Clogged Water Pipe FAQs

Upstairs Water Pressure / Flow Improvement Q&A

How can I improve water pressure in a multifamily house

I am in the process of buying a multifamily 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 2018-04-01 by Cesar

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

Cesar,

First: since you've posted your question at our article on clogged water pipes, I have to ask: are you confident that clogged water supply piping is the problem?

If you're not, then see WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR  - home, since the best way to fix poor water pressure in that upstairs shower when water is in use on the first floor is to understand, for sure, what's the problem.

And for municipal water supply pressure, I'd start at MUNICIPAL WATER PRESSURE DIAGNOSIS.

But if you think that the root problem is a modest incoming water pressure from a municipal system OR if you want a quick and dirty "fix", then 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.

Finally, let's both avoid embarrassment by remembering to check for a really common problem: mineral or crud clogging a shower head -

See WATER PRESSURE BAD at SOME FIXTURES

That will also give you better flow.

Bad or No Water Pressure: Water Pump Troubles

Well pump trips circuit breaker and prior one burned up: why?

Red Lion 1/2 hp. 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 Anonymous

by (mod) - Red Lion 1/2 hp. 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

Bad Water Pressure After Plumbing Work

Could repairs by our plumber have caused a considerable water pressure decrease

I had a leak under the kitchen sink. Water went under the subfloor from the sink. Then I 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 had to fix and couldn't reach, so he cut that line. Then 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 pressure 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? (May 22, 2012) Anonymous

Reply: if the system water flow rate is limited the faucet or spigot closest to the supply gets "priority" and flow elsewhere will be weak when that valve is open

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.

We need to start by determining whether or not your water pressure problem (really a flow rate problem) 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, for example by using a WATER PRESSURE BOOSTER PUMP.

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

Our water main broke in our driveway, which blew our water meter apart. Sand and debris 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?

I was told there is a screen suppose to be buried by the front hydrant, but cannot seem to locate that (Nov 26, 2012) krisstime

Reply: sand or dirt is clogging fixtures, elbows, strainers, pipes

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.

Bad Water Pressure (Flow) At Just Some Fixtures Areas

Why is there bad water pressure just in the kitchen

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

My faucet will start out shaking 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? (Feb 8, 2013) Susan

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. If there is a debris source that is flowing first to your kitchen faucet that might explain why that strainer clogs.

When you now see a slow or weak flow just at the kitchen, start by unscrewing the faucet strainer. Then turn water on. If water flows then we know the problem is a clogged strainer.

Keep running the water for a few minutes to flush the water line, clean the strainer, and then reinstall it. - Daniel F

Weak water flow at the washing machine

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 2017-03-31 by Julie

Solution 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

Toilet won't refill unless I turn water off and on - what's the fix?

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 2016-06-1 by Kim mercer

Solution 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.

Weak Water Pressure Indoors, Good Outdoors (or vice versa)

Why do we have good water pressure outside, bad water pressure inside after well pump replacement

I had to replace a well pump. I'm getting good pressure at the pump and the water on the outside spigot 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 spigot hook up an air supply to the faucet on the inside and blow the water, dirt and thin the air out of the outside spigot

If anyone has a better idea, PLEASE HELP THANKS (Mar 3, 2013) Anonymous

Reply:

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

No Hot Water Flow

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

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)? (Feb 3, 2014) Anonymous

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.

Good Pressure but Weak Water Flow When We Open a Tap Q&A

We have clogged strainers at faucets after plumbing repair since pipes froze

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. (Feb 27, 2015) Ashley

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.

We have high water pressure but bad or weak flow rate: Why?

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? (Apr 26, 2015) Keith

Reply: acid flush of water pipes is possible but dangerous

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.

Watch out: that approach is dangerous and if not properly produced could injure the person doing the work as well as occupants drinking the water.

You'll also read in this article series that replacing even just the readily-accessible sections of water supply piping can make a noticeable improvement of water flow rate at individual fixtures downstream from where you did pipe replacement.

See CLOGGED WATER SUPPLY PIPES, REPAIR - Daniel

Why can't I clean clogged water supply pipes with a drain auger?

Why wouldn't 1/4" augur fit into 3/4" piping? (Feb 3, 2014) Anonymous

Reply: it's too short, won't go around 90 degree elbows, won't pass through valves, and may not remove mineral scale

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.