If the water flow coming out of your faucets or showerheads doesn’t seem to be as strong as it once was, you may have a problem with your water pressure. There can be many different causes of low water pressure. The problem can originate at the municipal water supply, or maybe more homes have been hooked up to the water main that services your home.
A clogged, corroded, or broken water supply line can result in lower water pressure, your water pressure regulator may need to be adjusted, or the problem can be with an individual fixture.
Your first step is to measure the water pressure in your home using a pressure gauge available at your local home improvement center. The guage threads onto your outdoor faucet or to your washing machine connection. Read the pressure, then call your local water authority and find out what the pressure should be in your area. If your pressure is correct, then the problem may be a clogged fixture.
Remove the offending showerhead or faucet strainer and check to see if it is clogged by debris or hard water deposits. If so, clean out the foreign material and see if the pressure improves.
If you still think your water pressure or water flow seems unusually low, you may have a problem with your pressure regulator or your water supply line. If the water supply line is corroded or broken, the result will be lower water pressure in your home. The same is true for an improperly adjusted pressure regulator.
In either case, you will need to seek help from a plumbing professional for a water line repair or to adjust your water pressure regulator.
