How to Make My Faucet Run Faster

The water flow from your faucets can affect several daily chores.

When one or more faucets in your house are running a little slower than you’d like, it’s usually no cause for alarm. You can still get everything done that you need to do without much disruption. If the faucets slow considerably, food may be left on dishes and your daily grooming routine is slowed. The reason your faucets are slow may be something simple and free to fix or something more complex and costly.

Things You'll Need

• Masking tape
• Pliers
• Vinegar

Instructions

1. Check the shut-off valves that control the faucet in question to see if they’ve been partially shut off accidentally. Turn them completely back on if they were off.

2. Check for leaks in the house by turning off the water to all the taps and then reading your water meter. Look at the meter again in 2 hours to see if the water consumption has increased, which may indicate a leak. Call a plumber if it increased.

3. Shut off the water supply to the faucet and wrap masking tape around the aerator to check for mineral deposits that may be causing the slow down.

4. Unscrew the aerator with pliers and disassemble the parts. Soak them for 30 minutes in a half-water half-vinegar solution, then gently scrub off any sediment with a soft toothbrush. Reassemble the aerator and screw it back in place.

Tips & Warnings

• If the less complex remedies don’t work, consider calling a professional to check for mineral deposits in your pipes that could be slowing the flow to the faucets.

• The aerator on your faucet is the part of the spout where the water comes out of the faucet. Not all faucets have one.

References

• Dummies.com: How to Clean a Faucet Aerator and Sink Sprayer
• Service Magic: What to Do About Low Water Pressure