How can I increase my water pressure at home?
Low water pressure can be incredibly frustrating. Weak showers, slow filling taps and poor garden performance are some of the most common complaints we get across Inverloch, Bass Coast and South Gippsland.
The tricky part is there is no single answer to improving water pressure because a number of different factors come into play.
The first thing to understand is whether you are on mains water or tank water, because the solutions can be very different.
If you are on mains water
Unfortunately, with mains water supply, it is often a bit of a case of “you get what you get and you don’t get upset”. The pressure coming into your property is largely determined by the water authority’s infrastructure, nearby demand and the elevation of your property.
That said, if your water pressure has suddenly dropped or seems worse than it used to be, there are definitely a few things worth checking before assuming nothing can be done.
One common issue is the inlet screen near the water meter. Many water meters have a small screen or filter that can slowly accumulate debris over time. If this becomes partially blocked, it can reduce flow into the property. A plumber can inspect and clean this if required. Its important to get a plumber to do this as they will use bonding straps to ensure safety against electrocution while the water meter is being removed (electrocution through copper pipe is its own blog article…coming soon)
It is also worth checking whether there could be a kink or restriction somewhere in the water line, especially on older properties or where pipes may have been disturbed during landscaping or building works.
Pipe sizing also plays a huge role in water pressure. Small pipes over long distances lose pressure as water travels through them. In some situations, increasing the pipe size can dramatically improve performance because less pressure is lost through friction over the length of the run.
The elevation of your property matters too. Water pressure naturally decreases as water has to travel uphill. Homes built higher than the road or on sloping blocks can often experience lower pressure than neighbouring properties lower down the hill.
Before assuming the whole house has low pressure, it is also worth checking the simple things. Tap aerators and shower screens can block up with debris, scale or sediment over time, especially in areas with older pipework or tank systems. Cleaning the screens on outlets can sometimes make a surprising difference.
Can you install a pump on mains water?
This is where things get a bit more technical.
Whether you are allowed to boost mains water pressure with a pump is generally a decision made by the local water authority. In some cases, particularly where supply pressure is known to be poor, they may allow it, but it is something that needs approval.
If boosting directly from the mains is permitted, the authority will often require a protection device to be installed downstream of the pump. This may be a DOL valve or flow control valve, which helps restrict flow in the event of a burst pipe or major leak. Think of it as a device designed to prevent uncontrolled water flow if something goes wrong.
More commonly, the accepted approach is to install a break tank with an automatic fill setup. The mains water fills the break tank, and then a pump boosts pressure from the tank to the house. This separates the pump from the mains supply and is generally viewed more favourably by water authorities.
If you are on tank water
If your property runs entirely on tank water, then the pump becomes one of the biggest factors in how the system performs.
Pump selection is a bit of an art. It is not just about buying the biggest pump available.
Things like:
pipe friction losses
elevation changes
number of outlets running at once
pipe sizing
flow rates
protection against cavitation
all need to be considered when selecting a pump properly.
An incorrectly sized pump can lead to poor pressure, short cycling, noisy operation or premature pump failure.
A plumber with the right training and experience can help size a system correctly so it performs properly without overworking the pump or wasting energy.
The main thing to understand
Water pressure problems are not always caused by one thing. Sometimes it is the incoming mains supply. Sometimes it is undersized pipes, blocked filters, elevation, poor pump sizing or a combination of several smaller issues adding up.
The best approach is to work through the system properly rather than guessing.
At All Done Plumbing & Drainage, we help homeowners across Inverloch, Bass Coast and South Gippsland diagnose water pressure issues on both mains water and tank water systems. Whether it is a simple blockage, a pipe upgrade or a more complex pump setup, we can help work out what is actually causing the problem and the best way to improve it.