Tim,
I am just starting a search to try to determine why there is low water pressure in a home that we have just made a bid on. The problem will need to be remedied by the seller but I want to get smart so I can understand their findings, ask the right questions, troubleshoot in the future, etc.
Here's what I know about the house: It is a 30-year old home in North Pole Alaska. The water is from a well. Hard water is a problem. The house has a double filter and then a water softener just a few feet from where the pipe from outside comes inside the house. The double filters are nasty but can that cause low flow? The water softener is also not working, but I don't believe it is related to a salt bridge as I was able to pretty easily tap to the bottom of the tank.
I might be able to give you a better picture if asked specific questions but that's all I know to tell you.
THANKS -
Doris Bohney
North Pole, AK
Doris,
Among other things I am a licensed master plumber. The filters can absolutely be a problem. They may be clogged and restricting the flow of water. I isolate these problems by installing a tee as soon as the water line enters the house. On the tee branch is a second tee with a boiler drain and a water pressure gauge. Just after the first tee fitting on the house side is a new ball valve. If you turn off the ball valve on the house side of this new arrangement, you now have a small isolated system to see the real pressure. You can actually read it on the gauge and open the boiler drain to see the real flow. If you have low pressure and flow, then you know it is in the line outside the house. Once you close the boiler drain the pressure gauge will register the accurate pressure in the main line as it comes into the house.
Tim Carter
www.askthebuilder.com
W3ATB