Guide: pressure
Low Water Pressure: Common Causes and Fixes
Weak water pressure can come from a single tap or the whole house. Here is how to narrow down the cause before you call.
- A clogged aerator or shower head full of scale
- A worn cartridge inside the faucet
- A partly closed shut-off valve under the sink
- A kinked supply line
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One fixture or the whole house?
Run a few taps in turn. When just one is feeble, look at that fixture. If every tap is weak, the cause is in the main supply or the city system.
Single-fixture causes
- A clogged aerator or shower head full of scale
- A worn cartridge inside the faucet
- A partly closed shut-off valve under the sink
- A kinked supply line
Whole-house causes
- Galvanized pipe. Rust builds inside, narrowing the pipe. Common in older North York homes.
- Partly closed main valve. Check it is fully open.
- Pressure-reducing valve. If your house has one, it may be failing.
- Small or old water service. Older homes often have undersized service pipes.
- Leaks. A hidden leak can lower pressure.
- City work. Watermain repairs can reduce pressure temporarily.
If pressure drops only on hot taps, look at the water heater: a half-shut valve, sediment or a broken dip tube are the usual causes.
What to do
- Clean aerators and shower heads.
- Check that the main valve and fixture valves are fully open.
- Ask neighbours if they have the same issue.
- Call if the problem persists.
See repiping, water line replacement and galvanized pipe problems.
Questions we get about this
Can the city check my pressure?
When neighbours on the block see the same drop, 311 is the number to try. The city can tell you about watermain work or a known supply issue.