Water is essential for every household worldwide. However, even first-world countries like the US experience some water troubles. There are various ways to tackle this particular problem and ensure that you will never have water problems ever again.
Water problems in the US are more common than you think. There are various reasons for this. In states like California, drought is a serious concern due to climate change. Arizona is facing the same problems as Lake Mead is slowly drying up. However, sometimes the situation isn’t global warming or pollution. Sometimes the concern is found in the infrastructure.
States like New York struggles to supply water to their residents because of old pipes running the city. In situations where water is available, it isn’t potable. That’s why most New Yorkers get their drinking water instead.
Personal water shortages are also widely common in the US, with some households struggling to identify the underlying cause. This article will explore why you might not have running water in your home and what you can do to fix it.
Low Water Pressure
Low water pressure is one of the main reasons why your home has barely any water. There are various reasons for low water pressure, but first of all, check whether you have low water pressure through your pressure regulator.
Faulty Regulator
The pressure regulator can usually be found outside your home and is connected to your main pipe or source of water. If the pressure regulator is lower than 52, then there is a huge chance that your pressure regulator is faulty. You can purchase a power regulator in a hardware shop nearby.
Closed Valves
Another reason why you are experiencing low water pressure is because of two main valves you have to check. The first is your water meter valve (usually located outside your home connected to the main pipe). The second is your main house shutoff valve (located inside your home, usually in the basement). Check whether if these valves are closed as they can easily stop water from running into your home.
Old Steel Water Pipes
If you have fixed all the problems above but still have low water pressure, there is a huge chance that your home has old steel water pipes running in its system. Unfortunately, this is fairly common in old homes. If this is the case, contact your local contractor and replace the pipes entirely with copper or plastic pipes as those are more durable and less prone to corrosion.
Clogged Drains
Clogged drains can certainly lead to a lack of water supply in your home. If you are experiencing drains that take too long to empty, you will most likely have drain problems in your home.
Clogged drains can mean many things, but it’s usually a result of debris or some material blocking your pipes. The most common culprits for this are hair, fats and grease, and food crumbs. During the early stages of clogged drains, you can purchase chemicals that can melt the debris off your pipes. However, if the problem is severe, you should call a local plumbing service to give it a check. Plumbers usually know how to handle clogs without resorting to chemicals that can damage your pipes. They can also stop any clogs from happening ever again.
To ensure that you have never clogged drains again, you should do some preventive measures. For example, having a strainer near your drains can stop food crumbs and hair from accumulating in your pipes. You can also empty plates of food crumbs into the trash can before doing the dishes.
Roots
Interestingly enough, roots can be a serious problem to the pipes under your home. So if you have trees nearby or maybe a garden with many rooted plants, then it’s time to give those areas a check and see whether if some are blocking the water pipes going into your home.
Overgrown roots are tough to control, and they can be damaging to your home and its water supply. Check your plants and see whether if their roots have reached into your water system or pipes. Sadly, the best way to fix this is to remove the plant or tree from that spot. Feel free to relocate them wherever you can. If severe damage has been done to your pipes, you’ll have to get them replaced.
If you’ve been having some water problems lately, your best bet is to check all of these things to know the reason for sure. Then it’s all about applying the right solution to the problem.
