Boost low water pressure in your home

Are you facing a problem of low water pressure even though the pipes are new? There could be several possible causes, but if nothing works, a water booster can be installed at the water meter.

Pressure Test: Water pressure should be tested using an outdoor water spigot.

Poor water pressure is usually caused due to clogged pipes. But, if the pipes are new, make sure that the shut off valves near the water meter are fully open. Then check the water pressure. Ask the local water department for a reading if your house is on city water supply. A reading of 45 to 55psi is ideal.

You can also test the water pressure yourself with a pressure gage. The gauge should be hooked up to an outside water spigot and turn on the water for an instant reading. If the reading is low as 40psi, the city may be delivering water at a low pressure. Consider installing a water booster if the city is not likely to boost the pressure. A water booster will increase the water pressure in your house. The washers on your plumbing fixtures will wear out if he setting is over 80psi. If you install it yourself, please apply for a plumbing permit so that your work will be inspected. Some municipalities require a reduced pressure and backflow preventer to be installed when a water pressure booster is hooked up.

If the pressure reading is adequate, there may be obstructions or some pipes that are too small. In that case, call in a licensed plumber to evaluate and fix the problem.

Dealing with Clogged Drains

Did you ever deal with a clogged drain?

One of the most common plumbing problems in homes is a clogged drain. Drain clogs have become more prevalent with the advent of food disposal system. Here are a few details that might be helpful if a major clog occurs in your home:

Food Disposal systems

Items that really should be thrown in the kitchen garbage can are often placed in the food disposal system. Peels of potatoes and left over’s from dinner should be dumped straight into the trash. The food disposal system is nothing more than a machine that grinds the items into mush and sends them into the drain and then to the sewer system. Items like peelings, rinds and large amount of food cannot be processed efficiently in the disposal system and will be invariably caught in the P trap under the sink. The pressure from the disposal system may impact the food so tightly that the entire piping has to be taken apart to remove the clog. All the other items except small table scraps scrapped from the plates should be thrown in the garbage before they place them in the food disposal system.

Clearing drain clogs

Problems with water back up in your sinks or tubs that refuse to drain, are frustrating and confusing so as to what needs to be done first. People generally find this problem to be small and feel that they can clear the drain on their own. With the tools you have, you might use a toilet plunger. To clear minor clogs the uneven pressures created by a toilet plunger are often enough. A drain stake is another tool used commonly to clear drains. A drain stake is a flexible rod with a claw- like end attachment which will rip through the materials causing the clog and open up the drain. 

If you have tried everything and are not happy with the results, calling a Zierman plumber would be a good idea because our technicians have lots of experience in clearing the clogs and know what exactly to be done.