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Are you experiencing low hot water pressure in your home in Australia? Low water pressure could cause a lot of inconveniences as it might stand in the way of performing your daily chores more effectively.
Besides the inconvenience, it's worth noting that the low pressure indicates a problem with your plumbing system. If the problem is not fixed fast, it could cause complete system dysfunction and cost you more to fix.
Therefore, you should have the low hot water pressure issue solved as quickly as possible. Before solving the problem, the most critical thing is to understand the cause. This article provides the major causes of low water pressure and the best way to solve the issues. Read on!
How Should Water Pressure Work?
If there is no water pressure in your piping system, nothing will happen when you open the taps. This is the case because, without pressure, there is nothing to push water up or through the pipes.
The force needed has to be generated by a pressure pump or gravity. Additionally, the force requires regulation to ensure it doesn't get too high to cause pipes to burst or leak. Gravity is the primary cause of the force that produces the water pressure.
Municipal water systems in Australia have reservoirs or towers placed on high ground where the water gets treated before distribution. If you receive water from a well, you could regulate water pressure by changing the cut-off setting of your pressure pump.
On the other hand, if you get water from a municipal source, a water meter, and a pressure regulator are installed to regulate your home's water pressure. The two might be located in your basement or ground outside your building. If the pressure is too high or low, you simply adjust it by turning the regulator's nut clockwise to reduce it or counterclockwise to increase the water pressure.
How To Test Water Pressure
The simplest way to check the water pressure in your property is to screw a pressure gauge onto an outdoor spigot. During the test, ensure that all the taps in the building are off, and avoid flushing any toilets. Turn the pin on all the way and take the reading. You could adjust the regulator if the reading is less than 275 kilopascals.
However, if the reading is between 275 and 550 kilopascals, there might be an obstruction or leak in the pipes leading to low pressure. As a result, you should not adjust the regulator; instead, try to solve the actual problem causing the low pressure.
Significant Signs Of Low Water Pressure
It's easy to determine when you have low hot water pressure on your property in Australia. Here are some of the signs to check out.
Everyday chores are affected
With low water pressure, your daily activities are affected. For instance, your washing machine will take more time to fill; you will take more time to clean your dishes or have weak shower pressure. If you experience such issues, be sure to check out the water pressure.
Lowered water pressure when running two fixtures simultaneously
When you operate several fixtures simultaneously, you can expect a reduction in water pressure. However, if you are running two fixtures simultaneously and experience a drop in the pressure, this shows there is an issue with your water pressure.
Low water pressure on all plumbing fixtures
You could check all your plumbing fixtures to see if there is a water pressure issue in your commercial property or home. If all the fixtures are affected, this indicates a blockage in your piping system.
Low Hot Water Pressure Causes And Likely Solutions
Residential and commercial water systems are relatively complex. So, there are several potential causes of why your water pressure is low. Below are the major causes and how to fix the problems.
Hard water accumulation
Most water contains several minerals, including magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium. It's good to have minerals in small quantities in your water, but excess minerals could precipitate out of the solution and coat the inside of your pipes. This reduces the water pressure because the water movement is limited throughout the piping system.
You could identify excess mineral levels in your hot water if the water forms a white film in your tub fixtures or sink. The water might also have slight discolouration. Here are steps to take to solve this problem:
- Turn off your water heater and ensure the pilot light is off.
- Then, drain water from the heater and put around two gallons of vinegar.
- Proceed to turn on the water heater and allow the vinegar to sit and circulate for around six hours. Vinegar is effective in dissolving mineral deposits.
- Next, open all hot water taps and flush your system until the smell of vinegar is eliminated. If you do it correctly, the low water pressure issue is resolved. Vinegar is safe, so it doesn't cause any side effects.
If you have severe limestone scale buildup, you could seek professional plumbing assistance, as they have the right tools to fix the problem.
Bent water supply intake
Most water heaters feature copper water pipes. Unfortunately, copper is prone to bending, increasing the risks of reducing water pressure. So, if one of the copper pipes in your system is bent, it might be causing low hot water pressure. If the bend is minor, you could rebend to straighten it. However, if the bending is severe, you can solve the issue by replacing the pipes.
Defective shut-off valve
A shut-off valve helps regulate water flow in your fixtures. It helps if you need to shut off the water flow from or to your water heater when undertaking repairs or a replacement. However, the valve could break and fail to open.
The size reduction could lead to issues with your hot water pressure. To solve the problem, you should test the valve. If it's broken, you should replace it. If it is the screw-on type, you could replace it yourself by installing a new one and screwing it back.
If it's the soldered type, you should hire a plumber with experience working with metal. Before replacing the valve, shut off the water to avoid complicating the problem.
Problem with your piping system
Low hot water pressure could also be caused by a problem with the piping system on your property. The problem mainly occurs if the pipes cross and wind around one another.
Water moves over a longer distance, leading to low pressure. If your pipe setup is the cause of the problem, you could solve the problem by installing a pressure regulator in your plumbing system. It helps increase the water pressure when it starts going down.
The other solution is to ask your plumber to adjust your piping system to improve the hot water pressure. This requires removing and reworking your pipe setup. Installing a pressure regulator is more cost-effective than repiping or replacing the pipes.
Corroded or cracked pipes
If your building is old, it might have steel or cast iron pipes. These two metals tend to corrode and rust easily. If the pipes are corroded, they could cause blockages and cause several issues, such as leaks.
The pipes might also crack, leading to leaks that could cause a reduction in hot water pressure. If the pipes are corroded, the best solution is replacing with new ones.
At times, not all the pipes might be corroded, so you could hire a plumber to cut off the corroded parts and replace those parts. When replacing the pipes, it's advisable to use ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) or PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) pipes that don't rust and are cheaper.
Damaged fixtures or faucets
At times the low hot water pressure might be caused by damaged faucets or fixtures at the end of your waterline. Faucets could get damaged and fail to open effectively or have scale buildup leading to low water pressure.
With damaged faucets, the only solution is to replace them. If your fixtures have scale accumulation, you could apply a DIY vinegar solution to help dissolve the deposits following these steps.
- First, remove the showerhead, faucet, or any other affected appliance.
- Then, put the affected appliances inside a bucket containing a mixture of water and vinegar. You could also have a mix of vinegar and lemon juice. You require an acidic solution to dissolve the mineral deposits clogging your pipes.
- Now, allow your fixture to stay submerged for several hours.
- Finally, remove the fixture, place it back and allow it to run for about half an hour to eliminate any excess solution. Once you reattach the appliances, your hot water pressure should be back to normal now.
Defective pressure regulator
A damaged pressure regulator is the other common cause of low hot water pressure. A faulty regulator affects pressure input into your hot water system leading to sudden dips and spikes in your water pressure. To solve the problem, you require a pressure gauge to an outdoor spigot connected by a hose.
Turn on the water to check the pressure reading. The ideal pressure should be around 350 to 520 kilopascals. If the pressure is below this range, request a plumber to replace your pressure regulator.
Is Low Hot Water Pressure Problematic?
Fortunately, low hot water pressure might not cause severe structural damage to your property. In contrast, excess hot water pressure could lead to stress in your pipes, causing damage and leaks. Some of the issues associated with low water pressure include:
Difficult cleaning
With low hot water pressure, you might experience difficulty cleaning debris and soap from items you are trying to wash, whether clothes, dishes, or others. This could cause unpleasant soap scum accumulation on your items if you fail to rinse them thoroughly.
Ineffective appliances
Appliances like dishwashers or washing machines that rely on water might become ineffective when there is low water pressure. They might also break down if they fail to get enough water to work.
Cracked or corroded pipes cause leaks
Broken pipes could cause severe damage through leaks. The leaks could then cause flooding or damage drywall sections and wood. If leaky or broken pipes cause low water pressure, you should fix them fast.
High mineral accumulation is bad for you
If the low hot water pressure is caused by mineral buildup, your water could have an unappealing taste. Too much of these minerals in the water could cause health issues such as neural, cardiovascular, kidney, and other health problems.
Get Expert Assistance For Low Hot Water Pressure
If you are experiencing low hot water pressure in your residential or commercial property in Australia, you should have it fixed instantly. It would help if you worked with a professional plumbing contractor to diagnose the cause of the low pressure and fix it.
The experts know how hot water systems work and are guaranteed to offer you a long-term solution to your low water pressure problem. In the process, they could also help inspect and maintain your entire plumbing system. Make sure you work with a certified and accredited plumber to get the best results.
