Older homes and even newer ones can have problems with water pressure. This usually comes from old copper or galvanized pipes that have built up corrosion that reduces the inner diameter of the pipe. If you cannot take a shower while someone else is washing dishes you may very well have a pressure problem.
In addition to causing blockage in pipes, the build up can also leave minerals in the water that can damage your water heater and make your drinking water taste unpleasant. Build up in galvanized pipes can even discolor the water. Corrosion inside of pipes will also eventually cause the pipe to rust through and leak. The quality of the water inside your pipes is not the only source of corrosion build up. When copper and galvanized pipes are used together in a plumbing system electrolysis can occur. Dielectric unions can be installed as one solution to this problem.
Copper pipes should last for many years but once damage becomes noticeable it is time to start thinking about replacement. You may not need to have all of the plumbing lines in your home replaced. Sometimes the replacement of just the main line coming into your home will be sufficient in improving your water pressure. Only a qualified plumber will truly be able to help you determine exactly how much work will need to be done. Depending on the age of your plumbing you may even need to have fixtures replaced as these can build up corrosion as well.
One important thing to consider is that no matter how good your plumbing system is your water pressure will not be any better than the pressure of the supply source. If the city or county water system does not have good pressure, your home will not have good pressure. Water pressure boosters are available that can be added to your plumbing if your problem is with the supply source.
If you are considering a booster system or the replacement of some of your plumbing lines have a pressure test done on your system. If you increase the pressure in your lines you may develop leaks in weak joints or older pipes. A qualified plumbing contractor who understands water pressure should do the testing for the most accurate results.
Image credit: By Tomwsulcer (Own work) [CC0 (creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons
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