Low Water Pressure in HDB
Water pressure that is too low won’t adequately serve fixtures. On the flip side, water pressure that is too high can damage equipment. The water pressure in Singapore varies according to the elevation of the land. The Water Supply Department maintains minimum water pressure above 25m at mean sea level. So the height at which you live is responsible for your water pressure.
Firstly, you should check with neighbours on the same floor whether they experience the problem of low water pressure. This is to confirm whether the problem is with the water tank pump/pipes, or an isolated problem only pertaining to your unit. If all of your neighbors have low water pressure, there may not be much you can do except to contact the department in charge and complain about the problem. You may dial the PUB hotline and inform them of the low water pressure. They may liaise with the Town Council and send a technician to investigate.
If your home is the only one with low pressure, before you get on the real problem, the very first troubleshooting step is to determine if all locations within your home have low water pressure. Check various locations that have faucets, such as the kitchen, the bathroom, basement and outdoor faucets. Run water in all faucets and showers in your home to identify if there is are one or multiple problem areas to determine all locations with low water pressure.
Low Water Pressure in Kitchen Faucet
If the low water pressure is limited to a single faucet at your kitchen sink, it’s likely that the problem can be remedied if you just focus on fixing that one fixture or the pipes serving it.
The first culprit to consider is the aerator. That’s the little screen fitting at the end of the faucet. Mineral deposits can accumulate and eventually block the water flow at full expected force. Follow below simple steps to fix it.
- Remove the end of the faucet/aerator.
- Turn the water on before you replace the aerator. If water flow is good, it means the low pressure problem comes from aerator.
- Examine your aerator. Check for debris or buildup.
- If the aerator needs to be cleaned, soak it in a water-vinegar solution. If that doesn’t work, buy a replacement. These are very inexpensive.
- Install the aerator. Ta-da! You are all set to use your normal water pressure faucet now!
Low Water Pressure in Bathroom Basin
If this is not an aerator issue, , yet you are encountering low pressure for this new faucet, probably it is due to the debris lodged inside the cartridge holes. This debris may be from soldering, filing, or installing new piping. The cartridge holes allow water through the cartridge into the spout of the faucet. If the holes clog wholly or partially, there will be a lower water pressure until whatever is clogging the holes is removed. Follow below steps to clean your cartridge.
- Turn off the supply valves to the sink. Turn on water to run out any water that remains in the line.
- Remove the cap that covers the faucet’s screw. Lift the handle off the faucet.
- Use a pliers to loosen and remove the retaining nut that holds the cartridge in place. Place all the components in proper order so you can replace them in sequence.
- Lift straight up on the cartridge to remove it. It may be difficult to pull up. If you cannot remove it by hand, use a cartridge-pulling tool.
- Rinse the cartridge If there is considerable lime scale on the cartridge, soak it with equal parts vinegar and water. If unable to be cleaned, probably it time to replace a new cartridge or a new tap.
- Reassemble the faucet. Ta-da! You are all set to use your sink now!
If you only have low water pressure when you are running hot water, review your water heater system. Electric instant heater is pressure reducing system whereas electric storage heaters/heat pump heaters is non-pressure-reducing system.
If you are already using a non-pressure reducing water heater and still feel like you’re not getting the right pressure from your shower? A simple fix will be to change your shower head to one with smaller holes. Choose a shower head which designed to give a stronger flow.
Overall Low Pressure Problem?
If you can’t pinpoint the cause of your low water pressure problems in the house, it is probably an overall problem. There are another 2 causes.
1.Check the main shutoff water valve outside your unit. Make sure it is open all the way.
2Look for water leaks. A leaking toilet or water main can cause low water pressure.
Other than that, the most common cause of low water pressure in a home that’s more than 20 years old is clogged older steel pipes. Unfortunately, to solve this problem, the only option is to engage a plumber to re-pipe your home, usually replaced with PVC pipes.
In high rise apartments (above 25m) you might experience low water pressure as height is more and water flow is restricted travelling upwards. An alternative is to have a different water tank installed where water can be taken and stored. The topic of increasing water pressure often leads to the solution of installing a pressure pump. Yes, installing a pressure pump in your home will certainly increase your water pressure but this is not legal in Singapore. This is because a pressure pump serves to draw water pressure away from your neighbours.
It is normal to get frustrated when we have low water pressure issue. Go down the list and eliminate causes to find the culprit. To save you time and effort, engage a plumber, they may take about 30 minutes to troubleshoot your problem for you.
Winway Home Services has a team of experts to help you solve your water supply system in your house. Whatsapp us now at +65 9734 1593 for enquiry!