Like many other NYC property owners, you may be suffering from a shortage in water pressure. In some scenarios you may have been dealing with it for years and the pressure is now starting to decrease. In other cases, you may have experienced a large reduction in water pressure over the previous few weeks. Most homeowners do not truly understand why or how this actually happens.
It is important to first hire an internal plumber to check piping throughout the house before ruling out an “internal plumbing problem”. Once the internal pressure has been inspected, it is best to check the water main entering the house from the street. Your internal plumber should perform a pressure test after the valve, which is located on the inside of your foundation wall.
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Checking pressure from street |
The undersized tap – The tap is a valve that connects the private water main, to the city water main. The tap connection controls the volume and pressure of the water from the city pipes, into your house. In many cases the existing tap connection is too small and may not provide adequate pressure for your needs. In this case a new tap must be installed by the DEP and must be scheduled by your licensed plumber. If you are having a new DEP tap installed, it is the responsibility of your licensed plumber to obtain all required DEP and DOT permits, dig in the roadway and prepare the city main for DEP to install the tap.
Old “driven tap”
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New tap connection |
The leaking pipe – If your water line has sprung an underground leak, this may cause a reduction in your water pressure. When the water exits your pipe throughout the crack or break, it will decrease the volume of water entering your home and as a result, you will experience a drop in water pressure. This does not mean that you will always have a drop in pressure when experiencing a water leak, but it is a possible sign. In this case you must replace the existing water main or sprinkler main from the street, to inside the building.
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The cracked pipe |
New copper installed |
The undersized or corroded pipe – These two are very similar as the pressure is affected by the size of the pipe. If you are experiencing low pressure from a corroded pipe it means that the circumference on the inside of your pipe has decreased due to a buildup of corrosion. EX: If you have a 1” pipe with corrosion on the inside, the pipe may now act as a ½” pipe.
If your primary problem is sizing, you may just need to increase the size of the pipe. It is also a good idea to check DEP records at this time and determine if your tap should be replaced. If you replace the tap connection at the same time as the pipe, you will end up paying a fraction of the price as opposed to doing it at two separate times.
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Leaking tap |
DEP installs new tap |
The damaged valve – This is most common if someone has attempted to utilize a curb valve which is located under the sidewalk, or if the internal valve has been tampered with. If either of these valves are old, they may not function properly and may get stuck in the partial closed position. If your valve is stuck you may end up having to open the roadway to turn the water off and make all necessary repairs.
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Digging to close water in street |
The new and fully functional valve |
If you are experiencing any of the above issues or have any general questions, contact Harris Water Main & Sewer Contractors
