Low water pressure
Low water pressure means taps and showers run weakly, at one fitting or across the whole home. Check first whether it is one tap, the whole flat or the whole block, because a clogged aerator, a half-closed stop valve and a block-wide supply issue have very different fixes.
Typical price
$80–$300per visit, diagnosis and minor fix (estimate)Typical job time
30–90 min for diagnosis and minor fixes
Estimate, confirm on WhatsApp
Signs to look for
- One tap or shower runs weakly while the others are fine.
- Every tap in the home is weak, including the kitchen and service yard.
- Flow drops sharply when two taps or the washing machine run at the same time.
- The instant heater cuts out or runs cold because the flow is too low to keep it on.
- Water spurts or sputters, sometimes with brown or gritty bits.
- Neighbours on the same floor or block report weak water too.
Common causes
- A tap aerator or shower head clogged with scale or grit.
- The stop valve after the meter left partly closed after earlier works.
- A worn tap cartridge or a faulty angle valve on one fitting.
- Rust and scale narrowing old galvanised pipes, which can also make the water rusty.
- A hidden leak letting water escape before it reaches the taps.
- A supply problem affecting the whole block, such as works on the tanks, pumps or mains.
Before you call
Safe things to try first
- Compare one tap with the others. If only one is weak, unscrew its aerator or shower head, rinse out the grit and scale, and try again.
- Check that the stop valve after your meter, and any valve inside the home, is fully open. It is easy to leave one half-closed after other works.
- Ask a neighbour on the same floor or block whether their water is weak too. If it is, the problem is the supply, not your pipes.
- Do a meter test with every tap off. If the meter moves, a leak may be taking some of your water.
Stop and call if
- The whole home is weak, your neighbours are fine, and every valve is fully open.
- The water is brown or gritty and does not clear after running the tap.
- The meter moves with every tap off.
- Pressure dropped suddenly after renovation work.
What we do
- 1Check whether the problem is one fitting, one area or the whole home, and whether neighbours are affected.
- 2Check the stop valves, then compare flow at different taps to narrow down where the restriction is.
- 3Clean or replace aerators, shower heads, tap cartridges or angle valves where the problem is at one fitting.
- 4Where the whole home is affected, check the supply pipe for a blockage or leak and test whether a valve needs replacing.
- 5If old pipes are badly scaled inside, explain the options, from replacing one section to re-piping, with costs.
- 6If the cause is outside your home, say so and tell you who to contact instead.
How much it costs
Most low water pressure jobs in Singapore cost $80–$300 (per visit, diagnosis and minor fix (estimate)). This is an estimate; the final price is confirmed on WhatsApp or on site before work starts.
- Inspection and diagnosis$50–$120
- Replace a faulty tap, labour only$50–$70
- Replace a stop valve or short pipe section$80–$200
- Re-pipe a whole HDB flat$1,500–$5,000
HDB, condo and landed
HDB
Check the stop valve at your meter in the common corridor first. If several flats or floors have weak water, report it to your town council, which handles common supply issues, or to PUB. Pipes after the meter are the owner's to fix.
Condo
Many condos rely on building pumps and tanks. If your neighbours have the same problem, tell the managing agent. If only your unit is affected, the cause is usually inside your unit.
Landed
The PUB meter and stop valve are usually at the gate. Check that valve is fully open, and look for wet patches along the line to the house, which can point to an underground leak.
Low water pressure: common questions
Why is only my shower weak?
Usually the shower head is clogged with scale, or the hose or mixer cartridge is worn. If you have an instant heater, its inlet filter can clog too. Clean the shower head first.
Why did my water pressure drop after renovation?
Common reasons are a stop valve left partly closed, debris from the works lodged in aerators or valves, or a new fitting with a lower flow rate. Check the valves first, then the aerators.
Do water-saving taps cause low pressure?
Taps and mixers installed in Singapore must have at least a 2-tick WELS rating, which limits how much water they let through. That is normal and different from a fault. If a tap that used to be fine has become weak, look for a clogged aerator or worn cartridge.
Can a plumber increase the water pressure to my home?
Not beyond what the supply delivers. A plumber can remove restrictions inside your home, such as clogged fittings, half-closed valves and scaled pipes. The supply pressure to a block is not something a home plumber can change.
Get a price for low water pressure
Send a photo or short video, your home type and postal code. We reply with a price range and the earliest slot.
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