Understanding your home’s water pressure is essential for getting the most out of your kitchen and bathroom taps. Whether you’re experiencing weak flow from the kitchen sink or low water delivery from the bathroom taps, checking your water pressure is one of the first diagnostic steps you should take. In this comprehensive UK guide, we explain what water pressure is, why it matters, how to test it and what to do if it’s not where it should be.
What Is Water Pressure and Why It Matters
Water pressure is the force with which water moves through your plumbing system. In UK homes, water pressure affects everything from how quickly your sink fills to how powerfully your shower flows.
In simple terms, it’s measured in bars. Most UK mains supplies deliver around 1–3 bars of pressure depending on your area and whether your home has a booster pump or gravity-fed system. If the pressure is too low, you’ll notice weak flow — particularly at fixtures that need a steady stream, like pull-out kitchen taps or modern bathroom mixers. If it’s too high, your fittings could wear out faster due to excessive force. Striking the right balance ensures efficient performance and prolongs the life of your taps.
Poor water pressure can also influence your choice of products. For example, some kitchen taps and bathroom mixers are designed specifically for low-pressure systems, while others require a stronger supply to function properly. That’s why understanding your water pressure goes hand-in-hand with choosing the right fixtures.
How to Check Water Pressure at Home
Checking your home’s water pressure doesn’t require specialist plumbing skills. You can do it yourself with inexpensive tools and a little patience.
Using a Pressure Gauge
The most accurate way to measure your water pressure is with a pressure gauge, which you can buy cheaply from DIY stores.
Turn off all taps and appliances. Make sure nothing is drawing water in your home — no washing machines, dishwashers or garden hoses.
Locate an external tap. The best place to measure water pressure is usually an outside tap or the first tap after your stopcock.
Attach the pressure gauge. Screw the gauge on and ensure it’s secure.
Open the tap fully. As the water flows into the gauge, you’ll see the pressure reading in bars on the dial.
A reading below 1 bar will often feel weak, while 1.5–3 bars is typical for most UK mains supplies. If you live in a property with a gravity-fed system (common in older homes), it might be lower still.
Using a DIY Water Pressure Test (Without a Gauge)
If you don’t have a pressure gauge, you can still check pressure roughly by noting how quickly a container fills:
Place a 1-litre jug under the tap.
Turn the tap fully on and time how long it takes to fill.
Compare it with expected flow: generally, a strong household tap should fill 1 litre in around 6–8 seconds.
This won’t give an exact pressure measurement in bars, but it will quickly tell you if the flow is weak, steady or forceful.
Common Signs Your Water Pressure Might Be Too Low
You don’t always need a test to suspect pressure problems — some symptoms are obvious:
Weak flow from kitchen taps, even when fully open.
Poor performance on mixer taps or inconsistent temperature control.
Slow filling kitchen sink or bath.
Shower that barely dribbles at peak times.
Low pressure doesn’t always mean something is wrong with the supply. Sometimes it’s caused by internal issues like blocked aerators or partly-closed stop valves under the sink. Cleaning aerators and ensuring valves are fully open is a simple first step, and this type of tap issue is discussed more in our How To Solve Problems With Taps: A Complete DIY Guide.
Pressure Standards in the UK – What to Expect
In the UK, water companies generally deliver mains water at a pressure that will meet the needs of most domestic fixtures. There isn’t a fixed universal legal minimum — but industry guidance suggests a typical mains pressure at the boundary stop-tap of around 1 bar or more. This provides enough force to ensure fixtures like kitchen and bathroom taps operate effectively across two storeys. If your system regularly falls below this mark, you might notice pressure issues, especially with multi-function taps or shower mixers.
Some key points to remember:
Mains pressure is usually consistent across fixtures unless your plumbing has internal blockages.
High-pressure systems can sometimes push above 3 bars, which increases flow — but may require a pressure reducing valve to protect appliances.
Low-pressure homes can still function well with the right taps and fittings, but knowing your level helps you pick compatible products when upgrading.
These considerations tie into choosing the right tap types. For example, certain taps perform better in high-pressure homes, while others are designed for lower flow — something you’ll learn more about in the detailed Bathroom Taps Buying Guide: Select the Perfect Fixtures.
How to Improve Low Water Pressure
If your tests confirm low water pressure, or if you observe weak flow, here are steps to improve performance:
1. Check and Clean Tap Aerators
At the end of your tap spout is often a small screen called an aerator. These can get clogged with lime scale and debris — especially in hard water areas. Unscrew and soak the aerator in vinegar, then rinse and refit. This simple task can make a noticeable difference.
2. Ensure Valves Are Fully Open
Under sinks, there are usually stop valves that control water coming into each tap. Make sure they’re not partly closed — especially after maintenance work.
3. Look for Blockages in Supply Lines
Kinks or sediment build-up in supply hoses can restrict flow. Carefully inspect flexible hoses under sinks and consider replacing them if they appear old or blocked.
4. Consider a Booster Pump
In homes with genuinely low mains pressure, a booster pump installed in the loft or near the stopcock can increase available pressure throughout the house.
5. Contact Your Water Supplier
Sometimes the issue is outside your property. Your water company can check the mains pressure and address network issues that may be affecting your supply.
These steps can boost pressure for both kitchen and bathroom taps — but it’s worth knowing what your system is capable of before investing in new fixtures.
Final Tips Before Installing New Kitchen or Bathroom Taps
Once you know your water pressure, you’re in a better position to choose taps that work well with your system. Some modern kitchen tap styles, like pull-out or sensor models, are designed for certain pressure bands. Likewise, not all mixer or waterfall bathroom taps perform well on low pressure.
When you’re considering new fixtures:
Choose taps that specify compatibility with your measured pressure.
Avoid high-tech models that may underperform on low supply systems.
If unsure, discuss your pressure results with the supplier or a plumber.
For insights into selecting taps that suit your pressure and design goals, check out articles like Bathroom Taps Buying Guide: Select the Perfect Fixtures that explain key features and compatibility — especially water pressure compatibility — to help you make informed choices.
Conclusion
Checking your home’s water pressure doesn’t need to be complicated. With a pressure gauge — or even simple observation — you can discover whether your system has adequate force for your kitchen and bathroom taps. Knowing your pressure helps you diagnose problems, choose suitable fixtures, and enjoy reliable performance from every tap in the house.
From testing at the stopcock to simple DIY fixes like aerator cleaning, taking these steps puts you in control of your water flow and ensures your taps deliver the performance you expect. And when it’s time to select new products, your pressure data makes your choices smarter and more likely to perform well for years to come.
