Is your shower lacking a little power? Taps running like jet washers? No water at all, even?
If you think your water pressure isn't quite right, we want to help you.
First things first, do you have running water to your home?
Whether your answer is yes or no, we're one step closer to an answer!
No, I have no water
We're very sorry to hear that. Take a look at our advice here, so we can help get the water flowing again!
Yes, I have running water
That's good to know. Please read our advice for low or high pressure further down this page.
1. Check your stop tap is open
One of the first things to check is the condition of your internal stop tap and how well it is working.
The location of your stop tap can be different from home to home - most are under the kitchen sink, but we know some live in the bathroom or in the boiler cupboard too. If you rent your home, there may be more than one stop tap inside the building – your landlord should know where to find yours.
Check the stop tap is fully open by turning it off (turn clockwise!) then back on (turn anti-clockwise) a few times. When your stop tap is fully open, turn it clockwise half a turn to avoid it sticking or locking in place.
2. Check your isolation valves
You might also have an isolation valve inside your home. You might see them attached to domestic appliances like the dishwasher or washing machine. It's worth checking your isolation valve as it may have been adjusted.
Just like with the stop tap, fully turn it off, and then fully open it up again.
3. Ask your neighbours
Pop around and ask if your neighbours are affected too. If they are, it's likely there is an event or repair going on in your area.
You can get more information on what's going on in your area here.
4. Check your local area
Check our map to see if there is any work going on around you.
Our water network is a maze of pipes, so if we're working a mile away, it might still affect your supply.
You can get regular updates on work in your area by subscribing to text alerts.
High pressure
Water pressure is a lot like the porridge in Goldilocks. It has to be 'just right'. So, if your pressure is too high, use your internal stop tap or isolation valves to lower it to suit you.
You can also call a reliable plumber. They'll be able to install a pressure-reducing valve.
Find a reliable plumber on watersafe.org.uk.
Pressure management
We don’t just fix leaks, we try to stop them before they happen. High pressure in water mains can lead to leaks and bursts, so we use pressure-controlling valves and monitoring points to adjust water pressure across our network.
These adjustments in water pressure don’t mean you’ll have less water, it may just take a second or two longer to fill the kettle, or a few minutes more to run a bath.
It helps to make sure our network's water pressure is suitable for everyone's everyday use. It can also help to make sure water supplies are more reliable, causing fewer interruptions, or having to dig up and fix broken mains, as well as helping to save precious water.
Understanding your water pressure & flow
Water pressure is the force that pushes the water through pipes.
Your water pressure can depend on:
- the height of the water reservoir or water tower supplying your home
- how much water other customers are using, and
- how close you live to our water pumps.
Water pressure can also vary at different times of the day, when there might be more demand for water during the mornings and early evenings.
By law, we must provide all our customers with a minimum water pressure of 10 meters head, and a flow rate of at least 9 litres a minute at your property boundary. To put it plainly, you should be able to fill a 4.5 litre container in 30 seconds, so it's perfect for your daily water needs.
Some modern heating appliances and power showers won't work below certain pressure levels, so make sure your plumber checks your internal pressure before installation.
Water's worth saving
Come rain or shine, it's important that we all remember to use water wisely. We've got lots of water-saving tips to help you make a difference to your water usage.