This article series explains how to Diagnose and Cure Bad Water Pressure Due to Clogged Water Supply Pipes - how to diagnose the loss of water pressure and the need for a replacement water pressure tank and water pump.

The process of diagnosis and the costs of the repair are explained. Consumer advice on saving money on well repair costs includes a review of the parts and labor costs of a typical well pump and pressure tank replacement case.

How to diagnose clogged building water supply piping as a cause of bad water pressure

These questions and answers about diagnosing clogged water pipes were posted originally at CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, DIAGNOSIS - be sure to check out the diagnosis and repair advice given there.

[Click to enlarge any image]

On 2018-04-30 by (mod) - why is water pressure inconsistent

I've seen the situation that you described when the first fixture to turn on seems to get priority for water delivery, the second fixture then would have weak flow.

Just exactly how the fixtures behave depends on where they're located, the routing of piping, the differences in elevation, and Which is closest to the water source.

Other factors include differences in the piping material, diameter, clogging or scaling.

On 2018-04-29 by Terry

No water pressure in one shower or sink but good in other bathrooms, then it will work in the one that previously didn’t work and not work where it was working?

On 2018-04-04 by (mod) - use a booster pump to improve water pressure

A booster pump will probably be the easiest way to improve water pressure for the situation that you described.

See WATER PRESSURE BOOSTER PUMP

Elsewhere this article series will see the we also discuss replacing accessible sections of small diameter water pipe with a larger diameter.

That will also give you better flow.

On 2018-04-01 by Cesar

I am in the process of buying a muti-family building (2 flat + basement) with galvanized piping.

Water runs fine all around the house when only a few fixtures are opened at the same time. However, the problem is, the water flow/pressure significantly reduces on the second floor shower when the mud sink (a lot of water comes out of here) and multiple faucets/ showers are running in the basement and first floor.

It reduces to the point that the shower head on the 2nd floor runs like a faucet.

I think that this is a water pressure problem and not water flow (obstructed pipes) because water runs fine in the shower unless everything is running at the same time. I am thinking that a booster pump will solve my issue. Any opinions? I am not a plumber, so I can be totally wrong.

On 2017-11-08 by (mod) - adjust the building water pressure regulator

You might adjust the building pressure regulator, but is it really necessary?

See WATER PRESSURE REGULATOR ADJUSTMENT

If the water pressure is sufficient to push dirt out of a garden hose at should I would think be sufficient to push water out of the supply piping ahead of that point.

On 2017-11-05 15:55:43.088478 by Melanie patterson

I fixed my own typos.
I hate the required redundancy that technology needs. Such a waste of time for something that is supposed to make things faster!

On 2017-11-05 by Melanie Patterson

@Melanie Patterson,
Let me fix the typos.
Into the main water line was pulled out.
I am sure that debris has entered the line.
Thanks

I recently pulled too hard on the hose and where the outdoor spigot T’s into the main water line came out. It did not break but I am sure that diet has enter the line due to the fact that once repairs were made, the garden hose has sufficient pressure but the house has very low pressure.

Is there a way to flush the debris out of the line without having to cut back into the line and draining it?

On 2017-10-31 by (mod) -

Bummer to find, I agree. I'd look for

1. a repair mistake like pushing too much solder into a solder joint

2. debris that got into the water line during the time it was taken apart - perhaps this can be flushed out just inside the building at the water main control valve.

On 2017-10-28 by Anonymous

Repaired a leak in the main water supply line have no pressure the line appears to have an obstruction in the line some where water comes out then gradually diminished to nothing how can I correct before covering the hole in?
Thanks

On 2017-04-29 by (mod) - Red Lion 1/2 h.p. deep well pump, you turn it on and it trips off the relay,

A

When a water pump trips the breaker or blows its circuit fuse when turned on I suspect

- a short in the electrical circuit, possibly in the well if the pump is in the well

- a sort at the pressure control switch or relay

- a seized motor

Since you had a previously seized motor, I'd look closely at

- pump wiring

- voltage delivered to the pump

- loss of prime or other reason (low water in the well) that caused the pump to run dry

When you replace the pump consider including a pump protection device - see WATER PUMP PROTECTION SWITCH

On 2017-04-29 by Anonymous

Red Lion 1/2 h.p. deep well pump, you turn it on and it trips off the relay, won't run. Pump has been primed. May run 15 seconds, then trips off relay.

This action has burnt out one red lion motor.. What could be doing this?

On 2017-04-29 by (mod) - My well pump was waterlogged.

If you see pressure in some rooms then the pump must be working, right? So more likely debris had clogged the sink faucet strainer or shutoff valves.

On 2017-04-28 by Dave

My well pump was waterlogged. Just had it drained. Now my kitchen sink has no pressure. Bathrooms are fine. What should I look for now?

On 2017-03-31 by (mod) -

Check first for a clogged strainer screen on the cold water inlet to your washing machine

. If that's not the problem then you need to follow the cold water line backwards through the piping system to the point at which the supply line also feeds other fixtures which do have good flow.

From that point back towards washing machine there will be either a valve that is closed or an obstruction

On 2017-03-31 by Julie

the cold water spigot that is connected to our washing machine has only a trickling of water coming out of it. The hot water side is fine, as are the remaining water supply outlets in the house - just this one to the washing machine has slowed to a trickle. What's the problem and how do we fix it?

On 2017-02-06 by Jill

correction below. I replaced all fittings (guage, switch, and drain valve) when the pressure tank was replaced (by a well person)

Hi, I recently chlorinated my well and now have water pressure issues. I changed filters, opened up all valves, and removed all screens. Water pressure is fine when I first turn it on, then within about 3 minutes, it drops to a trickle. If I give it time (about 2 minutes( it recovers and gives good pressure for another minute or two.

If I repeat this, I can eventually finish my shower, as long as I turn off water while soaping up. It happens at all faucets.

Worst, is when I flush toilet, there is not enough water to brush my teeth, unless I wait 5 minutes.

I changed my pressure tank and all fittings between the water inlet from inside the house to the pressure tank and beyond.

I have 60 psi water, and it takes about a minute to repressurize after it drops to 40 when I run the water out. What is most likely culprit?

On 2016-08-10 17:02:35.775812 by (mod) -

Anon

Check that a shut-off valve is closed somewehere between the point where the outside water line branches off of the main water line, and the main water line continues to the indoor plumbing;

On 2016-08-10 01:31:13.883819 by Anonymous

I fix the water line to my trailor and i have water outside but nothing inside bathroom or kitchen

On 2016-06-18 17:55:58.730386 by (mod) -

Check for - as you suggest -

- a clogged toilet fill valve
- a sticking toilet fill valve float assembly; sometimes you can get the valve going by gentle manual movement of the fill valve arm or float up and down a few times.

On 2016-06-18 02:03:10.011359 by Kim mercer

Water wont fill toilet unless I turn the water on and off a few times fast. I think there is a hard water deposit that gets lodged and dislodged. Can I fix it myself and how?

On 2016-04-17 14:33:12.908203 by (mod) -

Matt: besides pipe clogging (the article above on this very page - please see the following diagnostic article found by searching InspectApedia.com for

DIAGNOSE POOR WATER PRESSURE

https://inspectapedia.com/water/Poor_Water_Pressure_Diagnosis.php

On 2016-04-17 01:12:41.475343 by Matt Brant

Hot water and cold water pressure is slow in house, what could be the cause?

On 2016-03-14 00:10:32.289656 by (mod) -

Es

Perhaps in shocking your well (do we know that that was done properly and effectively?) you had to run so much water to flush out the disinfectant that you exceeed the flow rate of the well. Give it 24 hours to recover and tell me how it's working then.

On 2016-03-13 15:10:21.118071 by Es

Shocked my well now I only have water pressure a short time, how do I find where it is clogged or constricted?

Question: could repairs by our plumber have caused a considerable water pressure decrease

(May 22, 2012) Anonymous said: Had a leak under the kitchen sink...under the subfloor from the sink. had a plumber replace a section of pipe.

There was an additional leak from the outside spout that tied into the plumbing that the plumber fix so he cut that line he couldnt get access to the leak, so he added another outside spout and tied it into where the kitchen sink plumbing was located.

a few weeks later, we noticed if you turn on the outside water, the water prressure in the house drops to where the water is barely running. What could this be? Could the plumber tied into the wrong pipe that would cause a considerable pressure decrease?

Reply:

Anon,

It's not uncommon for water pressure in a building to be weaker at a second or third fixture if one or more others are running

. If we run water from a spigot that is close to the water supply source - say the pressure tank - it may cause a larger perceived pressure drop at more remote fixtures in the home - it's as if the pressure finds a close easy relief point. I'm not sure what "wrong pipe" might be or how that would make a difference.

However a plumbing repair indeed can cause reduced water flow rate (which people refer to as water "pressure") downstream from the repair work if the plumber pushed too much solder into a joint, blocking the pipe interior.

Question: no water pressure to certain fixtures

(June 23, 2012) Valiangel said:

I have no water pressure to my outdoor hose and my washing machine which are both located in the rear of the house. I'm thinking it's the iron piping there, but not sure. My outdoor hose has only a trickle of water, and my washing machine has slightly more water pressure....Is there any way to determine if I'm correct?

Reply:

Valiangel I think you might do better by reviewing WATER PRESSURE PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS TABLE - article linked to near the end of this page.

Question: poor water pressure if I run more than one fixture at a time

(July 29, 2012) annonymous said:

Please help, for years now my water has been terrible, if i use 2 or more fixtures at one time i lose water from all fixtures say if i flush the toilet and i am running the bath taps the bath will have a trickle of water or if the washer is on and i turn on another tap i will only get a trickle of water but just lately i have noticed that even running one tap will run normal then almost stop or stop completely.

Is this due to neighbours sharing water? I live in a mid-terraced house.

Reply:

Anon there are more water pressure improvement suggestions at WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR

You want to determine if the problem is piping (see the article starting at the top of this page) or if it is a system pressure problem, or a water supply problem from a well or municipal supply. That first step will help direct the choices you can make to improve things.

Question: company comment on using VacuFlow™ vacuum sewage systems

(Sept 7, 2012) rickyyd12 said:

Vacuflow is the trade name for a method for the continuous piped disposal of sewage, utilizing the energy of atmospheric pressure by creating a vacuum in the piping system (a vacuum sewage system)

For rural or seaside areas with circumstances as hilly or flat terrain (high water table) it means that the natural fall on which gravity systems depend must be created artificially, the Vacuflow system is the alternative.

Reply:

Why you posted this at our article on poor water pressure remains a mystery.

Question: waste water line is blocked, how do I clear it?

(Nov 8, 2012) unika said:

i am getting problem with waste water supply pipe, i dont know where it is block so i need help how to clear the waste pipe....due to this my washing machine is not working properly and when i used washing machine the water flow out in sink.....can you please suggest me what liquid does work in such a problem?

Reply:

Unika

Please see CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR -

to see how to diagnose and fix the waste pipe problem you described

Question: lost water pressure, just rickling, what product should I use to fix it

(Nov 22, 2012) Anonymous said:

The fresh water pipes into our property seem to have lost pressure and the water is just trickling. What can be done about this and what products should be uses.

Reply:

Anon, before using an y "product' to improve water pressure we need to figure out why pressure is poor - lack of water, clogged pipes, bad pump, failing well, bad pressure regulator, etc. See WATER PRESSURE PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS TABLE

Question: son broke outdoor pipe, now poor indoor pressure

(Nov 24, 2012) Michael l. said:

My son stepped on a water sprout in the backyard and I had to just cap it.now we have low water pressure in the house and one restroom there's no running water from the sink or shower. What causes this and what do I do?

Reply:

Michael,

I think the next think I'd check is for a broken and leaking water pipe underground where your son stepped on the outside line.

Question: broken water main was repaired, but now we have low in house water pressure - why?

(Nov 26, 2012) krisstime said:

our watermain broke in our driveway, which blew our water meter apart. sand and debri was flowing towards the broken water meter. Now we extremely low water pressure in the house. Pressure seems fine to the house, but nearly none inside the house. city refuses to take blame so we are attempting to fix ourself. found sand in our toilet. where should we start looking for the blockage? was told there is a screen suppose to be buried by the front hydrant, but cannot seem to locate that

Reply:

Krisstime

Perhaps sand and debris have clogged house piping; certainly if you found sand in the toilet that's strong evidence that a LOT of sand and debris has entered your water piping.

The fix, which will be troublesome, is going to involve lots of draining & flushing, including

- water heater tank

- cold water piping

- hot water piping

- all faucet strainers get removed for the flush, cleaned themselves, and then reinstalled.

Perhaps you can get the city to agree to excuse the charge for water waste necessary to flush out the whole system.

Question: bad water pressure just in the kitchen

(Feb 8, 2013) Susan said:

all my water pressure is great in my house,except for my kitchen. for the past few yrs.

my faucet will start out shakin a bit,before water flows,then the flow decreased,over a period of several moths,until it finally stops completely,

i replace the faucet,and the process repeats itself all over again, and it is only in my kitchen. does anyone know what this can be,and how i can fix it permanently?

Reply:

Susan most likely a valve, supply pipe elbow, piping itself, or perhaps a faucet strainer are clogged and need to be cleaned, repaired, or replaced.

Question: good pressure outside, bad water pressure inside after well pump replacement

(Mar 3, 2013) Anonymous said:

I had to replace a well pump. I'm getting good pressure at the pump and the water on the outside spicket runs good. But the cold water inside the house runs really slow (no pressure)Hot water runs good. checked all screens they are clean.

I did have some black sand come out of the Faucet but screens are clean. I'm thinking some sand or dirt is blocking the water flow in the pipes somewhere in the line.

How would I clean or clear this out. I was thinking cut the pump off, open the outside spicket hook up an air supply to the faucet on the inside and blow the water, dirt and thin the air out of the outside spicket.

If anyone has a better idea, PLEASE HELP THANKS

Reply:

Anon, look for debris clogging at the indoor plumbing system, starting at a water filter or at the pressure tank.

Question: why doesn't water already in the water heater tank come out to fixtures even if the main water supply is off?

(Feb 3, 2014) Anonymous said:

Why doesn't the water that is already in the hot water heater come out to the fixtures (after main water supply line is not supplying any water at all due to: busted underground or completely clogged/blocked)?

Reply:

Anon: in normal residential hot and cold water piping systems, if there is no water pressure on the cold water input line to a water heater, no hot water will flow out of it into the building when hot water is turned on at a fixture. Incoming cold water pressure is what pushes hot water pressure out of the heater and on to building plumbing fixtures.

Question: why can't I clean clogged water supply pipes with a drain auger?

(Feb 3, 2014) Anonymous said:

Why wouldn't 1/4" augur fit into 3/4" piping?

Reply:

Anon: given the length and turns in building piping, I'm doubtful that using an augur will be effective in removing clogging due to mineral deposits or corrosion throughout the system. Even if you could gouge out corrosion the resulting thin pipes probably have a very short remaining life.

Question: water pressure suddenly low at all fixtures

(Aug 5, 2014) Anonymous said:

My water pressure is all of a sudden low through out the entire house and no hot water at all through out the house. My pump is continously running. If i shut water off at well pump psi biulds and pump kicks off as soon as i turn water on pressure drops and pump immediately kicks on and stays on. Pipes are not buried very deep and we can not see any visible leaks anywhere. What is the problem?

Reply:

Anon,

Certainly when a pump runs continuously and there is no water one should shut off the pump to avoid ruining it. Sounds as if either there is a piping leak or the well flow has deteriorated.

Question:

(Oct 18, 2014) Anonymous said:
we have good water pressure in the hose,but once a faucet is hooked up, we loose pressure, what seems to be the problem?

(Jan 26, 2015) Cindy said:
We have good pressure at the well, water is shooting up and far, but no pressure at the house.

The house has sat for 3 years with no running water from and to the house. A pipe was broken and now is repaired. Could it be sediment in the filter causing no pressure? Even though filter was blown out.

Reply:

Cindy

Look for sediment blocking in a water filter, in valves, even in pipe elbows. When a home sits empty for years it's quite possible for strange blockages to occur - such as insects or critters in piping but it's also possible that you simply haven't found a valve that's shut off somewhere.

Question: clogged strainers at faucets after plumbing repair

(Feb 27, 2015) Ashley said:
OK almost 2 weeks ago now our water an drains/pipes froze, we thawed everything out, an when the hot water came back, at first it was a rusty red color then it went normal clear.

Anyway, since then there has been very poor hot water flow in the kitchen only, hot water runs fine in the bathroom sink an shower, but not in the kitchen.

My man said he thinks the line might be clogged with a piece of rust, but wouldn't that affect the hot water flow everywhere, not just kitchen? An if he's right how do we fix it, I'm tired of washing dishes in the bathroom sink.

Reply:

Ashely look for a clogged sink faucet strainer for the kitchen problem you cite. Of course if it's the strainer that's clogged, both hot and cold flows ought to slow as they both pass through the same orifice.

So if the problem is kitchen only and only kitchen hot I suspect a clog in the stop valve for that fixture or a clog ahead of that point.

Question: high water pressure but bad or weak flow rate

(Apr 26, 2015) Keith said:
my water pressure reads 75psi but I have poor water flow through out the house. Do they make a fix to flush out the entire system?

Reply:

A plumber can flush your piping system but I would not assume that would fix the problem you describe. First you want an accurate diagnosis of the trouble. If indeed the water supply pipes are clogged by mineral deposits it may be possible to have an expert acid-wash the system. Take care: that approach is dangerous and if not properly produced could injure the person doing the work as well as occupants drinking the water.

...

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