The routine, in order
- Is it one fitting or the whole house? Open several taps on different floors. If only one is weak, the trouble is local.
- Clean the aerator screen or shower head. Unscrew it, soak it in white vinegar, and rinse out the debris.
- Check fixture shut-offs. The small valves under sinks and toilets may be partly closed after past repairs.
- Check the main valve. Make certain it is fully open. Old gate valves can lose their internal gate and restrict flow even when the handle turns freely.
- Look for a pressure-reducing valve. Some houses have one near the meter. If it fails or is set low, pressure drops everywhere.
- Is it only hot water? Then look at the water heater: a sediment-filled tank or a partly closed valve on the heater can be the cause.
- Look for leaks. A hidden leak lowers pressure and raises the bill. Watch the meter with all water off; if it moves, something is leaking. See leak signs.
- Ask the neighbours. If they too have low pressure, call Durham Region; there may be work on the mains.
- On a well, check the pressure gauge near the tank and listen for the pump short cycling.
Job note: a toilet that refills slowly is often a worn fill valve, not a pressure problem. Our running toilet note covers the fill valve.
Why this matters in Pickering
Most Pickering homes get water from Durham Region's system, which generally delivers steady pressure. When a house has low pressure, the cause is usually inside the property line. The moderately hard lake water builds scale in aerators, shower heads and cartridges, and older homes may have narrowed galvanized pipe or partly closed valves. Rural homes on wells have a distinct set of causes, centred on the pump and pressure tank.
Call when pressure is low throughout the house and the aerators and valves are clear, when a pressure-reducing valve needs replacing, or when the cause seems to be in the pipe itself.
Slips worth avoiding
- Turning a pressure-reducing valve all the way up without a gauge; excessive pressure damages fixtures
- Forcing an old main valve that might break
- Replacing fixtures before checking the supply lines feeding them
- Ignoring a sudden drop, which can mean a leak underground
Time to ring a plumber
Call when pressure is low throughout the house and the aerators and valves are clear, when a pressure-reducing valve needs replacing, or when the cause seems to be in the pipe itself. Narrowed galvanized lines may point to repiping, and a weak well system to well pump service. If you are adding fixtures, such as with a basement bathroom rough-in, we can check that your supply will keep up.
Questions callers ask
Why is my water pressure low just in the shower?
Most often the shower head is clogged with scale, or the valve cartridge is partly blocked. Clean the head first.
Can Durham Region raise my water pressure?
Pressure in the mains is set by the Region. If yours is low only in your house, the cause is usually your own plumbing.