The most accurate method is to buy a pressure gauge from your local hardware store and hook it up to a hose faucet. Check the pressure when all other faucets and water-using appliances are turned off to get a baseline reading.
A typical home will have water pressure between 40 and 80 PSI, although some areas can go even higher than that. For a general idea of what your water pressure is without doing any testing, you can simply call your local water department and ask them what the pressure is in your neighborhood.
Testing water pressure is quick and easy, and all you need is a simple and inexpensive pressure gauge. Some homes even have dedicated gauges hooked up somewhere in the water line so homeowners can check the water pressure quickly and easily with just a glance.
Water Pressure Readings
Normal water pressure is generally between 40 and 60 PSI. Most homeowners prefer something right in the middle around 50 PSI. Once you measure the water pressure in your house, you can adjust it to a setting that is ideal for all family members and household uses.
Water pressure problems could be as simple as faulty faucets and fixtures. If you're experiencing low pressure in a specific area, check for clogging or corrosion that could be slowing water flow.
Simply go to one bathroom, and turn on all faucets/showers. Once all the fixtures are on, flush the toilet to see if the water drops pressure from the sinks or shower heads. If water pressure drops while the toilet is filling up, there might be an issue. You should complete this process for all rooms that have water.
The common causes of low water pressure are the lack of water supply, poor pumping facilities, plumbing problems, and small water mains. Sometimes even with proper maintenance, you have to adjust to changes in your surroundings.
It may be caused by debris such as dirt, sand, solidified oil and grease, food particles, or foreign objects. Pollutants can block pipes if they back up due to fractures in the water main. Mineral buildup clogs pipes over time and causes the water pressure to go down, as there's less space for water to travel through.
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.
Low water pressure can present itself in various ways, all of which can cause significant inconveniences. Taps may take forever to fill your bathtub, or the showerhead may not spray water efficiently. Either way, your daily activities are slowed down. Sometimes the issue comes from the municipal water supply.
Check Your Aerator
If you have especially hard water, aerators become clogged with hard water buildup, a common cause of low water pressure in kitchen fixtures. Clean your aerator for a quick and easy DIY fix. Remove the aerator from the faucet using pliers and a towel (to prevent scratching).
If your water pressure seems low, the first step should be to test how much pressure you're actually getting from the shower head. A typical home's water pressure should be somewhere between 45 to 55 psi (pounds per square inch).
Water pressure is measured in 'bar', and generally speaking, anything 0.3 bar or below requires a low water pressure tap or shower, and anything at 1.0 bar or above requires a high water pressure tap or shower.
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.
What is a pressure regulator? Not all residences in the city have a pressure regulator, also called a pressure reducing valve (PRV). But if you do maintenance it is sometimes required. A water pressure regulator is a plumbing valve that reduces the water pressure coming from the main water line into the house.
Pressure loss can be a serious threat to public health. A reduction or loss of pressure in the distribution system can result in backflow, allowing contaminants to enter drinking water through unprotected cross-connections.
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.
A quick and easy way to increase water pressure is to adjust the pressure-reducing valve, which can be found in your home, usually close to your water meter. If your pressure gauge reading was low, make slight adjustments to your regulator.
These air bubbles usually find their way to the highest points in your plumbing system, lower water pressure, and inhibit the flow of water through the pipes. Air in the water piping system can cause rust and corrosion. Rusted pipes weaken, and the rust can drop sediment into your water.