How to Improve Water Pressure in Your Bathroom

Losing water pressure in the bathroom can be very frustrating. Low pressure showers can add unnecessary challenge to daily hygiene, and low pressure faucets are a headache all their own. There are many potential causes for a drop in pressure, so here is a method to help you get the pressure back up. 

Find the Cause 

Start by isolating the symptoms. Is the problem just in one faucet, just in one room or in the whole house? This isolation will tell you if you need to fix a filter or head, a piping system or a holding tank respectively.

Case 1: Just One Faucet

If the problem is a single faucet or showerhead then these simple steps will resolve the issue: 

• Detach the head and check for any debris or clogging.

• Empty the aerator or flow regulator.

• Replace a faulty shower head.

• Check for signs of leaking pipes.

Case 2: The Entire Bathroom

When an entire room has low pressure, the issue is either leaking pipes or a pressure regulating valve. To adjust the valve:

• Loosen the locking nut.

• Turn the adjustment screw clockwise for more pressure or counterclockwise for less pressure.

• Tighten the locking nut.

Case 3: The Entire House

When the entire house has flow problems, then either a holding tank or the piping from the holding tank will be the culprit. This can be caused by clogging, pump failure and even suboptimal pipe sizing. In any case, it is important to involve a qualified professional at this point and avoid increasing the damage or violating building codes.

Low-flow problems can be a nuisance, but now you have some tricks to help the cause. For more information on water pressure and drain maintenance in San Marcos, check out this site.

Hot Water Repair

Losing hot water is never fun. Professional repairs are a cheaper and quicker than outright replacement. Doing repairs without proper training can be unsafe and lead to large-scale water damage.

Clean Your Sewers to Keep Your Drains From Backing Up

Keeping your sewer lines clean is an important part of home maintenance. Because you can’t see your sewer lines, it can be hard to tell when you have a problem. This fact makes it even more important that you keep careful tabs on your sewers, and watch out for potential warning signs. If you don’t pay attention to your sewers, you could end up with a large, and expensive, mess. But you can prevent your drains from backing up by keeping your sewers clean in the first place.

To begin with, try to have a professional come in to clean your sewers at least once every 18-22 months. You might need to have a plumber in more often, depending on the number of people in your home and the stress they place on the sewers. These time frames vary from household to household. Once your plumber has arrived, he or she can use a video camera to ascertain what problems your sewers might be experiencing. Your plumber can then make the proper recommendations based on those problems.

Sometimes your drains will be backed up for reasons other than dirty sewer lines. For example, tree roots might have penetrated your pipes and then grown in such a way that they’ve come to completely block those pipes.

When it comes to how you go about cleaning your sewers, you’ll have a few options. To start, though, you’ll always want to have a plumber use a video camera to obtain a visual of the situation. Next, if tree roots are the cause of your problem, you’ll need to use a mechanical auger to get rid of them. An auger will cut the roots away. It’s important to remember, though, that this is only a momentary solution. If you don’t take further action, the roots will simply grow back. You might also need to employ a chemical tree root remover. If the pipes already caused a great deal of damage before you removed them, though, you may need to replace those pipes entirely. Regularly checking up on your sewer lines can help you to avoid this option.

Another effective method for cleaning your sewers is to use a hydro-jetter. A hydro-jetter works by pumping 4,000 psi of water through the sewer pipes. The flow of water is generally effective for flushing away a source of blockage.

Visit a residential plumber in Santa Cruz for more information about cleaning your sewers and avoiding drain blockage.

Using PEX For Hydronic And Plumbing Piping

Founded in 1894, Episcopal Homes in St. Paul, Minn., started out as a small rented home for four elderly women. Now, 121 years later, the senior housing organization offers a full range of care and continues to grow....read more

Graffiti Walls

Invite graffiti artists to decorate your restroom by installing chalkboards and providing chalk. Just keep your other fixtures simple to avoid over-decorating. Your walls will become their own exciting art!

What is Green Plumbing?

With more eyes turning toward the health of the planet and the environment, today’s home and business owners have more options for green living and construction. One of the newest features in today’s green building market is green plumbing. Combining innovative design with water saving features, green plumbing is one of the simplest ways to save money and restore the health of our planet.

Are You Flushing Away Water?

Anyone looking for a simple start to green plumbing can start with green plumbing products. The most common include eco-friendly toilets. Low-flow toilets use only 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Compare that to 3.6 gallons for full-flow toilets and it is easy to see how water usage and the water bill is greatly decreased. Dual flow toilets use different amounts of water when flushing down liquid waste and solid waste. Solid waste flushes require just 1.6 gallons of water and liquid waste requires just 1.1 gallons. Those looking for even greener products may be interested to know that composting toilet systems are available as well. Using unique designs and water systems, these toilets and plumbing turn solid, human waste into safe and usable compost.

Steaming up the Mirror

Another option for those looking to decrease their water bills and water use is a steam shower. While regular showers spray heated water through a showerhead, steam showers utilize humidity and water vapor. These systems harness the power of a humidifying steam generator that envelops the person in the water vapor. This incredible system uses only 1.1 gallons of water. In comparison, regular showers use up to 25 gallons!

Tankless Water Heater

Due to the rising cost of water, especially heated water, a great option for green plumbing enthusiasts is the tankless water heather. Instead of holding all the hot water in a tank until it is needed, a tankless system heats the water only when it will be used for showering or washing dishes. This is a viable and cost saving option for homes with many occupants or places of business needing a great amount of heated water.

Green plumbing can also include green landscaping. Some features can include rain barrels for watering gardens, reduced lawn watering and heat tolerant plants.  Families can also learn how to turn off the faucet when brushing their teeth, utilizing low-flow sinks for washing dishes, dumping extra water onto plants and being mindful of how long their showers are. To learn more about green plumbing and a plumbing service in Santa Cruz, check out this website.

DIY Plumbing Has Never Been Easier

Constructing your own household plumbing system is simple when you follow this basic DIY design for a drain, waste and vent system. Plastic or metal pipes can be used, but remember to check with your local safety codes before beginning.