Water pressure has dropped suddenly
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Most likely cause & what to check
A sudden drop in mains water pressure across the whole property most commonly indicates either a street-level supply issue or a partially closed mains stopcock.
Check with your neighbours — if they also have low pressure, contact your water supplier. Check your supplier's website or call their helpline to ask about known works or burst mains in the area.
Check your internal mains stopcock — usually under the kitchen sink or where the mains pipe enters the property. Ensure it is fully open (turn anti-clockwise to open).
If you have a water meter, it is typically located just outside the property boundary in a small chamber. The meter usually has its own isolation valve — check it has not been partially closed.
Check for any visible leaks — a sudden drop in mains pressure can indicate a burst pipe in the internal supply pipework, which would also cause a visible wet patch somewhere.
If the pressure drop cannot be explained by the above, call a plumber — a pressure reducing valve (PRV) that has partially failed can cause a sudden pressure reduction.
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