If the municipal water or well-water flow is the problem, hire a licensed plumbing contractor to install a water-pressure booster pump. These powerful, electric pumps target incoming pressure and raise it to the proper level.
Most water pressure booster pumps run $200 to $400, though some are considerably more expensive. Of course, that price doesn't include the cost of installation (which is best left to a master plumber) and the potential increase in your monthly electric bill.
Look on the main supply pipe near your water meter for a conical valve that has a bolt sticking out of the cone. To raise pressure, turn the bolt clockwise after loosening its locknut. Keep an eye on the gauge to make sure the pressure is within bounds, then retighten the locknut.
Low water pressure is a common home plumbing issue that can affect faucets and sinks as well as dishwashers, showerheads, toilets, and any other plumbing fixture. There are various causes of water pressure problems.
Anything exceeding the normal range (60, 70, or even 80 PSI) can cause significant problems with your home plumbing system, making it more susceptible to leaks, water hammering, pipe bursts, and problems with your fixtures.
Most residential plumbing systems are designed to handle 40 to 60 PSI of pressure, with 80 PSI being the typical maximum and anything over 100 PSI being possibly detrimental to plumbing components.
Standard home water pressure is designated as 80 psi, but when higher pressures are required to provide water for other facilities and services (often in the 100-110 psi range, but sometimes as high as 150 psi), this pressure can reach levels hazardous to your plumbing.
You can increase water pressure by loosening a locknut on the valve. Contact a well-pump technician: If your house is on a private well, poor water pressure could indicate a problem with the captive storage tank or the pump. It's best to have the well system serviced by a qualified well expert.
Partially Closed Valve
One of the most common issues that can lead to low water pressure problems is that the water is being obstructed by one or more partially closed shutoff valves. Typically, a home will have one main shutoff valve located inside the house.
Normal psi for a home pipe system is between 30 and 80 psi. While you don't want the psi to be too low, it violates code to be above 80. Instead, you should aim for a psi that's between 60 and 70.
An important thing to remember, the higher the operating pressure – the larger the tank must be. Pressure and tank size have a direct correlation – as one increases, so does the other.
Expensive Water Bills: If your water bills seem a lot higher than expected, you're using more water than usual. This can be a sign that your pressure is too high.
A booster pump boosts water pressure and, in many cases, improves the flow rate. A booster pump works just like a fan. A fan has blades that spin around to increase air movement, and a booster pump has an impeller inside that increases water flow and pressure in the same fashion.
Normal water pressure range
In general, residential water pressure ranges between 45-80 psi (pounds per square inch). If your water pressure is under 40 psi, it's considered low. A psi between 20-30 is considered very low, and under the minimum water pressure required by most building codes.
If there's an accumulation of sediments in your hot water tank, it can lower your water pressure. The presence of kinks in the flexible water pipes used in water heaters can result in low water pressure. If the shut-off valve isn't fully open, water pressure can drop.
The good news is that you can easily replace faucet aerators, clean showerheads to remove limescale, or simply buy new fixtures to replace the defective ones, which can improve your water pressure. However, it is important to know that repairing or replacing faucets and fixtures is only a temporary solution.
A quick and easy way to increase water pressure (for homes supplied by a municipal water system) is to adjust the pressure-reducing valve, which can be found on the main water-supply pipe; look for a conical-shaped valve next to the water meter, close to where the main water pipe enters the house.
Clogged aerators and clogged cartridges are two of the most common causes of low water pressure in a sink. The aerator is the tip of the faucet that the water comes out of, while the cartridge is found underneath the sink handle and enables you to stop and start the flow of water.
A limit of 80 psi (551.6 kPa) is the maximum static pressure of any water supply system.
A hot water heater is an important part of your home's plumbing system. It provides hot water to all the fixtures and appliances connected to it. But if your hot water heater is under too much pressure, it can cause problems like leaks and even explosions.
Ways to increase water pressure in your shower
Clean your showerhead. Remove the water restrictor. Replace your shower hose. Check if your water shut-off valve is fully open.
Is your water pressure too high? Most plumbing fixtures are designed to handle a maximum water pressure of 80 psi or lower. If your water pressure is higher than that, it can potentially cause the parts for your faucets, water heater, toilets, and shut-off valves to fail.