Asked on Apr 12, 2015

Why is my water pressure so bad at times?

Ellen H
by Ellen H
I live in a rural area. Our house was built in 1979. For the past several years, we have been having problems with our water pressure - but not all the time. On Sundays if you don't get a shower before 8:00 a.m., it will be a pitiful excuse of a shower because we lose water pressure. It does happen on other days too, but not quite so dependably. Sometimes this lasts all day until around 5:00, making it hard to wash dishes, etc. I have been talking with the water department about this and the only thing they will tell me is that the problem is on our side of the meter, not theirs. Then they tell me we need to replace the pressure regulator, even though they admit this is not the way pressure regulators usually go out. Can someone explain to me how this could be caused by a pressure regulator and if it would really be worth our money and effort to dig around the meter to find the pressure regulator and replace it?
  9 answers
  • Sunni Sunni on Apr 12, 2015
    I don't have an answer but have you talked to a good plumber about it? Ask your friends who they trust because a good one will at least give you some ideas without just saying let's dig up your yard. Hope you get this resolved! I know how troublesome this can be.
  • Hope Williams Hope Williams on Apr 13, 2015
    Go to diyplumbingadvice.com This explains every question you asked AND how to fix it. If you have read this please "like" so we know you read it!
  • Andrea Andrea on Apr 13, 2015
    So I kind of have the same problem...except mine is caused by other factors in the house for example if I am taking a shower in my bathroom and the kids flush the toilet in their bathroom I lose water pressure. I did have a plumber come out to look at things because the water department told me the same thing...change my regulator. The plumber told me that when the house was built (1985) there weren't as many building cregulations as now so my supply lines are smaller than what a house built now would be. The regulator was not messed up (he checked it) and he did say it could be fixed...if I was willing to dig up all of my water lines and replace them. Needless to say we just deal with it!
  • Linda Parrish Linda Parrish on Apr 13, 2015
    Check your water regulator. It could be going bad. Ours did and we had to replace it. They are located usually under your home where the water line comes into your home.
  • Mcgypsy9 Mcgypsy9 on Apr 13, 2015
    Just wondering if you have a water softener system? Do you have well water? You said you live rural but that you have a meter so I am confused. Do you pay a water bill? If you can answer these questions then I think I can help.
    • See 2 previous
    • Ellen H Ellen H on Apr 17, 2015
      @Mcgypsy9 no, no water softener.
  • Denise Rankin Denise Rankin on Apr 13, 2015
    More information would be helpful. Living in a rural area but dependent on municipal water systems can make this type of problem very hard to deal with. When I lived in a small town on GA. you knew when the local paper mill was shut down, maxing production or just working by much water pressure you had. The mill's draw on the water source would affect everything. However that was 30 years ago and now the citizenry of our country would demand a better more dependable system. ANDREA has the more likly answer. Good luck!
  • CycoSue CycoSue on Apr 13, 2015
    my first thought was that your water pressure tank needed air added, since you live in a rural area. But if you are on the municipal water system, I don't think you would have one. Here is an article I found that has good layman's terms and pictures to help you determine if you have one. http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/plumbing/well/pressure_tank/replace.htm
  • Alisa Alisa on Apr 14, 2015
    I had this problem. The pressure tank may need to be bled of air. The valve is on top of the tank and looks like a valve on a tire. Find something - a pen casing works - that you can press down and bleed the air out of your tank. Our had gotten so bad that the tank needed replacing because we didn't know about this. If you do not have a pressure tank, I would ask a plumber.
  • Teo Teo on Apr 14, 2015
    Trebuie AERISIT,la fel ca frinele de la autoturism cand nu mai tine frina...