At Burton, we know water pressure problems can be frustrating. That’s why our local plumbers are highly trained on the most effective ways to diagnose and repair the water pressure issues that disrupt your home. Because your shower is your sanctuary, your kitchen is your common ground, and your home appliances keep your household running smoothly— and caring for your plumbing is our top priority.

In the course of assessing, repairing, and restoring the water pressure in thousands of homes across the Greater Omaha area, we’ve come across five causes that are almost always the source of a slow or inconsistent trickle. Check out this list, then give us a call if you think one of these culprits are to blame for your own slow flow!

Here are five reasons your water may be underperforming, and what the expert local plumbers here at Burton can do about it:

     1. You’ve sprung a leak!

As water is diverted away from the faucet in question (towards the leak), you’ll notice a drop in water pressure. But if you’ve got leaky pipes, low water pressure should be the least of your worries!

When you call Burton, our plumbers will work with you to find every leak in the line, repair the faulty sections quickly, and restore your full flow as soon as possible. And while this low pressure cause is an annoying one, it’s likely a simple one to fix.

     2. Your shutoff valve is doing its job

The second reason you may be experiencing low water pressure is that your main water shutoff valve may be partially closed. We typically see this happen after you’ve had work performed on your plumbing, and had the valve closed for a period of time. If it’s not fully restored to the open position, the water entering your home may be partially interrupted. Reopening this valve should restore full pressure— no Burton call needed.

If you aren’t sure where to find your water shutoff valve, we’ve got a whole Burton Homeowner Hacks article that can help!

     3. You’ve got blockage

Many homeowners are surprised to learn that water flow blockages can happen at any time, even in brand new homes! As minerals build up in the main water supply pipes that lead to your home, these materials can break off and flow through the supply. Eventually, they wind up blocking the flow into your main supply line or at plumbing branches.

Depending on where the blockage is, your local plumber may snake the line or use another drain opening method to remove the deposits and restore your full water pressure. Blockage = busted!

     4. Corrosion is the culprit

Corrosion is particularly a problem in older homes with galvanized steel pipes. Over time, minerals like lime or salt collect on the inside of your pipes, slowly narrowing the flow of water until you notice a significant pressure difference.

Depending on the severity of the corrosion, your plumber may need to clean out the pipes using hydro-jets, or replace sections of the damaged pipes. Because the corrosion will eventually create holes in the pipes, you may choose to proactively replace the full system of pipes to prevent a more severe issue later on.

     5. It’s not you…. It’s your supplier

If your water pressure issue is new or intermittent, your water supplier may be to blame. Ask your neighbors if they’re experiencing similarly low water pressure, or call your local water supplier to ask if there are any known problems along the line.

Your local plumber can’t solve this low water pressure problem, but luckily, full pressure should be restored as soon as the maintenance or repairs are completed.

Weak water got you down? The local plumbers at Burton can help!

At Burton, our plumbing experts will take the time to find the root cause of your low water pressure, resolve the issue, and help you prevent water disruptions in the future. And our customer-first approach, guaranteed up-front pricing, and industry-leading warranties don’t hurt either! To schedule service now, Just Call Burton.