If your commercial organisation utilises water on a daily basis, then you will be well aware of the issues low water pressure can cause your business. Restaurants, gyms and hotels, to name a few, have a high demand for water and rely on maintaining consistent water pressure. But what can you do if the water pressure in your commercial building just isn’t what it used to be?
Here at Anchor Pumps, we are experts in all forms of plumbing so have a few tips for helping identify the water pressure problem within your building.

What is commercial plumbing?

Commercial plumbing systems can be much more complex than domestic plumbing as they are generally much bigger and serve a larger volume of people. Depending on the type of building you work in, your commercial plumbing supply might also serve a number of other businesses, so it is crucial to identify and fix the problem early.

Who should I speak to about commercial plumbing?

If you're renting an office, then we recommend you speak to your landlord before contacting a plumber or taking matters into your own hands. Using your own plumber could incur additional costs if the plumber damages the property.

Why is my water pressure low?

There are a number of things that can affect your water pressure and slow down the water flow. To help identify the source of the problem quickly, we’d recommend looking at these 4 common causes first:

  1. Obstructed valves
  2. Leaking pipes
  3. Low power pumps
  4. Clogged pipes

1. Obstructed valves

If anyone has turned the internal stop tap in your buildings off and on again for whatever reason, there is a chance they were not opened fully. Having a semi-open valve can cause low water pressure so make sure it is fully open when you check it. If the valve appears to be broken then call a plumber to fix it. Do not attempt to do this yourself without proper training.

2. Leaking pipes

If your water pipes are damaged then this can cause leaks. This, in turn, will cause low water pressure as not all of the water will make it to your taps or showerheads. If you think your pipes may be leaking, an easy way to identify this is to close your main water valve and take a reading of the meter. Leave the water valve closed for two hours before taking another reading. If the figure on the meter has increased, this is a sign that your pipes have a leak. Again, you should seek professional help from a plumber if this is the case.

3. Low power pumps

There can be two reasons for low power plumbing. Either your pump is malfunctioning or it simply isn’t powerful enough to meet your needs. Regular maintenance checks are advised here to make sure your pump is working at optimum capacity. After all, if it isn’t working as it should, you’re wasting valuable water which is a drain on your energy costs. We’d advise installing the latest pump technology to increase water pressure and ensure the highest standards in your business. Take a look at our range of water booster pumps to fix low water pressure in your commercial plumbing system.

4. Clogged pipes

Clogging is probably the most common cause of low water pressure. It is commonly found in iron pipes which are vulnerable to rusting and can cause an obstruction. Other things like dirt, gravel, sand and other naturally occurring substances can enter your pipes if there is a fracture in your water mains. You can maintain this yourself by cleaning fixtures regularly. If it still persists you may want to call in professional help to get to the root cause of the problem.

So there we have it, the four most common sources of low water pressure in your commercial plumbing systems. Be sure to check the pressure on your pipes as soon as you can. For information on how to fix low water pressure in your home, read our complete guide here.

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