How to Fix the Water Pressure Problems in Your Sink
In our households, we sometimes take the sink for granted. We wash and clean in the sink daily so much that it has become a part of our regular routines. Over time, the water pressure in our sinks may dwindle. Low water pressure will make simple tasks a bit more difficult. You’ll have a harder time washing up in the bathroom or cleaning up in the kitchen.
Low water pressure in your sink just doesn’t come out of anywhere. There could be internal or external sources in and around your home that are causing the pressure to falter. Case in point, always be sure to give your home a comprehensive review to determine what may be causing the issue. Sometimes, a damaged water line could be connected to the property. Once this important component becomes damaged, the water pressure will deteriorate. Or, the more common situation will involve leaks of some magnitude.
Thankfully, there are a few tricks to utilize that can remedy the water pressure problem quickly. Ensure you contact a plumber and begin the repair process as soon as possible. Also, use these tips to help bring the sink’s water pressure back to normal.
Faucet Cartridge
You are lucky if you plan to fix the water pressure issue yourself. There are several ways in which you can successfully bring the pressure back to normal without delay. The first method to get acquainted with is by inspecting the sink’s faucet cartridge. Sometimes, these cartridges can become clogged due to external circumstances.
Should this happen to you, you must replace the cartridge completely. Turn off the water, and remove the valve handle if it hasn’t been off. Then, remove the shut-off handle. You should, at this point, see the faucet cartridge and any residue that may complicate things. Manually take the damaged cartridge out, and replace it with a new one.
The Aerator
Another key component of your sink that may be affected by low water pressure is that of the aerator. If you were trying to repair the sink on a previous date, you might have come across this part. The aerator is the mesh part of the faucet that covers the water outlet. It is used to catch small traces of debris, such as minerals or other residue forms.
When the aerator catches too many of these substances without being cleaned, it can cause clogs. Thus, it results in low water pressure or more precarious situations at worst. Simply remove the aerator using a pair of pliers and rinse it in hot water. Thoroughly clean it out, and place it back into the sink’s faucet when completed.
Under the Sink
There may be instances of low water pressure that result from the back-end side of things. Get down low, and look at what is underneath the sink. There may be instances of pipes being a bit cracked or leaks bursting out in certain areas. Whatever the situation, you may have to conduct a few tests.
For instance, one sink in your home may have low water pressure, while others may not. It is important to figure out if this is an isolated issue or a concern with all sinks in the home. In other, stranger circumstances, it may have something to do with hydro utilities in the neighborhood as a whole!
Shut-Off Valves
Low water pressure will also affect the shut-off valves connected to your home’s sinks. These are the components that control how much water goes through your pipes. Unfortunately, there could be several reasons why the valves could be hampered.
To get a bead on their functioning, gently turn them clockwise and counter-clockwise. This will indicate their performance and if they need to be optimized later. Both valves should be open to fully affect the water’s pressure. You may have inadvertently forgotten to open both valves fully, which results in this predicament.
Professional Repair
There may be some larger structural issues present within your sink. Instead of trying to figure it out for yourself, it is best to call in a professional for some help. Plumbers are the best individuals to gain assistance from. Once they diagnose the problem, your sink’s water pressure will return to normal!