Steady and reliable water pressure is essential for any plumbing system. You are getting good water pressure from the faucet. Suddenly you see, the water pressure of the faucet you are using is dropped when someone turns on other faucets in the house. This common water pressure issue can disrupt your daily activities and make simple tasks like taking a shower, washing dishes, or watering the garden feel like a struggle.
Water pressure drops can be fixed by simple solutions that are mentioned in this guide. You need to do some simple checks to get back the regular flow of the water.
What Causes Water Pressure Drops When More Than One Faucet Is On?
Understanding the causes of water pressure drops is essential to find the right solution to fix the problem. Here are common reasons why your faucet water pressure drops when other faucets are on in the house:
- Partially closed water valve
- Faulty pressure regulator
- Clogged or restricted pipes
- Insufficient water supply
- Leak In The House Plumbing
Now let’s see every cause in detail and know what you should do to fix the issue.
Partially Closed Water Valve
A partially closed water valve drops the water pressure of one faucet when other faucets are on. The water valve is used to control the water flow of the faucet. When you need to do any plumbing work, you can turn off the water valve so that without water disturbance, you can easily perform the plumbing work.
When the water pressure of the faucet is drop when more than one faucet is on, check the water valve of the faucet. The location of the water valve depends on whether you have a separate water valve for every faucet or a common main water valve for all faucets of the house.
If you have a separate valve, check whether it is fully on or partially on. If you don’t have a separate valve, you need to check the main water valve of the house. Someone had turned off it due to any plumbing work and didn’t open it fully again. By turning the water valve into a fully on position, sometimes the water pressure issue is resolved if it is caused by a partially closed water valve.
Check also – Best Kitchen Faucet For Low Water Pressure Buy For Saving
Faulty Pressure Regulator
A faulty pressure regulator can significantly impact the water pressure in your home when multiple faucets are in use in the kitchen and bathroom.
The pressure regulator is also known as pressure reducing valve. It controls the water pressure of the house. It ensures the water pressure in the faucet remains at a safe level and doesn’t cause any damage to the plumbing.
When the pressure regulator is faulty, it can cause high or low water pressure. High water pressure put extreme stress on the plumbing fixtures, pipes, and appliances. With low water pressure, you struggle to do daily washing jobs. A faulty pressure regulator also causes a water hammer.
To fix the pressure regulator valve, change its pressure setting and observer if there is any change in the water pressure of the faucet. There may be an adjustment screw or nut on the valve to adjust the pressure. However, if adjusting the valve doesn’t fix the pressure issue, you need to replace the valve.
Clogged or Restrict Pipes
Clogged or restricted pipes are another cause of low water pressure in one faucet when using two faucets. There are various reasons for clogged pipes such as mineral deposits, rust, debris, and sediment.
The clogged pipes restrict the smooth flow of water and it cause drops in the water pressure. Hard water is a primary reason for the mineral deposits and sediments in the faucet pipelines.
To open clogged pipes, you can start by flushing the pipes. Turn off the main water valve of the house and then turn on all faucets of the house to drain out the remaining water. It will help to clean some of the deposits and flush them out.
You can also commercial cleaners to open a clogged pipe. A plumber’s snake or pipe auger may be effective in breaking up the deposits and restoring water flow. If these don’t open the clog of pipes, you should take the help of the plumber. With their experience and proper tools, they can clean clogged pipes.
Insufficient Water Supply
An insufficient water supply issue occurs when the demand for water exceeds the supply available to your home and causes low water pressure in the faucet. In this situation, you get regular water pressure from the faucet but when you turn on two faucets at a single time, the water pressure drops in both faucets. Because there is not enough water supply to the faucet.
The insufficient water supply in your house may be caused by the size of the main water line, home elevation and distance from the water source, cross connections, and leaks in the house water line.
To solve this issue, you can contact the municipality and ask them to increase the water pressure. You also can install a pressure booster pump to increase the water pressure of your house.
Leak In The House Plumbing
Leak in the plumbing also reduces the water pressure of the faucet when you turn on more than one faucet at once. With time, leaks may occur in any plumbing, no matter how durable it is. Fixing leakage in the plumbing is not simple. You need to cut the leaking part of the plumbing and then install a new pipe there. It may require good knowledge of plumbing repair. It would be good to take the help of a plumber. Watch the video to know about fixing the leak.
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Can a Dripping Faucet Decrease Water Pressure?
A dripping faucet may decrease the water pressure. It depends on how much quantity of water is dripping from the faucet. A few drops from the faucet every minute won’t cause any effect on the water pressure.
Continuing drip with a high amount of water will cause low water pressure in other fixtures of the house.
Could Inexpensive Faucets Be Responsible For Poor Water Pressure?
Not all inexpensive faucets are responsible for poor water pressure. Low water pressure in inexpensive faucets depends on the design and parts quality of the faucet. Their restrictive design may limit the flow of water.
The aerator of inexpensive faucets is not having good quality. It becomes clogged within months of the installation and slows down the water pressure. Also, if the cartridge quality is not good, it will not allow much water to flow and you will get slow water flow from the faucet.
Final Thoughts
The solutions to water pressure drop, when more than one faucet is on from this guide, help you to get normal water pressure for your faucet. Some issues you can easily fix yourself and for some, you need to call a plumber. Good water pressure is essential to complete daily washing tasks easily.
FAQs
Where Is My Water Pressure Regulator Located?
In most houses, the location of the water pressure regulator is near the main water shut-off valve. It is installed before the main water shut-off valve to control the whole house’s water pressure.
Why Low Water Pressure When Using Two Faucets?
This generally happens when two faucets are on the same water supply line. When you use both faucets at the same time, the water supply is divided into two directions and result is the low water pressure.
Can You Make The Water Pressure In Your Faucet Better?
Yes, you can improve the water pressure of the faucet by checking the shut-off valve, adjusting the water pressure regulator, fixing leaks, and other solutions from this guide.
Could a Low Battery Affect the Water Pressure of the Faucet?
Yes, a low battery affects the water pressure of the faucet. Touchless faucets need the power to work and when the battery is low, the faucet sensor won’t work properly and which affects the flow of water and the result is low water pressure in a touchless faucet.
James Lewis is a seasoned plumber and faucet enthusiast who shares his expertise on Faucetsavvy.com. With over 15 years of experience in the plumbing industry, he’s passionate about helping homeowners find the perfect faucet for their needs. He’s also dedicated to empowering DIY enthusiasts with the plumbing knowledge and skills needed to repair and maintain their faucets.