Low water pressure

Troubleshoot low water pressure in your home

If you’re experiencing intermittent low water pressure, there are few things you can do to troubleshoot the cause. The first thing you should do is ask a neighbor if they have also been experiencing any changes with the water pressure in their home. If the answer is no, you likely have an issue inside your home that is causing the water pressure to be low.

Check the following to troubleshoot for low water pressure in your home:

1. Check your taps

If your water pressure is lower than normal, your faucet or showerhead could be plugged with debris. Here are a few things to check:

• Unscrew the aerator from your faucet and remove screen or your showerhead.
  • Soak the screen or showerhead in vinegar for 10-15 minutes.
  • If the screen fizzles, then carbonate is present, which is a harmless result of naturally occurring minerals in the water.
• Do the fixtures have “low flow" taps? Check your user manual for troubleshooting steps.
• Check to see if the hose under the sink has a kink.
• Is the issue only with your hot water tap? If yes, check your hot water tank and refer to your hot water tank manual.
• Ensure all tap valves are fully open underneath the sink or tap area.​​
  

​2. Check the main shut-off valve

Another cause of low water pressure could be that the main shut off valve isn't fully opened. If you’ve recently completed any internal plumbing projects, the shut off valve may be closed.

To check the main shut-off valve and ensure it's open, locate it either close to the water tank (in the basement, near the floor) or below the water meter where the main water line enters your home.

3. Check your water softener

If you have pressure issues with cold water and have a water softener, bypass the softener and see if pressure increases. If so, your water softener may be the issue and you will need to follow up with the manufacturer.

4. Check for frozen pipes

Water lines inside the home can also freeze due to freezing temperatures, extreme wind chill and cold drafts, and this could lead to low water pressure or no water in your home. Learn more about frozen pipes in your home.

Still having water pressure issues?​

If you’ve checked all the items listed above to troubleshoot your low water pressure, there may be another problem. Check to see if there is water main flushing happening in your area, which may cause temporary low water pressure.