low water pressure issue

shop deals on amazon
Shop deals on ebay
SpartanEpoxies
Advertise with us
House Repair Talk

Help Support House Repair Talk:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
M

mukarakaplan

Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2018
Messages
17
Reaction score
5
The copper water pipes in my house is from the 80s (very thin), and the city water pressure is around 50 psi. Low water pressure is a common issue in this neighborhood. Every time someone or an appliance uses hot or cold water in another part of the house, the water in the master bathroom shower turns freezing cold or extremely hot. I thought about installing a thermostatic valve but that is really not an actual solution to the problem since it can cut the shower water altogether if it does not get enough hot or cold water. Changing all the pipes would be too expensive. So I thought installing a city water pressure booster may solve the problem by increasing the pressure to 60-70 psi. A booster like the one in the link below. But before buying it, I wanted to check with the people here about if this booster would solve my problem. Anybody who installed and used a booster like this before? Any ideas/recommendations?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Water-W...and-Digital-Pressure-Control-WWPB10/207145834
 
Before you make that investment you first need to determine, if and how, the water supply is affected by use, by doing a pressure test.

Connect a water pressure meter to the hose bib at the main shut off where the water line enters the house, and with someone watching, begin opening faucets.

If the supply pressure substantially diminished, the problem may be the supply of the city water from the street.

While your internal piping may be copper, that does not mean it's copper from the street.

It also does not mean that the piping within the dwelling, is without fault, IE. wrong size branch for the number of fixtures supplied, or a corroded valve on the hot water heater.

None of which the booster will remedy.
 
I agree it's most likely a flow, issue not a lack of pressure issue.
EG: A 3/4" line will have about twice the available flow as a 1/2 line.
Low flow = low pressure.
Main run lines and line supplying the water heater should have been 3/4".
 
Start with an inexpensive water pressure gauge. Attach it to your exterior hose bib (faucet) which is typically direct water from the main. Leave it there and note the pressure. Next, the Pressure Regulator valve can be adjusted to increase (possibly) the flow into your house. Locate the valve 9usually inside the garage but sometimes externally attached to incoming water main) then check to see if it is corroded. If it is in bad shape, replace it. If it is in good repair, use a wrench to turn the adjusting nut INTO the valve. This increases the water flow. While doing this, re-check the water pressure gauge. Check to see if it moved. If not, you might be maxed out. PRVs come factory pre-set at 50 psi .... so don't be surprised if you get that reading.

https://www.zoro.com/apollo-water-pressure-reducing-valve-12-in-36lf40301/i/G5274665/
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top