Honestly, I get where you’re coming from on the aerators—clogged ones are a classic culprit. But, just to toss another angle in, I’d actually be a bit cautious about stopping at the aerator if you’re still having weird pressure problems. Sometimes, especially in older homes, there’s a deeper issue hiding in the supply lines themselves.
Here’s what I’ve run into more than once: folks clean the aerator, swap hoses, and double-check the shutoff valve (which, yeah, those things can be a pain if they haven’t been touched since the Clinton administration). But after all that, the pressure’s still lousy. In those cases, it’s usually a buildup inside the copper or galvanized supply lines—sometimes even a small chunk of mineral scale breaks off and gets stuck somewhere you’d never expect.
If you’ve ruled out everything under the sink and at the faucet tip, here’s a quick step-by-step I’ve used:
1. Shut off your main water supply (not just the local valve).
2. Disconnect the supply line from the faucet.
3. Put a bucket under the open pipe and crack open the main valve for a second—see if you get a good rush of water from the pipe itself.
4. If it’s just trickling out at this point, that’s a red flag for a clog further back.
5. Sometimes you can clear it with a little compressed air or by snaking the line (gently). Other times, it might need a pro with some specialty tools.
One more thing—don’t forget about pressure regulators on older systems. Those can fail and mess with water flow all over the house, not just at one fixture.
Not saying aerators aren’t often to blame (they totally are), but sometimes it pays to dig a bit deeper if nothing seems to fix it. It’s wild how many little things can throw off pressure... but every now and then, it’s something buried way further back than you’d think.
Totally agree with digging deeper if the basics don’t solve it. I’ve been there—spent way too long swapping out aerators and hoses, only to realize the real problem was further back in the line. That step you mentioned about cracking open the main valve with a bucket underneath is clutch. It’s a quick way to see if you’re dealing with a bigger clog.
Sometimes, especially in older homes, there’s a deeper issue hiding in the supply lines themselves.
That’s been my experience too, especially with old galvanized pipes. The buildup inside those things is no joke. I once found a chunk of rust that looked like it belonged in a museum, not my kitchen plumbing.
It’s easy to get frustrated when you’ve tried all the obvious fixes and nothing changes. But honestly, your checklist is solid and covers all the bases without jumping straight to calling a plumber. Sometimes it’s just a process of elimination, even if it takes a bit more time (and patience) than you’d like. Hang in there—it’s usually fixable, even if it’s a pain.
Galvanized pipes are the worst for this, honestly. I once tried to “fix” my low pressure by cleaning every faucet and even swapped out a showerhead, but it turned out to be a blockage halfway down the line—rust and mineral gunk like you wouldn’t believe. If you’ve got old pipes, it’s almost always something deeper than just a clogged aerator. I do wish there was a more eco-friendly fix than replacing whole sections, but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet.
Yeah, you nailed it—galvanized pipes are notorious for this kind of thing. Sometimes folks hope it’s just the aerator or a fixture, but once that rust and scale start building up inside the pipe, there’s not much you can do except replace sections. It’s frustrating, but you’re not alone... tons of older homes run into this. At least once it’s fixed, the water pressure feels like a luxury upgrade.
Yeah, galvanized pipes are the classic culprit. I’ve been through this rodeo in two different houses—both built before the ‘70s. Here’s what I’ve picked up:
- Aerators and showerheads can clog, but if you’re seeing a slow drop in pressure over months or years, it’s almost always the pipes.
- Sometimes you can “cheat” by replacing just the worst section, but honestly, it’s like playing whack-a-mole. The next spot will go soon enough.
- Full repipe with PEX or copper is a pain (and not cheap), but man, the difference is wild. First shower after? Feels like you’re at a fancy hotel.
One thing I’ll say—if you’re on the fence about doing a full repipe, check your water for rust flakes or discoloration. That’s a sign things are getting ugly inside those pipes. I tried to ignore it for a while, but eventually, the trickle from my kitchen faucet made the decision for me.
Funny how something as boring as plumbing can feel like a luxury upgrade once it’s fixed...
