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Water Pressure

Discussion in 'Homeowners Corner' started by rich351854, Sep 14, 2010.

  1. rich351854

    rich351854 New Member

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    I live up on highview trail place and have horrible water pressure.... anybody else have this issue? Anybody know a fix?
     
  2. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    Has this been an ongoing issue or has this only started recently?
     
  3. luftinarr

    luftinarr Member

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    This is ongoing. It's sucked ever since we moved in 5 years ago (and we're in the cul-de-sac portion of HTP).

    We've talked with Loudoun Water and they say it's because we are at the end of a line and because we're uphill. The 'psi'(?) is set at the county maximum (20-something) and they (Loudoun Water) can't do anything about it. We had a rep come out and the rep showed us whatever the psi (pounds per square inch maybe?) was. That was 5 years ago though. Maybe something's changed.
     
  4. rich351854

    rich351854 New Member

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    we had the exact same experience... I am just wondering if there is something I can put in to increase the pressure. Mayber I will call Loudoun Water
     
  5. sowalker

    sowalker New Member

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    we too had low pressure- so we had a booster installed at the same time irrigation went in- pump costs about $450-$500 and about the same to install it-
     
  6. Genco

    Genco Active Member

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    We actually live up by the water towers and over the last few says the pressure has been terrible. I called Loudoun Water and they said the pressure was fine coming out of the towers. All the houses up here had booster pumps installed when VM built these homes but they have been turned off for a number of years because Loudoun Water installed a booster pump at the water towers. I feel like turning the pump back on but it's been idle for so long it will probably break.
     
  7. rich351854

    rich351854 New Member

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    So $1,000!!
     
  8. twohokies

    twohokies New Member

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    We live in one of the cul-de-sacs at the top of Highview Trail and our water pressure is/was bad. At the time we had our irrigation system put in, we had the water pressure tested and Loudoun said it was "fine" and we got the same explanation of being so high, end of the line, etc. We knew we were already having issues with just our refrigerator water spicket and so spent the ~ $1,000 on a booster pump inside the house. It helps with everything vs. our neighbors spent ~ $700 I think for just the irrigation system 5yrs ago. And...........another set of neighbors passed on the booster pump when the group of us did the irrigation system and so they have to start their watering at 8:30pm just so it waters enough and finishes by 6am.

    It does really suck that we have to spend money to deal with this. :angryfire:
     
  9. Genco

    Genco Active Member

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    Just had Loudoun Water out to test pressure and the outside pressure by the meter is 70psi which is good but now I'm going to test inside the house.
     
  10. Mazinger

    Mazinger New Member

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    Wow. They're pretty much just giving you the minimum required. 20 PSi is generally the minimum required for most water providers. Not sure what Loudoun water is required to give though.
     
  11. twohokies

    twohokies New Member

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    Yeah, I think up here on the hill is just barely the minimum. 20 psi sounds about right :-(.
     
  12. rich351854

    rich351854 New Member

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    I tightened the pressure valve in the house (a ton) and I think it helped... though my sprinklers all still get stuck....
     
  13. kris

    kris New Member

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    Rich -

    We have this problem too ....where is this pressure valve?
     
  14. rich351854

    rich351854 New Member

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    It is in the basement on the pipes leading to the the shut off valves... you tighten the screw to increase the pressure (as I recall but will check).... drop me an email if you live close I would be glad to show you the stinking thing... Again not sure if it worked "really" but in my head the water pressure is greatly improved and things like our dishwasher are working better.
     
  15. luftinarr

    luftinarr Member

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    I'm restarting an older thread, but over the last several weeks the water pressure in the house has been abysmal. We're talking do not run any hot water if someone is in the shower otherwise the shower stream literally turns into a trickle, turns cold, and stays that way until the other hot water is turned off. Two people cannot shower at the same time anymore. We can't run a dishwasher/laundry while anyone is showering. We don't really do that much anyway, but as of the past couple of months we've noticed a drastic decrease in the water pressure. This includes sinks too.

    Before calling Loudoun Water, which will be a waste of time, any other thoughts/suggestions?
     
  16. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    I know this is a dumb question, but do you have the same issue with only the cold water? Reason I'm asking is maybe the issue could be your water heater?
     
  17. luftinarr

    luftinarr Member

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    Not dumb, very valid which is why I posted the question on the boards...because I know there are smart people like you to point me to some more areas to check in the house. Thanks, Eric!
     
  18. Don't Say Cheese Photo

    Don't Say Cheese Photo Broadlands Photographer

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    As you know, we're just up the street and we don't have that problem.
     
  19. soccerdudes

    soccerdudes New Member

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    We have terrible water pressure in our kitchen sink and poor water pressure most everywhere else, as well as the water doesn't get very hot in one of our upstairs bathrooms (takes forever to warm up). The pressure in our kitchen sink is poor for both hot or cold water.

    We also have to flush all of our toilets either twice or really hold down the handle for a few moments or they don't flush. Very frustrating. Does that have something to with water pressure, too? We never experienced anything like this when we lived on the other side of Broadlands.
     
  20. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Be sure this simply isn't the showhead restricting water flow too much. I assume you have one knob that controls both hold and cold water?

    To test, simply pull off the showerhead, run the shower, and see how long it takes water to heat up or how hot it gets. If it heats up a lot faster, the problem is the shower head is so restrictive that it takes a long time for the water in the pipes to be pulled through and get the new fresh hot water.

    I had to enlarge the holes in the rubber diffuser (if you would call it that) in our showerhead for this exact problem. It was night and day after doing it.

    I used to have to let the water run for 5mins on full hot before it would start warming up.
     

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