Since we've purchased our home 5 years ago, from time to time the water pressure will drop throughout the house. It usually comes back within 24 hours to normal pressure. Recently the pressure dropped and has not returned (about 10 days now). Our neighbors have experienced drops in pressure, but are not experiencing the issue at this time. I'm fairly handy, but have no idea how to trouble shoot plumbing. We've done no major work on the house or the water lines recently, but did have a pool installed last winter requiring addition of an exterior hose line. Any simple checks to recommend before calling a plumber?

I have a simple system, foot valve in a cistern to a jet pump and bladder tank. Has worked well for many years. In the middle of the night the pump will kick on even though no water has been drawn (this may occur several times a night). The bladder tank is at the correct pressure and I've looked everywhere for leaks. It seems to me that the foot valve may be leaking. I would need to completely empty the cistern to replace the foot valve. If I add a check valve in my intake line between the cistern and the pump to prevent the back flow of water to the cistern do you think it will cure my problem until i can pump down the cistern to replace the foot valve?