Homeowner guide
Low Water Pressure in Your Home: Causes and Fixes
Low pressure at one fixture is usually a clogged aerator or cartridge. Low pressure everywhere points to a partly closed valve, a failing pressure-reducing valve, corroded pipes or a leak on the service line.
Start by working out whether the problem is one fixture, one floor, hot water only, or the whole house. That one answer removes most of the possible causes.
Check these yourself first
- Unscrew and rinse the tap aerator or shower head
- Make sure the main shut-off and fixture valves are fully open
- Ask neighbours whether their pressure dropped too, which points to city work
- Compare hot and cold: if only hot is weak, look at the water heater
- Check for a water softener or filter in bypass or overdue for service
Causes that need a plumber
- A failing pressure-reducing valve on the main line
- Galvanized steel pipes narrowed by internal rust, common in older Ontario homes
- An undersized or corroded water service from the street
- A leak on the supply or service line
- Sediment in the water heater outlet
What a pressure assessment includes
A plumber fits a gauge to an outdoor tap or laundry connection to read static pressure, then checks flow with several fixtures open. The reading, plus the age and material of your pipes, shows whether a valve repair or a pipe or service upgrade is the real fix.
Services covered in this guide
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