time to time it is necessary to clean it, rinse it, or install a new one, since a small and thin mesh can be not so easy to clean.

Will installing a water pump help?

If we are talking about the private sector, then, as already noted, the problem with insufficient pressure can be solved by installing a special pump. It crashes into the system riser - after which the pressure must be ensured at the optimal level.

Installing a pump to increase water pressure: installation technology and connection diagrams.

It is recommended to use a pump of a model that is activated only when the water consumer is turned on. This will guarantee a long service life of the device. It is also recommended to connect a water storage tank. Then the pump will only turn on when the tank is empty. At the same time, the pressure level will remain at a consistently high level.

Determining the causes of the malfunction

Before eliminating the malfunction, you need to find the cause of the low pressure in the taps.

To do this, it is necessary to clarify whether neighbors whose apartments are located on the upper and lower floors, as well as residents of other entrances, have similar problems with pressure in water pipes.

Read the article on how to cancel a court order to collect debts for utilities here.

Possible reasons for problems with water supply:

If low pressure is observed only in a separate apartment , and in other residential premises of the same building the pressure corresponds to the established standards, then the problem should be sought in the pipes directly supplying water to the apartment or in the plumbing equipment itself installed in this room.
If low pressure is observed in water taps throughout the riser , then the reason lies precisely in its clogging. The problem can be solved by completely replacing all the pipes of this riser.
If the established water pressure standards are not met throughout the building , then the problem lies in a malfunction of the main water supply. When used for a long time, pipes become clogged and the clearance in them becomes smaller. High water pressure in such a system leads to the risk of pipe rupture, so pumping station specialists are forced to reduce the pressure. To eliminate this problem, it is necessary to replace all main pipes, as well as the pipelines supplying water to this building.

Recommendations from experts

Nikolai Petrovich Smorodsky, plumber: To a certain extent, the pressure can be increased by using pipes of a smaller diameter. But if you install a pipe that is too narrow, this may lead to insufficient water flow.

Dmitry Parshin, lawyer: If you have a problem with low water pressure, you can contact your service company. To do this, submit a written application in free form. Utility workers must respond no later than 10 days after registration of the application.

What to do, how to adjust?

After identifying the main cause of low water pressure, it is necessary to take certain measures to eliminate them.

If the pressure is weak in only one apartment, then you need:

Check that the plumbing circuit is connected correctly . Opening taps in the bathroom and kitchen at the same time should not reduce the water pressure. If it is not possible to wash your hands while operating the washing machine, then this is a clear violation of connecting the apartment plumbing into a single circuit. To eliminate the cause, you will need to involve a specialist. The system must have a serial connection.
Low pressure when water is supplied only in the bathroom, or only in the kitchen, indicates that the problem lies in a faulty mixer; it should be replaced . Also, the cause of low pressure may be a clogged aerator installed on the tap. It should be washed and cleaned.
If the water pressure is weaker in only one of the taps : cold or hot, then the cause may be a clogged coarse filter, which is installed on the pipes in front of the water meters. It needs to be cleaned periodically.

To increase the pressure on the mixer, just rinse the aerator. We invite you to watch the video .

If low water pressure in water taps is observed throughout the riser or house, then it is necessary:

If there is a significant difference in the water supply in cold and hot taps, different principles of its delivery should be taken into account . Cold water enters directly through the mains. Then the hot water comes into the apartment from the boilers, where it is heated. If the pressure of hot water is insignificant, it is necessary to check the entire heating structure and eliminate any problems with it.
If the water pressure in the taps of the upper floors is low, an application should be sent to the management company, which should assess the condition of the water pipes of the riser and the quality of the pumping station . If the power is insufficient, you need to buy a stronger one or install an additional pump.

You may be interested in the article on what to do if electricity, water, or gas are turned off for non-payment; you can read about it here.