Improving the Water Pressure in Your Building
ShareSome buildings enjoy a greater degree of water pressure than others. If you are located at the top of a hill, then the water pressure from the mains supply is usually weaker than if you are closer to the supply. This is because the water simply needs to be pushed further uphill from its reserve. Nevertheless, you may notice that water pressure drops unexpectedly for some reason in your premises.
Localised Water Pressure Drops
If you notice that the general water pressure of your home or business premises is good but that one tap only offers a dribble of water when you turn it on, then this is best described as a local problem. In many cases, it can be dealt with by paying attention to the tap itself. If there is an aerator fitted to the outlet, then you should remove it and clean away any limescale. If that does not solve the problem, then try removing the tap from its stem pipe and inspecting its washers for grime or any broken parts you might notice. Should that still leave the issue unresolved, you will need to replace the pipe that runs to that particular tap.
Sudden Loss of Pressure
A general drop in water pressure may have come about because water is flowing in places that it shouldn't or, more simply, is leaking. Check all of your pipes for signs of recent dampness. However, since many pipes are out of view this can be hard to identify accurately. Turn off all of your taps and water-consuming devices, like dishwashers, and see if your water meter continues to record usage. If it does, then you do have a leak and you may need a new water pipe installation.
General Low Pressure
If your mains water pressure is always a bit low, then you will need to store water on your premises to provide you with better results. A new water tank installation that is either higher in your building or is larger in size will provide greater water pressure. This is due to the fact that higher water tanks store more energy so that when you turn the tap on water is forced out more rapidly. Likewise, larger tanks hold more water so a greater weight is bearing down on the water being transferred through the system's pipes.
Another tip that you should consider for improving a low level of pressure is to increase the size of your pipes. Larger pipes offer less internal resistance to the water passing through them and you see an upturn in pressure as a result of fitting bigger ones.