Even though cold weather doesn't have a direct impact on your water pressure, some cold weather effects could lead to lower water pressure.
1. How does cold weather affect water pressure?
2. Other factors that can affect water pressure
3. How to determine what is affecting your water pressure
If you are experiencing a decrease in water pressure, contact the experienced and affordable plumbers at WaterSmart today.
1. How Does Cold Weather Affect Water Pressure?
There are a few ways that the colder weather can have an impact on your water pressure.
1. Frozen Pipes:
If your pipes get too cold, then you run the risk of the water inside turning to ice. This ice build-up will make it difficult for your water to flow through your pipes and will cause your water pressure to decrease.
If your pipes freeze solid, then you won't have any water at all. In addition, your pipes could burst from the extra pressure from the ice.
Water expands when it freezes - Remember your science class days and how water expands when it freezes?
This expansion can cause so much pressure on your pipes that they burst. Burst pipes also mean that you could end up with flooding inside your home too.
Learn some great tips for keeping your pipes from freezing
How to prevent frozen pipes
If you live in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, you can experience very cold temperatures with average low winter temperatures ranging from -1 to -10 degrees Celsius.
It can, however, get as cold as -20 degrees Celsius or lower on certain days. Your pipes are at risk of freezing when outside temperatures are just -6 degrees Celsius!
Frozen pipes are more likely to occur if the temperature is below freezing and your water hasn't been running for some time.
If you are going away in the winter or if you have a cottage that you leave unoccupied during the cold weather, make sure you leave enough heat to keep the temperature inside above freezing.
You could also try leaving a tap on with a slight drip, just to keep some water flowing in your pipes.
Can cold weather affect water pressure? Yes. Find out how
2. Increase in Demand:
Could cold weather affect water pressure in another way than freezing? It can. You may notice lower water pressure as the weather turns colder.
This could be a result of an increase in the demand for the water supply in your area as more people are staying inside and using their water at home.
For example, people may be using more water for showers in the winter than during other times of the year.
When more people are showering, water pressure can decrease
2. Other factors that can affect water pressure:
1. Hard Water
One of the biggest culprits of lower water pressure is hard water. The high mineral content found in hard water will leave a build-up of calcium and magnesium deposits inside your pipes that can restrict the flow of water in your home. Installing a water softener can help eliminate hard water build-up.
2. Time of Day
You may notice that your water pressure is lower at certain times of the day when water usage in your area is higher, such as during suppertime when everyone is running their dishwashers or in the morning when everyone is taking showers.
Time of day can affect your water pressure
3. Leaky Pipe
If you have a leaky pipe, then you may notice a decrease in water pressure. Don't wait to get this checked out. A leaky pipe not only affects your water pressure but will cause extensive water damage as well if left unchecked. if you suspect you have a leak, contact a plumber immediately.
4. Debris in Your Pipes
Your pipes can get clogged from debris from things like:
O-rings that have deteriorated and crumbled into your pipes
Shut off valves that have rusted and left deposits in your pipes
Old pipes that are breaking down themselves.
A plumber will be able to tell if this is what is causing your problem.
3. How to determine what is affecting your water pressure
1. Check to See if You Have Any Water at All
The first thing you want to determine is whether or not you have any water at all in your home. If there is no water, then the problem could be that your water service has been interrupted. If that is the case then you will want to do the following.
Make sure your payments are up to date: If you haven't paid your water bill, it may be cut off. You may be unaware of this especially if you have set up automatic payments.
For example, if you received a new credit card and your number changed, then your payments may not be going through. Go back through your statements to check that all your payments have been processed.
Construction in your area: Sometimes construction crews run into issues and have to temporarily turn off water in an area while work is being done.
Updating Infrastructure: Perhaps your utility company is doing an update to their waterlines and has had to turn off the water. If they are doing planned maintenance, they usually let you know ahead of time.
Call your utility company to find out if any of the above situations have happened.
Turn on all of your taps to see if you have water at all
2. Check to See if Your Whole House Has Low Pressure
If you have some water, then check to see if the low pressure is throughout your entire home. Turn on all of your faucets to see if the problem is all over or just in a specific location.
If the whole house has low pressure, then the problem could be a leak in an outdoor water line between your water meter and your house. This is a rare occurrence, but it does happen from time to time.
Low pressure in your entire home could also be caused by a partially closed master shutoff valve. Check to see that your valve is completely open.
Check to see if your whole house has low pressure
3. Check the Cold vs Hot Water Pressure
Turn on your cold water and then your hot water to see if you have a difference in pressure. If only your hot water has low pressure, then the problem could be with your hot water tank.
Make sure that your hot water heater's shutoff valve is opened up all the way. If it is shut or even partially shut, it will decrease your hot water pressure.
4. Check Individual Faucets
If you find that only one of your faucets has a lower water pressure then the aerator on that faucet could be rusty or clogged up with build-up from hard water.
Your aerator is the small screen that covers the end of the faucet where the water comes out. Check to see if it is clogged and if it is, you can remove it and clean it off by soaking it in a solution of a little water and vinegar.
Learn how to clean your faucet aerator
Need Plumbing Help? Contact WaterSmart Today
Have problems with low water pressure? You can trust WaterSmart with all of your plumbing needs. We are your local plumbing experts in the Kitchener-Waterloo region proudly celebrating more than 25 years of professional service.
If you are having problems with your plumbing, contact us today. We provide a full range of plumbing services that include but are not limited to:
Kitchens and Bathrooms
Leaks
Toilets and Taps
Clogged or Slow Drains
Dishwasher Installations
Tankless Hot Water Heaters
New Plumbing and Renovations
Master Plumber and Gas Fitter
Backflow Testing or Device Installation
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