Why this matters
Weak pressure makes showers frustrating and appliances slow to fill. Sudden drops may also signal a leak or a supply problem, so it is worth tracking down.
One fixture or the whole house?
| Pattern | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| A single tap trickles | Grit in its aerator or a scaled cartridge |
| One bathroom weak | Partly closed stop or branch problem |
| Only the hot side is poor | A part-closed tank valve or sediment |
| Every fixture is poor | Main valve, pressure regulator, service line or city supply |
| Gradually worse over years | Galvanized pipe rusting inside |
Our crew would go about it like this
- 1
Close the main valve and crack the laundry tub tap so the lines bleed down.
- 2
Open drywall or ceiling only where the meter and stains point.
- 3
Cut back to sound pipe and join new copper or PEX with proper fittings.
- 4
Restore pressure slowly, check the joint, then leave the opening dry before patching.
Step by step
- Unscrew the aerator on the weak faucet, rinse out the grit and test without it.
- Check the stops under the sink are fully open.
- Check the main valve in the basement is fully open.
- If you have a pressure regulator near the meter, note whether it is old or has been adjusted.
- Ask a neighbour if their pressure has changed; city work can affect a street.
- Check the water meter for movement with everything off, to rule out a leak.
In older parts of Markham, original galvanized lines can narrow so much inside that upper floors barely get water. Small-diameter service lines from decades ago starve the house once two or three fixtures open at once.
Handing it over to us
Call when the whole house is affected, pressure drops suddenly, or galvanized pipe is involved. See repiping, water service line repair and leak detection.
Markham note: village-core houses tend to hide cast iron and galvanized behind plaster, while Cornell and Box Grove builds run PEX to a manifold. We ask the year your house was built so the right fittings ride along on the truck.
Straight from the phone log
Can the pressure be excessive?
It can; surplus pressure hammers on hoses, cartridges and appliance valves, and a regulator near the meter tames it.
Does a softener reduce pressure?
A correctly sized unit has little effect.
Ready to get it fixed?
One call, a clear explanation, and work finished tidily before we leave.