Before blaming the shutoff, I usually run through a quick checklist: main valve, PRV, any inline filters, and then start looking for old galvanized lines.
That’s a solid checklist, but I’ve actually run into a few situations where the main shutoff *looked* open but the gate inside was corroded halfway shut. Ever tried cracking the union just downstream to check flow? Sometimes you can’t trust appearances alone.
Yeah, I’ve seen that happen—valve handle looks fine but inside it’s a mess. Cracking the union works, or sometimes I’ll just loosen a nearby fitting if it’s accessible. Ever dealt with one where the PRV was stuck halfway? Makes it feel like you’ve got a ghost in the pipes... Not always easy to spot unless you pull it apart.
Honestly, I’d push back a bit on just loosening a nearby fitting—sometimes that can introduce more leaks than it solves, especially if the threads are old. I’ve found it’s worth taking the time to isolate and pull the PRV itself. Had one last year where the “ghost” was actually a chunk of debris wedged in the seat, not even the valve mechanism. Just goes to show, sometimes the obvious fix isn’t the right one.
Pulling the PRV is definitely the way to go if you’ve got the patience (and a good set of channel locks). I’ve seen folks try to “just snug it up” and end up with a geyser in the basement. Ever tried chasing a leak that only appears when you’re not looking? That’s a special kind of plumbing poltergeist. Curious—did you end up replacing the valve or just clear out the debris? Sometimes I wonder if half these pressure problems are just old pipes playing tricks on us...
Man, I swear those leaks know when you’re watching. Last time I tried to outsmart one, it waited till I was halfway up the stairs before it started dripping again. Ended up pulling the PRV and finding a chunk of what looked like ancient pipe gunk stuck in there—felt like I’d discovered plumbing archaeology or something. Didn’t even need a new valve, just a little cleaning and suddenly the shower wasn’t trying to peel my skin off. Pipes definitely have a sense of humor... or maybe just a grudge.
