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About Sharon McCarthy
Expertise
I can help with most questions about residential plumbing problems including septic systems, and some questions about irrigation. I have no experience with commercial installations or codes.

Experience
I have been a sole-proprietor service plumber in two small towns north of Phoenix Arizona for 26 years.

Publications
I had a monthly column in the United Steelworkers of America, local 1033, newsletter 1978 to 1982. I wrote an article for "The Theosophist" in 1977. I've written dozens of letters to the editor in many newspapers.

Education/Credentials
High school and three years of college. My step-father, having worked 40 years in the plumbing trade in Chicago, taught me for two years. The rest has been hands-on experience.

Past/Present Clients
Many hundreds of good people in Cave Creek and Carefree Arizona

You are here: Experts > Home/Garden > Home Improvement/Repair > Plumbing in the Home > Low waterpressure on dishwasher and kitchen sink

Plumbing in the Home - Low waterpressure on dishwasher and kitchen sink

Expert: Sharon McCarthy - 11/11/2009

Question
We recently had our hot water heater replaced. After this we lost some water pressure to our kitchen sink (both hot and cold water), and we suspect that we lost some pressure to the dishwasher as well (glasses come out foggy and residue remains on dishes). No other water faucets or shower heads in the house have been affected.

I suspect that some grit may have gotten into the pipes when the water heater was replaced that may be causing the low pressure in the kitchen area pipes. But I've been having difficulty trying to figure out where the problem may be (if the problem is grit clogging up a valve or aerator), or otherwise if this problem may have been caused by something else.

Can you advise?

Answer
Dear Albert,

  Does you kitchen faucet have two separate handles for hot and cold, or one single handle? You mentioned the aerator. Did you remove the aerator on the kitchen faucet and check for particles?

  Particles can get stirred up any time you open or move pipes or turn valves. Also water heaters build up residue on the bottom which can be agitated during the draining and filling processes. Any time I replace an old faucet, since I had to close and open the valves and remove and replace the supply tubes, before I open the handles on the new faucet I always remove the aerator to let out any particles that may have worked loose in the pipes.

Just to clarify, what you may have lost is "volume". Not "pressure". If a water pipe is clogged, the amount of water coming through it will be diminished, but pressure is always constant, no matter what size pipe.

  As far as the dishwasher problem, if any particles were stirred up during the water heater replacement, the particles would have gone through the water line at that time, but this should not be causing foggy glasses and residue on dishes, except maybe that same day.

  If you checked the aerator and it's clean, then go to the next step down. If you have a pull-out-spout type kitchen faucet, unscrew the spout from the hose and run water through. If that's slow, then shut off the valves and remove the supply tubes at the top. Put each tube into a bucket and open the valve. If those are slow, then debris may be in or behind the valves. If so, you may have to remove the valves and have someone turn the main on while another person holds a bucket there to catch the water.

  One way or the other, one of these solutions should work. sharon

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