Low water pressure from your faucets can be annoying, and there can be a variety of causes of it. But it might not be a serious problem with your home’s plumbing. It could just be a clog inside the faucet itself. Read on for tips on how to spot this problem and what to do to get your water flowing again.

How to tell if you have a clogged faucet

If you notice low water flow from one of your faucets, the first thing you should do is check the other water outlets in your home. Run other faucets, switch on the shower, turn on the hosepipe. If these all seem fine, then it’s likely an isolated problem, meaning that the faucet with low water pressure could be blocked.

What causes these clogs?

There are two main causes of a clogged faucet – either the aerator covering the opening of the faucet is blocked, or the clog is deeper inside the faucet. Most commonly, these clogs are caused by a build-up of limescale or mineral deposits in and around the hardware.

How to fix a clogged faucet

If you have some plumbing DIY skills, then you may be able to fix these clogs yourself. However, if you have any doubts, then it is better to call in the professionals. You could do damage to the hardware while trying to repair the clog if you use the wrong tools. Plus, there are lots of little parts to take apart and put back together. It can be easy to forget which order they fit back together in if you’re not familiar with faucets.

If you do decide to go the DIY route, then you should be able to screw the aerator off by hand and then dismantle it. If it is too tight, then you can loosen it using pliers, but be careful not to do any damage. You can then rinse the aerator parts in another sink and soak it in vinegar and warm water to remove any limescale that was causing the clog.

If the clog is deeper into the cartridge of the faucet, then you will need to dismantle additional parts, so make sure you keep track of the order they all fit together. Again, you will need to soak the cartridge and any other parts with built-up limescale before reassembling the faucet.

If you’d prefer to leave it to a professional plumber, then you can call DS Brandon Plumbing for an emergency plumber in North Carolina, around Lewisville, Clemmons, Winston Salem, and Guilford Counties.