Does your shower slow to a trickle when someone flushes a toilet or runs the dishwasher? Low water pressure is frustrating, and it usually has a cause that can be found and fixed.
We diagnose and fix low water pressure in homes across Toronto, Peel and Halton. Here are the most common causes we find.
A partly closed main valve
After plumbing work or a meter change, the main shutoff valve is sometimes left partly closed. It is the simplest thing to check. Make sure the valve near your water meter is fully open.
Old galvanized steel pipe
Galvanized pipe corrodes from the inside over time, narrowing the opening until water can barely get through. Many older GTA homes still have galvanized sections, either in the water service or in the house plumbing.
An undersized water service
Older homes were often built with a narrow water service. That was fine for one bathroom, but a renovated home with several bathrooms, a larger kitchen or a secondary suite can outgrow it. The result is weak flow whenever two fixtures run at once.
A leak in the water line
A leak in the buried water service reduces the pressure that reaches your taps. Signs include a rising water bill, a wet patch on the lawn or the sound of running water when everything is off.
A failing pressure regulator
Some homes have a pressure-reducing valve near the meter. When it fails, it can drop pressure throughout the house.
Problems at one fixture
If only one tap or shower is weak, the cause is usually local, such as a clogged aerator or a worn cartridge.
How we find the cause
We test pressure and flow at the meter and at fixtures, check the valve and the pipe material, and look for signs of a leak. Then we recommend the fix, whether that is replacing a section of galvanized pipe, repairing a leak or upgrading the water service.
Get in touch with our team to book a pressure check.
