plumber September 17, 2025

Why Is My Water Pressure Just a Trickle?

Low water pressure doesn’t always happen all at once. Sometimes, it develops over time. Eventually, you may notice the sink takes longer to fill or the shower barely flows. If you live in Northern Virginia, you might blame it on city infrastructure or think it’s just the plumbing in your older home. But steady water flow isn’t a lot to ask, so when low water pressure sets in, you know something’s off. In this guide, our expert plumbers at Parrish Services explain what could be behind your water pressure problem and what you can do to fix it.

Common Causes of Low Water Pressure

Water pressure can drop for several reasons. Here are the ones we see most often in Northern Virginia homes:

• Partially closed main shutoff valve: The main valve controls how much water enters your house. If someone closed it partway during a repair or renovation and forgot to reopen it, the result is lower pressure throughout your plumbing system.
• Partially closed water meter valve: This is the city-controlled valve located near the street or curb. It may have been left partially closed after municipal work, causing reduced flow.
• Malfunctioning pressure regulator: Many homes have a regulator that controls how much pressure reaches your fixtures. When this device starts to fail, it can restrict water flow even if the source pressure is normal.
• Buildup or corrosion inside old pipes: If your house was built decades ago and the plumbing hasn’t been updated, mineral buildup or pipe corrosion could be the problem.
• Hidden leaks: A leak doesn’t have to flood your basement to affect the pressure. Small, hidden leaks behind walls or underground can reduce available water volume and lower the pressure flowing from your fixtures.
• Clogged faucet aerators and showerheads: Hard water minerals can collect in the small holes inside your faucets and showerheads. The blockage doesn’t take much to disrupt flow, especially in older fixtures.

Quick DIY Fixes To Try

Before scheduling a plumbing repair in Virginia, try these water trickle fixes:

• Check that your main valve is fully open: Look near your water meter or where the line enters your home, and make sure the valve handle is fully open.
• Inspect and clean your faucet aerators: Unscrew the aerator from the end of the faucet, rinse out any buildup, and reattach.
• Flush your showerheads: Remove the showerhead and soak it in vinegar overnight to dissolve deposits. Rinse thoroughly before reinstalling.
• Test your water pressure at an outdoor spigot: Attach a pressure gauge and open the spigot all the way. If it reads below 40 psi, and your main and meter valves are open, you may have a failed pressure regulator.
• Walk the property to check for damp spots: If you find areas of consistently wet ground even without rain, you might be losing water to an underground leak. You’ll need a plumber’s help to repair the issue.

When To Call a Plumber

If you’ve tried the basics and your water still comes out as a trickle, it’s time to get a licensed plumber involved. Pressure regulators, clogged lines, and underground leaks aren’t DIY-friendly. These problems require equipment, expertise, and in some cases, permits.

A professional plumber can quickly test the water pressure, isolate the cause, and plan the appropriate fix. This saves you from trial-and-error work or worsening the issue with the wrong repair.

Restore Water Pressure With Parrish Services

If you’re ready to get your plumbing system back on track, choose Parrish Services for dependable work. We serve homeowners across Northern Virginia with award-winning services and a convenient 24/7 dispatch system for urgent plumbing repairs in VA.

Let us help restore your water pressure and your peace of mind. Call or schedule your appointment online today.