An actual kitchen sink question for The Kitchen Sink. Water pressure issue

gixxerjeff

gixxerjeff

Dogs best friend
Our house was recently remodeled with essentially all new plumbing and fixtures throughout. The water pressure throughout the house is fine with strong showers and bathroom sink streams. The one area of concern is the kitchen sink which has abysmally low pressure. I've checked the basics (yes, the valves under the sink are fully open and not kinked, etc.) but I'm not sure where to look next.
FWIW, the house has an interior fire sprinkler system with a gauge on the main manifold (in the garage) showing a standing 165psi. I know that's separate, I just mentioned it to complete the picture. There are hose outlets in various spots around the house which all work fine except the one right outside the kitchen which seems to have lower pressure than the others but nothing like the kitchen sink just on the other side of that wall.
Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
Last edited:
mean dad

mean dad

Well-known member
Always an issue, or just since the remodel?

If new, I'd check to see if there's a reducing washer at the faucet and get rid of it.
 
gixxerjeff

gixxerjeff

Dogs best friend
We bought the house immediately after the remodel.
Good thought. My next step will be to remove the faucet and inspect.
 
B

bobl

Well-known member
Can you reach under the sink, and disconnect the inlet to see if the pressure is in the line or the faucet?
 
dravnx

dravnx

Well-known member
Unscrew the little aerator screen at the end of the faucet and make sure it's not clogged or has a reducer washer.
 
S

Sharxfan

Well-known member
I would try and see if you can put a pressure gauge on the faucet valves.

Wonder how thorough of a remodel they did. Maybe you have bad pipes going to the kitchen that were not replaced.

Are your hot water and cold water pressures different?

Also probably those stupid diffusers that make your faucet a low-flow outlet. The one at my house does the same thing.
 
gixxerjeff

gixxerjeff

Dogs best friend
Sharxfan said:
I would try and see if you can put a pressure gauge on the faucet valves.

Wonder how thorough of a remodel they did. Maybe you have bad pipes going to the kitchen that were not replaced.

Are your hot water and cold water pressures different?

Also probably those stupid diffusers that make your faucet a low-flow outlet. The one at my house does the same thing.
Click to expand...

I am leaning toward suspecting a blockage or diffuser of some kind in the faucet itself.
Yes, the low pressure is on both sides with cold pressure being shitty and hot pressure being REALLY shitty. The faucet itself is one that blends the two sides with a combination spray hose and conventional stream head. (think restaurant dish pit)
I've gone under the house and inspected the plumbing where it goes through the kitchen floor and all looks good. You guys are convincing me to remove the faucet to inspect.
 
mrzuzzo

mrzuzzo

Well-known member
I had this exact issue and it turned out it was the check valve on the faucet. Mine had them and the rubber gasket on one got jammed in the actual water line and cut the pressure.
 
gixxerjeff

gixxerjeff

Dogs best friend
mrzuzzo said:
I had this exact issue and it turned out it was the check valve on the faucet. Mine had them and the rubber gasket on one got jammed in the actual water line and cut the pressure.
Click to expand...

:thumbup
More reason for me to pull the faucet.
The truth is, it's a high end faucet and I may have needlessly ruled out something simple.
 
afm199

afm199

Well-known member
Until you have removed the aearation screen and pressure reducer that is tucked right into the faucet outlet, no point in doing anything else. That's usually the problem. East Bay water is dirty.
 
scootergmc

scootergmc

old and slow
gixxerjeff said:
:thumbup
More reason for me to pull the faucet.
The truth is, it's a high end faucet and I may have needlessly ruled out something simple.
Click to expand...


I have a schnazzy kitchen faucet and the limiter is the fixture itself. If I take off the head, I get a crazy mess of splashing water in the sink and it has as much pressure as anything else.
 
afm199

afm199

Well-known member
All faucets today come with low flow water restrictors, it's the law. Thus they all flow "low." When you remove that restrictor, it's like pulling a foley catheter our of your penor.
 
Maddevill

Maddevill

KNGKAW
Our kitchen faucet had another screen in the feed line as well as one at the faucet. Didn't get full flow until we cleaned both.

Mad
 
gixxerjeff

gixxerjeff

Dogs best friend
Okay, so I haven't removed the entire fixture from the sink yet but I did remove the hand-held sprayer head from the end of the main hose. There is indeed what appears to be a reducer in there, a white disc with a small opening. After spending some time with a pick tool and a pocket screwdriver it's clear that removing that thing is going to break the spray handle. I haven't gone any further due to time. After I spun the head back on I did notice that it seems to have decent pressure for about 5 seconds on initial spray after it has time to sit for a while. I presume it's just building up pressure against the closed head and once it's released I'm back to the true pressure. When I get a chance to get to Home Depot I'll pick up a pressure gauge and see what I have at the valve/riser. I still haven't ruled out the fixture but I don't want to break the one I have without a little more knowledge.
In the meantime, allowing the dog to pre-wash the dishes has been working out pretty well for everyone.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top