Whether it occurs at your place of work or at home, low water pressure can be a hassle. Not only do toilet cisterns take an age to refill but showering can become a less than invigorating affair. The trouble is that water pressure can depend on the mains supply. Too little water in the system and it can drop below an acceptable level. Equally, when there is plenty of water pressure bearing down through mains pipes, you do not want your plumbing system to be over-exposed to excessive force.

That's why many water suppliers try to regulate the pressure of their supplies. It is also why professional plumbers carefully set the maximum mains supply pressure into buildings so that the joints and plumbing fixings inside don't suddenly burst. That said, what should you do if you experience lower than usual water pressure?

Check Your Shut-Off Valve

All Australian buildings will have a shut-off valve at the point the mains water supply enters the structure. In homes, this is usually in the kitchen but in commercial premises, it might be at the bottom of a wet riser cupboard. Regardless of the location, find your shut-off valve and make sure that it has not been accidentally knocked out of position, thereby restricting the water supply to the rest of the building.

Inspect Your Building For Leaks

One of the most common reasons for water pressure to suddenly drop off when neighbouring buildings are not suffering from the same problem is when there is a localised leak somewhere. Look everywhere your plumbing system runs, including the central heating system's pipes. If you notice any signs of dampness underfoot or in the walls, then make sure you have some plumbers on standby who will be able to repair the problem before more damage occurs. Use of your shut-off valve if you detect a leak until your plumbers can reach you.

Look For Clogged Pipework

Another problem that may lead to low water pressure in parts of the building, but not others, is clogged up pipework. If you notice that your kitchen sink fills up well enough but your bathroom taps run slowly, for instance, then it is likely that you have partially clogged up water pipes supplying them. This will sometimes happen if you have old-fashioned iron pipes or a slowly rusting joint. Look out for signs of rust coming from your taps in the form of brownish water. If you see that, then clogged pipework is probably the cause of the low water pressure. Seek the assistance of qualified plumbers to replace the faulty section of pipe.

For more information, contact a local plumber.