Our bungalow is about 30 years old - water pressure is just so-so in general (the plumber replaced the main pipe coming in from the well - said there was a lot of buildup in it. He told us we had lots of water pressure now) this is not so - also sometimes when you turn on the water there is hardly any flow (this always happens if someone is taking a shower or flushing the toilet) even though no one else is using any water - then a few minutes (not seconds) later, you try it and the so-so pressure (different in different taps and flucuating from day to day) is back. Since our plumber seems to think everything is okay - is there anything we can do to increase the pressure; and be able to turn on the tap and take a shower at the same time?
Answer:
For water pressure to remain stable in the shower, you might want to introduce a 'pressure equalizeing valve' to the shower. For the fluctuating pressure, you may have to clean up (or perhaps even change some) the tap washers throughout the house. After 30 or so years of well water supply, certain water impurities (calcium, iron, etc.) are sure to build up in the valves. Often these tap washers and seats can be cleaned up but I think its just as likely that you'll have to replace at least some of the valves.
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