Good call on the aerators, sediment buildup gets overlooked too often. Vinegar trick usually works, but I've seen stubborn cases where replacing the aerators altogether was the only fix... plumbing never makes sense the first time around.
Yeah, plumbing can be a real head-scratcher sometimes. I've had mixed luck with the vinegar trick myself—worked great on the kitchen faucet, but the bathroom sink was another story. Ended up swapping out the aerator entirely after soaking it overnight did absolutely nothing. Funny thing is, when I took it apart, there wasn't even that much visible sediment... go figure. Sometimes it's just easier to replace and move on rather than spend hours troubleshooting. Good to know I'm not the only one who's had to resort to that route. Plumbing logic definitely has its own set of rules, and I'm pretty sure none of us got the memo.
"Funny thing is, when I took it apart, there wasn't even that much visible sediment... go figure."
I've experienced something similar myself—sometimes the issue isn't sediment at all. In my case, after replacing the aerator didn't help much, I discovered the problem was actually further down in the supply line. Turns out older galvanized pipes can corrode from the inside out, causing a narrowing of the pipe diameter even if there's no obvious debris at the faucet end. Unfortunately, vinegar or simple aerator swaps won't fix that.
If you have access to your plumbing lines and they're on the older side, it might be worth inspecting them closely for corrosion or buildup internally. It can be a bit tedious, but catching issues early can save a lot of headaches (and money) down the road. Plumbing does indeed seem to follow its own mysterious logic...or lack thereof.
Galvanized pipes definitely cause issues, but before diving into pipe replacements, I'd double-check your pressure regulator valve (PRV). These valves can fail or get stuck partially closed, causing weird pressure drops without visible sediment or corrosion. Had a customer recently who replaced half their plumbing before realizing it was just a faulty PRV. Worth ruling out simpler fixes first... plumbing can be sneaky that way.
Interesting point about the PRV, hadn't thought of that angle. Still, from my own experience, galvanized pipes can be a bigger headache than people realize. When we first moved into our older home, the water pressure was all over the place—one minute it'd be fine, next minute barely a trickle. We checked valves, faucets, everything seemed fine... until we finally peeked inside one of the pipes during a minor repair. It was like looking into a cave filled with rust and mineral buildup. Pretty shocking actually.
Ended up replacing sections gradually with PEX piping (which is way more eco-friendly and easier to handle), and honestly that's what made the difference for us. Not saying PRVs can't cause issues—they definitely can—but sometimes those old galvanized pipes are just quietly deteriorating behind the scenes. Always good to check simpler fixes first, but if your house is older like ours was, don't underestimate how sneaky corrosion can be either.
