Low water pressure is a common complaint, and it has half a dozen possible causes. Some are quick fixes you can do yourself. Others mean it is time to call a plumber. Here is how to figure out which is which.

Is it one fixture or the whole house?

Turn on taps in different rooms one at a time. If only one fixture is weak, the problem is in that fixture or its supply line. If everything in the house is weak, look at the main supply, the pressure reducing valve or the municipal service.

Single-fixture low pressure

The most common cause is a clogged aerator, the little screen at the tip of the tap, or a clogged showerhead. Mineral scale from Durham Region's hard water builds up over time. Unscrew the aerator, soak it in vinegar overnight, scrub it with an old toothbrush and reinstall it. The same trick works on showerheads. If that does not help, the supply line or the shut-off valve under the fixture may be partly closed or blocked, or a faucet cartridge may be worn. Those are quick repairs for a plumber.

Whole-house low pressure

  • Pressure reducing valve (PRV) failure. The valve where the water service enters the home controls house-wide pressure, and it can fail low or high. Replacing it is a routine job.
  • Corroded galvanized supply pipes. Common in older homes. The inside of the pipe slowly closes with rust. The lasting fix is repiping with PEX or copper.
  • A hidden leak. Water escaping before it reaches your fixtures. Watch for an unexplained jump in your water bill or damp spots.
  • A partly closed main valve. After work on the main, the valve is sometimes not fully reopened.
  • Municipal work nearby. Water main repairs and hydrant flushing cause temporary drops.
  • Well pump or pressure tank problems on rural properties in Scugog, Uxbridge and rural Clarington.

When to call a plumber

If cleaning the aerator does not fix a single fixture, or more than one fixture is weak, book a visit. We test the pressure with a gauge, identify whether the cause is the PRV, the supply or the pipes, and give you a written quote before any work. Most fixes are quick once the cause is found. PRV replacement, shut-off valve repair, water hammer repair and repiping are all part of our general plumbing service.

Book a diagnosis

Call (905) 576-3043 or request an estimate. Hayes Plumbing has served Oshawa and Durham Region since 1961.