Water pressure improvement
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Your trusted, local, same-day plumbers!
Some of our recent work....
Needless pressure reducing valve removed.
- Flow increased from 6 litres per minute to 12 litres pm.
Reading customer – Krishna (homeowner).
Since buying the (passive) house in June 2023 Krishna and his family, had continued to suffer low water pressure. He was recommended to us by Thames Water, which were unable to deal with the issue – they’re not insured to work inside customer properties.
On investigating Krishna’s home, it was clear that water pressure was being throttled by a pressure reducing valve (PRV) that was fitted ahead of a water softener which had since been removed. The PRV had been left in place. We removed the valve with the result that water flow went from 6 to 11 litres per minute.
Shower booster pump installed.
- Flow increased from 4 litres per minute to 11 litres pm.
Reading customer – Karen (flat landlord).
Landlord Karen, on fitting a new Triton electric shower in her fourth floor flat was told by her tenants that the shower’s spray was switching quickly and repeatedly between the hottest and coldest possible without the controls being used. They also said that during peak morning and evening times the shower did not work at all – not even the smallest of sprays.
Thames Water were contacted and confirmed that at the external stopcock where their responsibility ends water pressure provided was 1.2 bar and flow of 9.5 litres per minute. Both within the contractual service limits.
On measuring the flats water flow rate it was shown that this was 4 litres per minute, and insufficient to provide a steady and safe flow from the electric shower – which needed a minimum of 8.5 litres per minute.
To correct the low water pressure a Salamander Homeboost pump was fitted in the airing cupboard behind the wall where the shower was located. The flow to the shower was subsequently increased to a constant 11 litres per minute. This resulted in the shower working properly throughout the day, and no longer affected by global peak time use.
The quickest way to get in touch is to discuss improving your home’s water pressure WhatsApp, text or phone us on 07442966664.
You can also email plumbing@angusplumbing.co.uk or use the form – and well get back to you as soon as we can.
The AngusPLUMBING team
Low water pressure?
Dribbling shower? Five minutes or more to fill your bath? Ninety seconds plus for your toilet cystern to refill? Does your boiler stumble or your washing machine or dishwasher time out before a cycle can start?
If your answer to any of these is yes, you may have low water pressure. This’s a common household problem – where the force pushing water to move through pipes is too low. And it’s one that with a little time and effort can be fixed. And without asking a plumber to come over.
Troubleshooting. First check if neighbours are experiencing similar issues. If so, it’s likely a supply problem, and you should contact your water company.
What causes low water pressure?
Assuming that it’s not a water supplier issue some simple checks including ensuring internal and external stopcocks are fully open and cleaning clogged taps and shower heads can often improve your water pressure.
If these don’t, and you’ve persistent low pressure an approved plumber will be able to help with:.
- Mineral build-up (calcium carbonate/limescale): In hard-water areas like the Thames Valley’s Caversham, Henley and Reading, calcium and magnesium deposits accumulate inside pipes and fixtures like shower heads and aerators, narrowing the path for water.
- Leaky or corroded pipes: Hidden leaks divert water before it reaches the tap. Older cast iron and galvanised steel pipes can rust internally, significantly restricting flow.
- High home demand: Using multiple appliances simultaneously (e.g., showering while the dishwasher runs) stretches the available supply.
- Faulty pressure regulator: This device typically found on water softeners maintains safe pressure levels; if it fails, it can cause a sudden and dramatic drop in your home’s water pressure.
- External factors: Living at a high elevation relative to the supply source.
How does low water pressure affects your family and home
If you’ve low water pressure you’ll know that it disrupts your family’s daily routine. Everyday tasks such as washing, doing laundry, or cleaning dishes become frustrating, time-consuming chores. A standard bath can take a very long time to fill, and showers may reduce to a trickle, or without so much as the slightest of touches of the controls, switch between blistering hot and icy cold water in a blink. Other effects include:
- Health & hygiene risks: Low pressure can cause stagnant water in pipes, encouraging bacterial growth such as legionella. It also increases the risk of “backflow,” where contaminated water is sucked back into your clean supply.
- Appliance damage: Dishwashers and washing machines may run longer to fill, causing premature wear and higher energy bills.
- Structural damage: If the cause is a hidden leak, it can lead to mould, wood rot, and expensive structural repairs.
- Reduced property value: Persistent plumbing issues will deter buyers and decrease the overall value of a home.
How can you be sure you've low water pressure?
The easiest way to prove you’ve low water flow or pressure, is to time how long it takes to fill a one liter jug at your cold kitchen tap.
If it takes more than 8 seconds, your flow is likely insufficient and your home has low water pressure.
As water pressure and flow will vary throughout the day, measurements should be taken at various times and days including early morning mid afternoon and mid evening as well as on week days and the weekend.
Can you fix low water pressure yourself?
Happily the answer is yes and in many cases you can. And before calling a plumber, there are some DIY fixes that can be tried.
The first step, is to establish whether the issue is localised to one tap or affects the whole house. If the problem’s widespread, check external factors before starting with internal repairs.
- Check main valves: Locate your main internal stopcock or shut-off valve (usually under the kitchen sink) and the external meter valve. Ensure both are fully open; turn them counterclockwise until they stop, then back a quarter turn to prevent seizing.
- Clean aerators and showerheads: Unscrew the aerators (mesh tips) on taps and soak them in a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water for several hours to dissolve mineral deposits. You can also use a needle to clear individual nozzles.
- Check for airlocks: Run both the hot and cold taps simultaneously for several minutes to push trapped air out of the pipes.
- Verify boiler pressure: For combi boilers, check the pressure gauge; it should typically be between 1 and 1.5 bar. If it is lower, use the filling loop to top it up according to the manufacturer’s manual.
And if these don't work?
So, you’ve tried the DIY approach and its made no difference to your water pressure. The next two steps to consider are:
- Installing a booster pump: If the Thames Water supply is naturally weak, a booster pump can be installed to increase flow.
- Putting in a water softener, water conditioner or scale inhibitor: If hard water is the root cause, these will prevent future limescale buildup that narrows pipe diameter.
Low water pressure - when it's time to call a plumber!
We’d of course be happy to install a water conditioner, scale inhibitor or water softener, or to talk through the pros and cons of each if your’e unsure of which one’s best for your home and family.
With the Thames Valley’s water high mineral content, and older houses in particular, pipe replacement may be needed. And we’d be happy to discuss this. For chronic issues in older homes, replacing corroded cast iron or galvanised steel pipes with copper or PEX (plastic) is often the only permanent fix. With severe clogs caused by debris or heavy mineral buildup, a high-pressure water jet, hydro-jetting can be used to clear pipes.
One thing to bear in mind is that low water pressure may be caused by a hidden leak. If you suspect that this is the case your water meter will continue to move even when all taps are off. If you get in touch, we’ll find the leak and fix it.
Other plumbing services....
Our local plumbers provide a range of expert plumbing services that’ll keep you and your family safe, save you money and your home running smoothly and as it should including:
- Improving water pressure and flow (to see our work click here).
- Leak detection (to see our work click here).
- Water and waste pipe repair & maintenance (to see our work click here).
- Unblocking waste systems (to see our work click here).
- Dripping/running overflow pipe investigation (to see our work click here).
- Turning off/isolating your homes water supply (to see our work click here).
- Softening/conditioning your home’s water (to see our work click here).
- Repairing and maintaining your home’s water tanks (to see our work click here).
- Installing, repairing and de-commissioning your home’s kitchen, bathroom and WC electrics (to see our work click here).
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