Washing dishes in a sink with low water pressure can be frustrating. However, before you look for a solution to this problem, you should check whether you have low water pressure in your entire home or kitchen.
If all your faucets have low water pressure, it could be because your main water valve is partially closed, or your home’s pressure regulator is faulty. If your other sinks are fine, your kitchen faucet might be the culprit.
So, what causes low water pressure in a kitchen sink? Let’s look at six possible causes of this annoying issue.
Clogged aerator
Is there something like a small screen at the tip of your kitchen faucet? This is called an aerator, and its purpose is to add oxygen to the water as it flows while catching small particles present in it.
However, an aerator can get clogged with debris and minerals over time, making it harder for water to flow. If you are dealing with a clogged aerator, unscrew it and clean the metal screen with a toothbrush.
If you can’t unscrew your aerator, pour some white vinegar into a small plastic bag and tie it around the end of the faucet with a rubber band. Let the aerator soak in vinegar overnight, and the problem should be solved.
Clogged cartridge
If cleaning your aerator doesn’t solve your low water pressure problem, it might be because your faucet cartridge is clogged. A cartridge faucet is a faucet that has only one handle. This is opposed to a compression faucet, which has one handle for cold water and one for hot water.
Turn off the water under the sink to check if your cartridge is clogged. Then, how you access the cartridge depends on your faucet model. However, generally speaking, you need to pop off the cap that hides a screw and unscrew it.
Do it if you feel more comfortable asking a plumber to do this. If your cartridge is damaged or clogged, you might need to replace it with a new one.
Clogged faucet
If your aerator and cartridge are fine, your faucet could be the problem.
An old faucet might have gotten clogged with hard mineral build-ups over time. On the other hand, if your faucet is brand new, something might have gotten stuck inside the pipe while installed. If you suspect your faucet or the pipe leading to it is clogged, call a plumber for help.
Sediments in the water heater
Do you have low water pressure in your kitchen sink only when using hot water? It could be because sediments build up in your water heater. And if that’s the case, the solution is to flush your water heater.
Although it’s possible to do this yourself, it might be better to ask a plumber to handle this critical maintenance task. Flushing your water heater occasionally will extend its life, saving you money in the long run.
Supply line issues
A supply line issue could also cause low water pressure in a kitchen sink. You can try this simple test to check whether this is the case.
First, turn off the hot water under your kitchen sink. Disconnect the flexible hot water line and direct it inside a large bucket. Next, turn the faucet on. Your supply line is not clogged if hot water flows inside the bucket. However, if the water pressure is low, you have a problem with your hot water supply line.
You could also check your cold-water line in the same way. It’s best to rely on a plumber to fix supply line issues.
Water leak
Finally, if your low water pressure problem affects other faucets in your home, and maybe even your shower and bathtub, you might have a water leak somewhere.
Check whether your toilet leaks by adding food colouring to the tank. Don’t flush the toilet for one hour, and then check if some colour has leaked into the bowl.
You should also check under your sinks, in your basement, and outside your home. If you notice suspicious wet spots anywhere, you are dealing with a water leak. It’s probably why you have low water pressure in your kitchen and the rest of your home. Call a plumber to rescue.
