Report Low Water Pressure

Suffolk County Water Authority

HomeReport Low Water Pressure
 
Where is the pressure low?
water_drop

Just One Faucet

Other sinks/toilets work fine
water_heater

Only Hot Water

Cold water pressure is normal
house

Whole House

Pressure is low everywhere
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plumbing Check the Aerator & Valves

If only one fixture is experiencing low pressure, the issue is internal and not related to the Suffolk County Water Authority water main.

  • Valves: Look under the sink and ensure both the hot and cold supply valves are turned fully counter-clockwise.
  • Aerator: Unscrew the small screen at the tip of the faucet. Sediment often gets trapped here and blocks flow. Rinse it and reattach.

If these steps do not work, you may want to contact a licensed plumber.

water_heater Check Your Water Heater

SCWA supplies only cold water to your home. If your cold water pressure is normal, our water main is functioning properly.

Your water heater is responsible for hot water pressure. Please check the valves leading into your water heater or you may want to contact a licensed plumber to inspect the unit.

schedule When is the pressure low?

To help us diagnose a whole-house issue, please select the option that best describes when the low pressure occurs:

wb_sunny

Early Mornings / Summer

Usually between 3 AM and 8 AM
handyman

After Recent Plumbing Work

Work was recently done on the house
warning

Sudden / Right Now

It just started happening randomly

wb_sunny Summer Irrigation Demand

During the spring and summer months, especially in the early morning hours, lawn irrigation systems create peak demand on the distribution system. This simultaneous water draw across neighborhoods can temporarily lower water pressure.

1. Check your own system: First, ensure your own sprinkler system is turned off to see if pressure inside the home returns to normal.

2. Shift your timer: To avoid low pressure, we highly recommend setting your irrigation timers to run during off-peak hours (between 9 PM and midnight) or utilizing a smart sprinkler controller.

If your pressure remains severely low outside of the early morning hours, please proceed to contact us.

valve Check Your Main Valve & PRV

If you recently had plumbing work done, the main water valve may not have been fully reopened. Locate your main shutoff valve and ensure it is turned entirely counter-clockwise (or parallel to the pipe).

Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV): Many homes are equipped with a bell-shaped PRV near the water meter. If this valve fails or was adjusted improperly during recent plumbing work, it will drastically reduce house pressure. PRVs are the responsibility of the homeowner and may require a licensed plumber to adjust or replace.

map System Checks

A sudden drop in water pressure for the whole house could indicate a water main break in your area, or that SCWA crews are actively flushing hydrants in your neighborhood for routine maintenance.

Check our interactive maps to see if there is known activity in your area:

 
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