Plumbing Tip 16: How To Diagnose Bad Water Pressure Due To Clogged Water Pipes

Poor water pressure is an annoying problem to have. It makes showering unpleasant, it’s difficult to water your lawn and your washer can’t get your clothes clean. These kinds of water pressure problems can stem from any one of a variety of causes, but one possible cause is a clogged pipe somewhere in your Pasadena plumbing system.

One clogged, partially blocked or otherwise constricted pipe somewhere in your plumbing system can have effects on the water pressure at other points, or even throughout the entire system. To diagnose whether your water pressure problem is due to a clog, first turn on the water at a faucet or other fixture. Then, follow this brief guide.

Is the water pressure at the fixture you just turned on fine, but problematic elsewhere?

If this – or the reverse scenario – describes your problem, then there is probably a localized clog somewhere in the piping that feeds the fixtures with poor pressure. It could be that a secondary supply line of the main supply is clogged or constricted and is affecting the supply to several fixtures.

If you notice poor pressure at just one fixture, there may be a clog specific to that fixture, such as a clogged faucet strainer.

Is the water pressure fine at first, but drops to a trickle right away?

This usually means there is some sort of constriction in the piping. The initial burst indicates that the overall system pressure is fine, but something is constricting water flow, although the pipe is not fully blocked. If this happens all over the house, the constriction may be in the main supply line.

Is the water pressure fine in all the fixtures in one part of the house, but too low at all the fixtures in other area?

If this sounds like your water pressure problem, then there may be a clog within a single pipe or connection. For example, one elbow may be clogged up, which is reducing the water pressure in one area.

These simple diagnostic steps can help you determine if your low water pressure is due to a clog rather than another problem, such as a leaky pipe. Unless the clog is in come obvious place, however, like the clogged strainer at the faucet mentioned above, your best choice to repair the clog is to call your local Pasadena plumber, Ace Pelizon Plumbing. Otherwise, that clog can turn into a much larger problem.