Low water pressure

[swellybro]

Hi, I'm hoping someone can help me with a low water pressure problem at a house i have just moved into. The pressure is low on both the hot and cold taps both upstairs and downstairs. If the cold tap is on downstairs then the cold tap upstairs is virtually a dribble. What could be the cause? Surely the pressure should be good on the downstairs kitchen tap? It's a mixer tap btw. It's a mid terrace house built about 1900.Thanks for your help Rich

 

[dontknowitall]

Could be all sorts of things from a partially blocked incoming main, to furred up pipes to a faulty stop tap.

To be honest, it could take a number of posts/messages to try to assist on the forum so might be easier to find a local plumber.

However, if you want to try to find out here, it would be helpful to have some more info:

Some questions to get us going ... (please supply answers!)


Is it just cold taps or hot as well?
What sort of boiler have you? Combi/standard ...?
How old is your plumbing?
What sizes are your pipes?
Do you have water storage in the loft?

 

[WaterTight]

yes, answering dontknowitall's questions would be a good start

but for fun i'm going to guess everything is gravity fed from a fortic and the customer previously lived in a house with a combi...

 

[Ian10261]

Is the pressure low all the time or is it just at peak demand? Terraced houses can sometimes still be ona shared supply.
Are the stop taps fully open?

 

[swellybro]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll try and answer all your questions.

Is it just cold taps or hot as well?
Both hot and cold have very poor pressure, both upstairs and downstairs.

What sort of boiler have you? Combi/standard ...?
Combi boiler it's a Worcester Bosch 28 SI II

How old is your plumbing?
Plumbing all looks relatively new - water meter under the sink (I am guessing this must be new), combi boiler in the kitchen.

What sizes are your pipes?
I'm not sure.

Do you have water storage in the loft?
Access to the loft is quite difficult - it's a a very small hatch, I'll try and poke my head up.

Is the pressure low all the time or is it just at peak demand?
Pressure is poor all the time.

I have tried turning the stop tap off and on again a few times now. It is really frustrating I cannot put on two taps at the same time, showering is not enjoyable.

I've taken some pictures this morning of the pipe work, water meter and the combi boiler - hopefully this might help (I'll u[load them later on this morning). I really appreciate your help I am looking for a few pointers but guess ultimately i will have to call a plumber.

Thanks

Richard

 

[Phil]

No need to look in loft, you have a combi.

Are your neighbours pressures okay?

 

[dontknowitall]

Sounds like you're on mains cold pressure for the whole house. The hot comes from the boiler and is supplied by the mains too.

First thing I'd look for is the stop tap then if it tees off to the kitchen tap (or closest sink). If there are no fittings on this pipe work (ie direct pipe to cold sink tap) then it's down to the mains pressure and flow rate, so a call to your water undertaker (water board) would be the first port of call.

If there are one or two fittings (e.g. check valve, pressure reducing valve) then these should be checked first (plumber if you're unsure).

Water undertaker shouldn't charge for a call out, whereas a plumber probably will.

 

[swellybro]

Hi,

Thanks for the further posts.

Just to double check when you say water undertaker is that someone form the water company?

Also there is a valve going to the mixer tap in the kitchen you can see this in the pictures I have uploaded.

Thanks

Richard

 

[dontknowitall]

Water undertaker = Severn Trent, Thames Water, Welsh Water or whoever your water supplier is.

Can't see any pics though!!

 

[swellybro]

Hi,

I have submitted a post with links but it says it has to be checked by a moderator first.

I have just called Yorkshire water who are sending out an engineer - the lady said that it is a long line of terraces (we are near the top end though). It gets very complicated it any work needs to be done as it might be shared...

What are my options if it is a shared pipe? Are they expensive?

Thank you again.

Richard

 

[arran197]

If you have a new meter, is the stop tap new too? Could be an additional stop tap somewhere that is turned down, the old houses are suprising and have them dotted all over the flipping place!