Information on water pressure
Problems with water pressure can be caused by a few different factors, anything from a burst pipe to your home’s location or high demand on the network.
Before reporting low pressure, try our quick home water pressure test.
Time how long it takes to fill a 1-litre jug from your cold kitchen tap.
✔ Under 7 seconds = your flow is likely normal.
✖ More than 7 seconds = you may have low water pressure.
What to do if you have a problem with water pressure
1. Speak to your neighbours
If their pressure is also low, we may be working on the network.
If not, the issue could be with your internal plumbing.
2. Check for work in your area
Planned or emergency work can temporarily affect pressure.
Use our work in your area map to see if we’re working nearby.
If we’re not, continue with the checks below.
3. Check for frozen pipes
Cold weather can freeze pipes and reduce pressure. Look for frost or condensation.
Find out how to protect pipes from the cold weather.
4. Check your stop tap
Turn the stop tap off and count how many turns it takes. Run a nearby tap until the water stops. Turn the stop tap back on using the same number of turns. Repeat this a few times to see if your pressure improves.
Need help locating your stop tap? If it’s stuck or broken, contact a qualified plumber.
5. Run your cold kitchen tap
If this tap works fine but others don’t, it’s likely an internal plumbing issue.
You’ll need a plumber to investigate further.
6. Test your water pressure yourself
This test measures your water flow, helping to show whether low water pressure may be affecting your supply. First, turn off all taps and appliances. Fill a 1-litre jug or bottle with water from your cold kitchen tap. If it fills in under 7 seconds, your flow is fine. If it takes longer, your water pressure might be low.
7. Look for leaks
Leaks can cause pressure to drop. We’ll fix leaks outside your property, but anything inside is your responsibility.
Learn how to check for leaks.
Still having trouble?
If you’ve tried all the steps above and things still aren’t right, contact us and we will investigate for free during working hours. If the cause is our responsibility, we will take appropriate action. If not, we will still let you know what you need to do.
FAQs on water pressure
Find answers to common questions on water pressure.
High pressure is rare
Plumbing systems are designed to handle high pressure, often over 10 bar. There’s no official upper limit, but extremely high pressure can affect appliances and fittings. Air can be trapped in the pipes after we’ve carried out work in your area. This can temporarily increase pressure or cause spluttering.
Run your tap for a few minutes to release the air and your supply should return to normal.
