It’s a sunny day and you think it’s a good idea to fill the kiddie pool for your family and maybe even water the lawn. But just you turn on your outdoor spigot, instead of the gush you expected what you get is a trickle. Low pressure in your outdoor water faucet can be frustrating. The good news is that troubleshooting low water pressure in outdoor spaces is easier than you think. And you don’t need to be a pro at plumbing to fix it. Here you can increase outdoor water pressure yourself.
Look for Leaks
The first thing you need to do is inspect your outdoor plumbing pipes for any leaks. Even a small leak can cause the outdoor water pressure to drop.
How to do it: Check along the hose, the water pipes, and each faucet for drips, small pools of water, or damp spots. Leaks, no matter how small, not only waste water but also reduce pressure in the outdoor tap by diverting water. What you need is a heavy-duty patch or sealant for small leaks. But a larger leak requires professional help.
Clean Your Plumbing
It’s common for hoses and faucets to get clogged with salt deposits, debris, or simple dirt. As it builds up over time, these things can reduce outdoor water pressure significantly.
How to do it: On the plus side, cleaning the faucet or the hose is easier than you think. Just open the faucet head and rinse it well to get rid of regular dirt and grime. Hard water deposits will need some more elbow grease and maybe a descaling chemical for stubborn deposits. Clean the nozzle of your hose for any blockages and inspect it for twists. You might also want to switch to a broader/wider hose to increase outdoor water pressure.
Check the Water Valve
Sounds too simple? You’ll be surprised how often the reason for low water pressure is as easy as a partly opened water valve. And because it’s such a simple problem, it often gets overlooked.
How to do it: Your water valve is most likely located near the main water line. All you’ll need to do is to ensure that it’s turned all the way to open.
Check Your Pressure Regulator
Most homes have a water pressure regulator that maintains a healthy pressure throughout the plumbing, including your outdoor faucets.
How to do it: Like the water valve, the pressure regulator can be found near the main water line. With a regular variety wrench, you can adjust the regulator and set it to allow stronger water pressure. A word of caution. When adjusting the pressure make sure it’s not so strong that it strains, and maybe damages, your pipes.
Test Your Water Pressure
It’s a good idea to check your water pressure regularly, and especially when there is a problem. Pressure gauges are inexpensive and easily available. You can use a gauge to check the water pressure to confirm that it’s actually low or just feels that way.
How to do it: All you need to do is attach the water pressure gauge onto the outdoor faucet and turn the water on full to get a reading. An ideal water pressure reading lies between 40 to 60 PSI. If the reading is too high or too low, you’ll know for sure that something needs to be fixed professionally.
Don’t let low water pressure get you down
Low water pressure in your outdoors is frustrating but it’s not a not a problem you have to live with. The simple fixes we’ve suggested here should be enough to troubleshoot and get those pipes gushing again. But if none of these work, you know you need professional help to get that steady stream of water back. Contact a plumbing firm with good emergency plumbing services.
