Reasons for Low Water Pressure in Newly Installed Sinks

Water Control Valves

• Underneath the sink you recently connected are two water control valves. One water valve controls the flow of the hot water to the sink’s faucet and the other controls the flow of cold water to the sink’s faucet. The valves may be partially open, allowing enough water to pass through them. If you do not turn the handles counterclockwise as far as the handles turn, then the water pressure for the sink will be diminished.

Aerator Clogged

• When you install a new sink faucet, you close the main water valve to shut off the water supply to the faucet. After you finish installing the faucet, you must turn the house’s main water valve completely to the on position. If you turn the water valve too quickly, you restore the water flow quickly, which may lead to sediment that is present in the house’s plumbing kicking up. This sediment, once it reaches the newly-installed faucet, is caught by the faucet’s aerator screen nearby. You must remove the aerator from faucet’s spout before you can flush the aerator’s screen out. Help avoid this problem by opening the main water valve slowly to kick up less sediment.

Plumbing Leak

• Whenever you install a new plumbing fixture, you need to double check that all of the plumbing connections are secure. Leaking plumbing connections, such as the sink’s hot and cold water supply lines, not only can lead to water damage in your house, but the leaking can also drop the water pressure to the house. If you do not see a plumbing leak, that does not mean one does not exist. Look for signs of a leak such as peeling paint or soft ceiling on drywall.

Low Flow

• A new sink faucet may be a low flow model, meaning the faucet has a flow restrictor disc in it that reduces the flow of water through the faucet. The flow restrictor helps you reduce the amount of water you use with your sink by reducing the amount of water that flows through the spout during a set period of time. If the faucet has a pull-out spout that attaches to a hose on one end, you may pry the flow restrictor out with a knife. Other flow restrictors may be installed on the faucet’s spout opening.