Why is shower losing water pressure in new home?
Q. We just purchased a new home, and there has been an annoying problem with the plumbing system. Whenever we flush the toilet or use the laundry while taking a shower, the shower pressure is reduced to a dribble.
According to an article we read, this is usually caused by corrosion in old galvanized steel piping. But this house was just built, and the water lines are all made of copper or PEX. We bought a pressure gauge from the hardware store and found the pressure to be about 65 pounds, which is more than adequate, we were told. So now we're scratching our heads and wondering about one other possibility. Our home is built on a flag lot, about 250 feet from the street. Could the unusual length of the main water line be causing our problem?
A. With new piping and 65 pounds of pressure, reduced water flow should not be occurring. The length of your main supply line from the street could be causing the problem, as you suspect.
The minimum size for a residential water supply line is three-quarters-inch-diameter pipe. The length at which this pipe dimension becomes inadequate depends upon the number and type of plumbing fixtures installed in the home, as well as the water pressure. Even with few plumbing fixtures, a larger water supply pipe is likely to be needed for a run of 250 feet.
To determine the water supply requirement for your home, you'll need to compute the total number of fixture units in your home. This information should then be referenced to specific tables in the Uniform Plumbing Code book. This kind of computation should be delegated to a licensed plumber to ensure it is done correctly. Also, because your home is new, this matter should be called to the attention of the contractor or builder responsible for the construction.
Another possible cause for the shower flow problem could be congestion inside the shower head, due to particles in the water supply. This can be checked by removing the shower head and inspecting inside the orifice.
Q. What can we do about our neighbor's bamboo, which is so overgrown that it is damaging our wooden fence? We have alerted him twice to this problem, but he has yet to respond. Do we have any legal recourse?
A. Addressing problematic issues with a neighbor, while maintaining amicable relations, can sometimes be a challenge. Your question about legal recourse, however, is more aptly suited for an attorney than a home inspector. However, here is some neighborly, nonexpert advice.
If you are willing to endure a permanently icy relationship, you can resort to the overused legal approach, beginning with a certified demand letter. Instead, you might invite your neighbor to a backyard barbecue, during which you can get around to discussing the fence and foliage in a friendly manner. The process of cutting down the bamboo and repairing or rebuilding the fence could actually be done as a joint project, if your neighbor is so inclined. The diplomatic approach, rather than legal intimidation, might hopefully lead to a harmonious solution.
• To write to Barry Stone, visit him on the web at www.housedetective.com, or write AMG, 1776 Jami Lee Court, Suite 218, San Luis Obispo, CA 94301.
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