Low Water Pressure in Your House? How to Increase It (Easy Fixes)

Low water pressure in a house is usually caused by clogged faucet aerators or shower heads, a main water valve that is not fully open, a pressure regulator set too low, a clogged filter, or old pipes. To increase water pressure, first find out if the problem is in one fixture or the whole house. Then start with the easy fixes, like cleaning aerators and opening valves all the way.

Weak water pressure makes showers frustrating and slows down everything from filling a pot to running the dishwasher. The good news is that many causes are simple to fix yourself, often for free.

This guide will help you test your water pressure, find the cause, and fix it step by step.

Step 1: Is it one faucet or the whole house?

This one question tells you where to look.

• Only one faucet or shower is weak. The problem is almost always in that fixture, like a clogged aerator or shower head.
• Only the hot water is weak. The problem is likely the water heater or its valves.
• Every faucet in the house is weak. The problem is the main supply, a valve, the pressure regulator, a filter, the pipes, or the city supply.
• Pressure dropped suddenly everywhere. It may be a problem outside your home, like a water main repair, or a leak.

Turn on the cold water in a few sinks and showers around the house to compare.

Step 2: Test your water pressure

A water pressure gauge costs about $10 to $15 at a hardware store. It screws onto an outdoor hose faucet.

1. Turn off all the water inside the house, including the washing machine, dishwasher, and ice maker.
2. Screw the gauge onto an outdoor faucet near where the water comes into your home.
3. Turn the faucet all the way on.
4. Read the gauge.

What the reading means:

If your gauge shows normal pressure but some faucets are still weak, the problem is inside your home, probably in the fixtures or pipes.

10 ways to increase water pressure in your house

1. Clean faucet aerators and shower heads

Minerals in water, called hard water, build up inside faucet aerators (the small screens at the tip of the faucet) and shower heads. Over time, they block the tiny holes.

How to clean them:

1. Unscrew the aerator from the faucet tip. Wrap it in a cloth first if you need pliers, so you do not scratch it.
2. For a shower head, unscrew it, or tie a plastic bag filled with white vinegar around it with a rubber band.
3. Soak the parts in white vinegar for 1 to 2 hours, or overnight for heavy buildup.
4. Scrub with an old toothbrush and rinse.
5. Put everything back on.

This simple fix often makes a big difference, and it costs almost nothing.

2. Make sure the main water valve is fully open

Your home has a main shut-off valve where the water line comes into the house. It is often in the basement, garage, crawl space, or near the water heater. If someone did work on your plumbing, the valve may not have been opened all the way again.

• Wheel-style valve: Turn it counterclockwise until it stops.
• Lever-style valve: The handle should line up with the pipe when fully open.

Also check the valve near your water meter. If you are not sure about it, ask your water company, because some meter valves belong to them.

3. Check the pressure regulator

Many homes have a pressure reducing valve (PRV), also called a pressure regulator. It is usually a bell-shaped brass part on the main water line, near the main shut-off valve. It lowers high city pressure to a safe level for your home.

If it is set too low or starting to fail, your whole house can have weak pressure.

How to adjust it:

1. Find the screw or bolt on top of the bell-shaped part. There is usually a lock nut around it.
2. Loosen the lock nut.
3. Turn the screw clockwise a quarter turn at a time to raise the pressure.
4. Check your pressure gauge after each turn.
5. Stop when you reach about 50 to 60 psi. Do not go above 80 psi.
6. Tighten the lock nut.

If turning the screw does not change the pressure, the regulator may be worn out. A plumber can replace it.

4. Check water filters and softeners

Whole-house water filters and water softeners can slow water when they get clogged.

How to test: Most systems have a bypass valve. Turn it to bypass mode and check the water pressure. If the pressure jumps up, the filter or softener is the problem.

Fix: Replace the filter cartridge as the maker suggests, often every 3 to 6 months. For a water softener, check the salt and follow the maintenance steps in the manual, or call a water treatment company.

5. Look for leaks

A leak lets water escape before it reaches your faucets, which lowers pressure.

Easy leak test:

1. Turn off all water in your home.
2. Look at your water meter and write down the numbers, or watch the small leak indicator dial.
3. Wait 1 to 2 hours without using any water.
4. Check the meter again.

If the numbers changed, you have a leak somewhere. Check under sinks, around the water heater, in the basement, and outside. A running toilet is a common hidden leak. Our guide on how to fix a toilet that keeps running shows you how to test for it with food coloring.

6. Check the water heater (if only hot water is weak)

If the cold water is fine but the hot water is weak:

• Make sure the shut-off valve on the cold water pipe going into the water heater is fully open.
• Sediment can build up in the tank over time. Many makers suggest flushing the tank once a year.
• Tankless water heaters have small filters that can clog.

If your hot water also smells like sulfur, see what to do when water smells like rotten eggs. If you are not comfortable working on the water heater, call a plumber. Be careful: the water and pipes can be very hot.

7. Replace low-flow or worn fixtures

Some shower heads and faucets are designed to use less water. They save money, but some can feel weak. Worn valve cartridges inside faucets and showers can also restrict water.

Fix: Try a high-quality shower head designed for good pressure at a low flow rate. If only one faucet is weak and cleaning the aerator did not help, the cartridge inside may need replacing.

8. Check with your water company or neighbors

If your whole house has low pressure, ask neighbors if they have the same problem. If they do, the issue is probably the city supply, like a main break, maintenance work, or high demand. Call your water company or check their website.

Pressure can also dip at busy times, like mornings and evenings, when many people are showering and watering lawns.

9. Replace old or corroded pipes

Older homes, especially ones built before the 1960s, may have galvanized steel pipes. Over many years, rust builds up inside them and narrows the space for water, like a clogged artery. Pressure slowly gets worse over time.

Signs of old pipes:

• Pressure has been getting weaker for years
• Rusty or brown water when you first turn on a faucet
• Gray metal pipes that are not copper or plastic

Fix: Replacing pipes is a big job for a licensed plumber. Many people replace them with copper or PEX pipes, often one section at a time.

10. Install a water pressure booster pump

If the water coming into your home is weak and nothing else helps, a booster pump can raise the pressure. They are common for homes on hills, homes far from the water supply, and upper floors.

A booster pump should be sized and installed by a plumber. It will not fix clogs or leaks, so rule those out first.

If you have a well

Homes with a private well get pressure from a pump and a pressure tank. The pump turns on and off based on a pressure switch. Common settings are 30/50 or 40/60 psi.

Low pressure on a well system can come from:

• A pressure switch set too low
• A pressure tank that has lost its air charge
• A clogged sediment filter
• A pump that is wearing out
• A low water level in the well during dry weather

Working on well pumps involves electricity and should be done by a well or pump professional.

Quick reference table

How to keep your water pressure strong

• Clean aerators and shower heads every few months if you have hard water.
• Change water filter cartridges on time.
• Fix leaks right away.
• Test your pressure once a year with a gauge.
• Keep valves fully open after any plumbing work.
• Flush your water heater as the maker recommends.

When to call a plumber

Call a licensed plumber if:

• Your pressure is below 40 psi and the easy fixes did not help
• Your pressure is above 80 psi
• You think you have a hidden leak
• The pressure regulator needs replacing
• Your home has old, corroded pipes
• You want a booster pump installed

Plumbing problems often come in groups. If you also notice a sewer smell or slow drains, read our guide on what causes a sewage smell in the house.

The bottom line

To increase water pressure in your house, first check if the problem is one fixture or the whole house. For one fixture, clean the aerator or shower head with vinegar. For the whole house, make sure the main valve is fully open, check the pressure regulator, and look for clogged filters and leaks. Test with a pressure gauge, and aim for 45 to 60 psi. If the easy fixes do not work, a plumber can find and fix the cause.