Low water pressure from town supply any solutions?

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Quimera

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

Topic # 185462 23-Nov-2015 22:18

We have low water pressure at the mains. The council tested and it was 31 psi. 30 is acceptable. The shower is ok but I can't fill the washing machine cold only and have another cold tap running at the same time . The pipes from the water Toby are not old or corroded. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks.

Fred99

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Reply # 1433617 23-Nov-2015 22:46

Not sure if there's any easy solution - increasing diameter of pipe from the mains to the house might work, but it's probably not a cheap and easy.
Are you sure that the water intake solenoid on the washing machine is okay? They do get bunged up/slow. The old F&P machine we've got, the solenoid is on it's way out - slow (and noisy) when filling and gradually getting worse.

Quimera

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 1433620 23-Nov-2015 22:51

No the machine is fine ,only reasonably new. The washing machine was just an example,can't water the garden and have the cold tap running inside both get very slow. Might just have to put up with it. 😡

MattEast

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Reply # 1433622 23-Nov-2015 22:59

Header tank and inline flow pump might work....a header tank might work just on its own depending on size etc....we had a similar issue with hot water but switched to an OnDemand gas system...never looked back (but a bit different to your situation)

Matt East

ubergeeknz

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Vocus

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Reply # 1433628 23-Nov-2015 23:43

That seems really low, I'm surprised it's deemed acceptable. Unless it's due to a fault somewhere (ie. a leak or blockage) then bigger pipes or a header tank + pump may be your only recourse.

Aredwood

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Reply # 1433634 24-Nov-2015 01:16

In short just install a pump. But the kind that you normally use if you are on tank water. Is the property in the Auckland council area? As the supply standard is 200kpa (30 psi) and 20L per min at the meter. Did you get that flow? As if the flow is too low you will need a tank as well as a pump.

Also with correctly sized pipework and low pressure tap ware you can still get good flow rates.

I had to install a pump in a hair salon once as they had 4 hair wash basins yet couldn't use them all at the same time.

timmmay

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Reply # 1433655 24-Nov-2015 07:14

My father in law in England has a pump on his water, to get enough water in quick enough. Header tank and/or pump sounds sensible.

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matabo

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Reply # 1433672 24-Nov-2015 08:14

Well , what are your neighbours supply/pressure like , if theirs is higher , you must have a blockage of some sorts .

Has a previous owner put in an in line filter on your water line .

You could install a low pressure shower head .

Or , as mentioned , purchase a water pump .