Low flow rate from all taps and showers

Low flow rate throughout a property is different from low pressure — pressure is the force behind the water, flow rate is the volume that can be delivered. You can have good pressure but poor flow if the pipe bore is too narrow for the demand.

Check the main stopcock (under the kitchen sink or incoming service entry). Turn it fully anti-clockwise — a partially closed stopcock is the first thing to check and is an easy free fix.

For gravity-fed systems (cold water tank in the loft): the flow rate is determined by the height of the tank above the outlets (the "head" of water). If the tank is only 1 metre above the bathroom, flow will always be modest. A pump can be fitted to boost flow rate — see the power shower guide.

In older properties, the service pipe from the street to the house may be narrow bore lead or early iron pipe. These corrode internally and their effective bore reduces over decades. The only solution is replacement — a copper or MDPE plastic service pipe replacement typically costs £500–£2,000 depending on distance and access.

Check inline strainers at the mains stopcock and at appliances. The service pipe entry often has a mesh strainer that can block with sediment — particularly after water company works in the area stir up debris in the main.

If flow improved temporarily after the last time the pipes were worked on, debris may have been disturbed into the pipework and settled in strainers, valves, or tap aerators. Remove and clean aerators on all affected taps (unscrew the tip of the tap spout, rinse the small mesh screen).