← Plumbing Problems

Why is my water pressure so low?

Start with one question: is the low pressure at one fixture, or the whole house? One fixture usually means a clogged aerator or a worn part right there. The whole house points to something bigger, like a failing pressure regulator, a partly closed valve, a hidden leak, or old galvanized pipe.

First: one fixture, or the whole house?

This is the question that points you in the right direction. Check a few faucets around the house. If it’s just one, the problem is local to that fixture. If every tap is weak, something is affecting the whole house.

If it’s just one fixture

1. A clogged aerator. The little screen on the tip of the faucet catches minerals and debris. Unscrew it and rinse it out, this fixes a lot of single-faucet complaints.
2. A water-saving restrictor. Some faucets and showerheads have a low-flow restrictor that can clog or simply limit flow more than you’d like.
3. A faucet or cartridge issue. A worn internal cartridge or valve can choke the flow at that one fixture.

If it’s the whole house

1. A failing pressure-reducing valve (PRV). The bell-shaped valve where water enters the house. When it goes bad, pressure can drop across every fixture.
2. A partially closed valve. The main shutoff or the meter valve not opened all the way. Quick to check, easy to miss.
3. A hidden leak. Water escaping before it reaches your fixtures lowers pressure, and can raise your bill at the same time.
4. Older galvanized piping. In older Midlands homes, galvanized pipes rust and scale up on the inside over the years. That buildup chokes the flow and steadily cuts your water volume. It’s a common answer in older houses.
5. A utility or supply issue. Sometimes the pressure coming from the street is simply low.

When to call

Whole-house low pressure, a PRV, valves, a hidden leak, or old galvanized pipe, is our call. We’ll find what’s choking the flow and tell you what it takes to fix it. Same-day service across the Midlands during business hours.

Quick answers