Low water pressure from garden hose or outdoor tap

Weak flow from an outdoor tap is frustrating but usually easy to fix. Start by checking indoor taps — if the whole house has low pressure, the fault is at the mains or the pressure reducing valve (PRV), not the outdoor tap specifically.

Check the hose itself. Kinked hose is the most common cause of poor garden tap flow. A 25-metre coiled hose has significant resistance — straighten it fully and check the connector at the tap is fully tightened.

Inspect the tap filter/washer. Some outdoor taps have a small mesh strainer inside the tap body or at the hose connector. Unscrew the connector and check for debris, grit, or calcium deposits blocking the screen.

Check the isolating valve inside — it should be fully open (handle in line with the pipe). A partially closed isolating valve will significantly reduce flow.

If the double check valve was fitted incorrectly or has partially seized, it will restrict flow. Locate it (usually just after the tee in the rising main), unscrew it, and check the internal spring mechanism is moving freely. Replace if corroded (£5–£15).

If mains pressure at the tap is genuinely low (below 1 bar at the tap), the house may have a PRV set too low, or the local mains supply has low pressure. Contact your water company if neighbours report the same issue. For the garden specifically, a booster pump (£80–£200) can increase pressure at the point of use.