What it usually means
| One tap, hot and cold | A blocked aerator. Unscrew the tip of the spout, rinse the screen and refit it. |
|---|---|
| One tap, hot only | The fixture's cartridge or the hot supply line to it. |
| Hot water weak everywhere | The water heater: a partly closed valve on the tank, or sediment in an old one. |
| Everything, suddenly | A valve that has been partly closed, a failed pressure reducing valve, or work on the street main. Ask a neighbour whether theirs is the same. |
| Everything, slowly over years | Old galvanized steel pipe closing up with rust inside. The fix is replacing the pipe. |
| Fine alone, weak when two things run | An undersized or restricted service line, or a pressure valve set too low. |
| Low pressure with a high water bill | A leak. See leak investigation. |
What to check yourself
- Check the main shut-off where the water enters the house is fully open. A lever should be in line with the pipe.
- Clean the aerators on the worst taps.
- Buy a pressure gauge that screws onto a hose bib. They cost little. Normal house pressure is roughly 50 to 70 psi.
- With every tap off, watch the water meter. If it moves, water is going somewhere it should not.
- Ask next door. If they have the same problem, call the city's water department, not a plumber.
Call a plumber if
- The gauge reads under 40 psi or over 80
- The meter moves with everything off
- You have grey Poly-B or old galvanized pipe
- Pressure dropped after a cold snap
Call 1-800-604-0631, any hour.
What fixing it costs
Finding the cause is hourly work. Repairs like this are hourly: $289 for the first hour on site and $189 an hour after, in regular hours (9 to 5, Monday to Friday). Outside those hours every rate is double.
Common fixes and their typical costs: pressure reducing valve replacement, shut-off valve replacement and water line replacement.
Questions people ask
Can pressure be too high?
Yes, and it does more damage than low pressure. Over about 80 psi it wears out fill valves, hoses and appliances and makes pipes bang. That is what a pressure reducing valve is for.
Will a new shower head fix it?
Only if the old one was blocked. Low-flow heads feel weak on low pressure. Clean or change the head, and measure the pressure before spending more.
Does Metro Vancouver have hard water that blocks pipes?
No. The region's water is very soft. Scale is rarely the cause here; old steel pipe and failing valves are.