How to repair an external tap with low water pressure

 

Determining the type of water pressure problem

It is necessary to know whether the low pressure occurs intermittently or constantly. An intermittent reduction in water pressure could simply be due to another water use inside the house. When using an outside tap, check that no other taps or appliances, such as the shower, dishwasher or washing machine, are using water. If the pressure is consistently low throughout the house, not just at the outside tap, you need to check a few different causes.

Choose appropriate times for garden work and repair leaks

Inspect the handle of the outside tap to ensure that water is not lost due to leaks of any kind. If there are any leaks, replace the washers or sealing nuts. If the tap is fitted with a filter, remove it and clean it of any obstructions. Once the filter is reinserted, the water pressure should improve immediately.

Check the water supply and pipes

Check all taps and water-using devices in the house to see if they have the same water pressure problem. If this is the case, the problem could be due to pressure in the municipal water supply, due to leaks in the pipes or over-extension of the municipal pipes. In addition, if the pipes and plumbing are very old and the water is hard, mineral deposits in all the pipes could reduce the volume of the pipes, slowing down the flow of water.

To solve the first problem, contact your trusted plumber to check the water pressure. He will be able to provide more information on the origin of the problem and how to solve it.

Use a torch to inspect the inside of the pipes for mineral deposits. To remove those, flush the pipes with a calcium, limescale and rust remover. If they are very rusty, as evidenced by the red or dull brown water leaking out when flushing, older pipes may need to be completely replaced. If these solutions do not solve the problem, ask a plumber to add a water pressure booster to your residential plumbing system.

Replace the external tap

If all these steps do not solve the problem of low water pressure at the outside tap, you need to examine the connection to the house's internal plumbing system. The problem may lie in the internal valve that redirects water to the outside tap. However, if the valve works properly, it will be sufficient to purchase and install a new external tap.

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