Water Pressure

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OldernDirt

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Dec 15, 2017
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City of the Big Shooters - Chicago, Ill-ANNOY
My home was built in 2004. The last few weeks I've had problems with the water pressure, which I've never had in all the previous years.

Recently I can no longer use both showers at the same time. The washer and dish washer can't be run at the same time or two sink faucets, or any combination of these. The water pressure drops off to 1/4 to almost nothing. Run the washer or dish washer and try to take a shower and the pressure drops to a bit above a trickle.

There is a water valve in the parkway in front of my house that was sinking, and I thought that may have been the problem. I contacted the village, they came out tested it for leaks, found nothing wrong and brought it back up to grade. There went my guess that it was the problem, as my water pressure is still the same.

Nothing has been done to any of the plumbing in the house with the exception of having a new hot water heater professionally installed. What could possibly be causing this loss of water pressure. Oh and checking the "Social Media" for the Homeowner's Association shows no one else complaining/commenting on this problem in their homes.
 
What size is water main?

Water comes in through the foundation in what looks like a 1" copper pipe, into a meter, then into the ceiling and runs 3/4 of the length of the basement All the other smaller lines branch off from here to bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, for the first floor 1/2 bath, and second floor, 2 full baths. All of this is what was put into the house when it was built. For most of the 13 years since the house was built water pressure was no problem. It's been just the last 4 - 6 months or so that we've had the low pressure problem.

Checked all the valves to make sure they were all open. The only new plumbing repair was a new hot water heater. A More efficient heater but same 50 gal capacity as the old leaking one.



My second thought was that the village has decreased pressure. I'm about 1/4 mile away from the water storage tank and I always see someone around there inside the machine house.
 
Water leakage at a high speed is not the only emergency in the world of pipes and plumbing. There are a lot more than this. Some of the other emergencies that require key attention of yours are:

1. Pipe bursts: This is one task that requires immediate attention. In case any of your pipe bursts, the water starts gushing rapidly and it becomes next to impossible to control the same. You need proper tools and techniques to control the flow, which obviously plumbers have. Try shutting off the valve, but it may be a sure shot solution. Call the Toronto Plumbing Group right away and we will be right at your door step guiding and helping you tackle the problem in an effective and better skilled way.

2. Frozen Pipe: This may not be extremely emergency situation, because it does happen frequently in extreme winters. Water expands as the pipe freezes preventing flow to some extent. You can try de freezing it by a hot water bottle. But calling Toronto Plumbing Group is the right option to go for in case things go wrong.
3. Broken water lines: Plumbing emergencies doesn’t only occur inside the home but can happen outside the home as well. Underground water pipes which carry water to your home from the main water works are prone to breaking, bursting and corroding as well. If something like that happens, you really can’t do anything about it. Obviously a normal household person can’t handle any water leakage under the ground and calling a plumbing service is the best option that time.
 
you say meter was sinking. maybe it kinked the line.
Do you have a pressure reducing valve at the house.
Usually when they fail the pressure goes up , not down.
What type of valves do you have to shut off water. If they are gate valves how do you know they are open 100%. stems can break with valve closed or partially closed
 

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