UCB Parents Recommendations for Commercial Services
Water Pressure Problems
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Low water pressure fix?
2002
The water pressure in
our house has always been problematic and I was
wondering what folks think the problem might be as
well as the solution (including what type of repair
person/company would be able to fix it). It seems like
the worst pressure is in our shower. It seems
relatively OK in our daughter's bath/shower and
elsewhere. It also takes a really long time for the
water to get hot in our bathroom. We got a new water
heater just about 2 years ago or so in case that
matters. Thanks for your advice. Lori
We live in an old
house (1906) on the second story and our water
pressure is also pretty bad; the hot water comes from
the basement. I can't give you any true advice because
I've always assumed that our problem is ancient pipes
and replacing them has never been very near the top of
our list. However, we have come up with a wonderful,
cheap, quick fix for our shower.
http://www.cottonswow.com/greatforhanh1.html
If you
search the site for 'greater force' you'll see the
different options. I would think that you could find
this product locally but this is the company I got
ours from. We love this shower head. I could go on and
on---how it has transformed our lives, etc. but then
I'd have to submit anonymously. :-) Sally
You didn't mention if you had a 1 or 2 story home (and
if the water heater is in the basement, this compounds
the problem even more). One solution for a 2-story
home is an on-demand water heater in the bathroom or
near it. This is also a very energy- efficient
solution that also prevents those cold bursts when
someone turns on the water in the kitchen. -wife of a
contractor
I hope this advice
will be helpful: If the water in your bath takes a
while to heat up, it's usually because the water must
travel a great distance from the heater to the bath.
Check and see if other sinks or baths closer to the
water heater don't heat up faster than your bath. As
for water pressure, pressure is reduced the farther it
must travel from the source. If the problem is just in
your bath, you may consider increasing the size of the
water lines leading to your bath; however, this is
costly. If the problem is with your entire house, a
pressure reading can be taken from the spigot using a
water pressure gauge. Depending on your findings, you
can boost that pressure however necessary using a
device that mounts to your main water supply line.
Good Luck. Sincerely, Eric
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