Faucet low pressure?

A weak stream from one faucet is most often a clogged aerator at the tip of the spout, and that's an easy fix. If every fixture is weak, the cause is in the whole house, and if only the hot side is weak, look at the water heater.

Not sure which one it is? Snap your faucet and we’ll narrow it down.

Is the faucet dripping or leaking instead?

That's a worn part inside the faucet. Faucet dripping

Likely causes

Clogged aerator
Most commonEasy DIY
The stream is weak, sprays sideways or sputters at the tip of the spout. It's especially likely after water-main work, which can loosen debris into your pipes.
Clogged cartridge
CommonModerate DIY
The aerator is clean, but one faucet is still weak on hot, cold or both.
Shutoff valves under the sink partly closed
CommonEasy DIY
Only this one faucet is weak, and a valve handle under the sink isn't fully open.
Kinked supply line
Less commonModerate DIY
The flexible line under the sink is bent sharply, often after the cabinet was cleaned out or items were pushed against it.
Low pressure at every fixture
Less commonCall a pro
Every tap, the shower and the toilet fill slowly. That points to the main valve or the pressure regulator, so call a plumber.
Hot side only: water heater sediment
Less commonCall a pro
The cold stream is strong and the hot is weak at several faucets. Sediment in the water heater is a likely cause. See no hot water.

Quick checks

Shut off the valves under the sink (or the main water valve) and open the faucet to drain it before you take anything apart. Plug the sink drain so small parts, like the aerator screen, can't fall in. If a shutoff valve won't turn or starts leaking, stop and call a plumber rather than forcing it.

Test the other faucets and the shower. If just this one is weak, the cause is local to the faucet. If every fixture is weak, skip to calling a plumber.
Check hot and cold separately. If only the hot side is weak, the water heater is the place to look.
Look under the sink and make sure both shutoff valves are fully open.
Check the supply lines under the sink for a kink or sharp bend.
Unscrew the aerator at the tip of the spout, rinse out any grit, and screw it back on. Run the water, and if it improves, you're done.

Sharpen the read

Diagnose your faucet in seconds, for free

No account, no phone number. Fixology’s AI reads your photo and tells you what’s likely wrong, how worried to be, and whether it’s a DIY fix.

Snap one of these:

the whole faucet, showing the handles
the aerator at the tip of the spout
the shutoff valves under the sink

Add a note or more photos next. Nobody calls you.

When to call a pro

Every fixture has low pressure, a shutoff valve won't turn or leaks, cleaning the aerator and opening the valves didn't help, or the hot side stays weak. A plumber averages $341 ($182–501), charging $45–200 an hour. For hot-side-only trouble, see the water heater guide. For frozen or leaking lines, see frozen pipes. For lifespan and upkeep, see the faucet guide.

Typical cost: The HomeAdvisor pages give no figure for an aerator or a low-pressure fix, so none is given here. A plumber averages $341 ($182–501), at $45–200 an hour (most $70–120). A service call is $100–250 and usually includes the first hour, and after-hours work adds $100–300 or more. If the faucet needs replacing, a kitchen faucet averages $262 ($162–364).

Sources: HomeAdvisor: How much does kitchen faucet replacement cost? (updated June 17, 2026), HomeAdvisor: How much does it cost to hire a plumber? (updated June 19, 2026)

After a scan, Fixology can also help you find pros near you.