There is nothing quite as frustrating as hopping into the shower after a long day, only to be met with a weak, sad trickle of water. Conversely, maybe you’ve noticed the water blasting out of your faucet so hard it splashes everywhere, or your pipes “bang” when the washing machine turns off.
Whether your pressure is too low or dangerously high, your plumbing system is trying to tell you something. At Plumber 007, we investigate these pressure mysteries daily in Paramount.
Here are the two most common culprits behind water pressure issues and how to tell them apart.
Culprit #1: The Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV)
If the water pressure is weird all over the house (in the shower, the kitchen sink, and the hose bibs simultaneously), the suspect is likely your Pressure Reducing Valve.
What is it?
This bell-shaped brass valve sits on your main water line, usually right where the water enters your home or near the street. Its job is to take the high-pressure water from the city street (often 100+ PSI) and lower it to a safe level for your home (typically 50–75 PSI).
What happens when it fails?
PRVs have a rubber diaphragm inside that wears out after 10–15 years. When it fails, one of two things happens:
- The Pressure Drops: The valve gets “stuck” closed, choking off your water supply.
- The Pressure Spikes (Danger Zone): The valve stops regulating entirely, letting full city pressure hammer your pipes. This is dangerous because it can blow out toilet seals, ruin water heaters, and burst pipes.
Culprit #2: Sediment Buildup (The “Focal” Problem)
If the water pressure is bad in only one fixture (e.g., the kitchen sink is slow, but the shower is fine), the problem isn’t your pipes; it’s the fixture itself.
Paramount has hard water. Over time, calcium deposits and tiny pieces of sediment travel through the pipes and get trapped in the mesh screens at the tip of your faucets (aerators) or inside your showerhead nozzles.
The Fix: unscrew the aerator from the tip of the faucet, soak it in vinegar for an hour, scrub it, and screw it back on. You’ll be amazed at the difference.
Culprit #3: The Half-Open Valve
It sounds silly, but we see it all the time. If you recently had work done, or if you were messing around with the main shut-off valve (see our previous article on Emergency Shut-Offs), you might not have opened it all the way back up.
Check your main valve. If it’s a wheel handle, turn it counter-clockwise until it stops. If it’s a lever, make sure it is perfectly parallel with the pipe.
Get a Pressure Check Today
Unsure if your pressure is safe? High water pressure is a silent killer of appliances.
Plumber 007 can perform a quick pressure test on your system. We can adjust your existing PRV or replace a failing one to ensure your morning shower is perfect—and your pipes are safe.
Contact us today at +1 562-242-2124 to get your flow back on track.