Quick Answer:
If pressure dropped at the same time city crews worked nearby, the cause is often temporary: crews may have shut a curb stop, flushed mains, or dislodged sediment. Start by confirming the timing with neighbors, check your house shutoff and meter, then follow a few simple steps to flush sediment and clean screens before calling a professional.
Why This Happens
City crews routinely close valves, open hydrants, or flush mains during repairs and upgrades. Those actions can introduce air, shift sediment, or briefly change the pressure coming into your home. Work on curb stops or meter connections can also upset valves or seals at the meter, and a pressure regulator can be affected when supply pressure changes rapidly. Most of these issues are temporary, but they can reduce flow until sediment is cleared or valves are reseated.
Step-by-Step What to Do
1. Confirm timing and check neighbors
- Ask neighbors if they have the same pressure issue. If multiple houses are affected, it’s likely a city-side or main issue.
- Check any notices from the utility or city about ongoing work and expected timelines.
2. Check the house shutoff and meter
- Locate your inside or outside main shutoff and make sure it is fully open.
- Inspect the meter area for obvious damage or leaks. If you see water pooling or a damaged fitting, stop and call the city or a plumber.
- If you notice a problem at the meter after nearby work, it could be a case of meter valve leaking — document what you see and report it to the utility.
3. Flush sediment from fixtures
- Open the highest cold-water tap in the house (usually an upstairs bathroom) and the lowest (a basement fixture or outside hose bib). Let them run for several minutes to flush out air and sediment.
- Flush sediment from toilets by flushing a couple of times and watching flow. This helps clear particles that settle in the lines after main work.
- This quick flush often restores normal flow within 10–20 minutes.
4. Clean pressure regulator screen
- If your home has a pressure regulator with a removable inlet screen, shut off the house valve, relieve pressure by opening a faucet, and remove the screen.
- Rinse the screen under clean water to remove grit and reinsert. This step — to clean pressure regulator screen — can restore flow when a regulator screen is clogged with debris.
- If you’re not comfortable removing the screen, skip this and call a professional.
5. Check for leaks and measure pressure
- Look for new leaks around visible pipes, faucets, and the meter after the city work — leaks can cause low pressure.
- Use a simple pressure gauge at an outdoor bib to measure static pressure. Typical residential pressure runs 40–80 psi. Much lower readings after city activity can indicate an inlet issue.
6. Notes about curb stop work and follow-up
- If the city used the curb stop near your property, expect a temporary water pressure change until the system stabilizes or any trapped air clears.
- Report persistent problems to the utility, especially if neighbors are affected or you suspect a damaged curb stop or meter connection.
What Not to Do
- Do not assume permanent system damage. Many pressure drops after city work are temporary and fix themselves once lines are flushed.
- Do not attempt to operate or force city-owned curb stops or meters in the street. Those are utility responsibilities.
- Do not dig around the curb or meter without utility locates and permission — this risks service damage and safety hazards.
- Do not forcibly tighten fittings inside the meter box or on the city side; you may make a small problem worse.
When to Call a Professional
- Call the city or utility if multiple homes are affected, if you see damage at the meter, or if the issue began immediately after their work and doesn’t clear in a few hours.
- Call a licensed plumber if you’ve flushed lines and cleaned screens but pressure remains low at all fixtures, if you find leaks, or if you are uncomfortable performing the regulator/screen check yourself.
- If pressure drops are accompanied by strange noises, sediment in water, or health concerns with water quality, get help promptly.
Safety Notes
- Turn off the main house valve and relieve pressure at a faucet before opening or removing any regulator screens or fittings.
- Wear gloves and eye protection when handling debris from pipes. Hot-water taps can cause burns; use cold taps for flushing when possible.
- Do not work in the street or in traffic lanes. If you suspect the curb stop or meter is damaged, stay clear and notify the utility so trained crews can respond safely.
Common Homeowner Questions
- My pressure is low only in the kitchen. What should I check? — Check the cartridge or aerator on the kitchen faucet and run the cold tap to flush sediment; sometimes only one fixture is clogged.
- How long should I wait after city work before calling? — Give it a few hours to a day for sediment and air to clear; if low pressure persists beyond that, call the utility or a plumber.
- Can I adjust the pressure regulator myself? — Only if you are comfortable and have relieved pressure first. If unsure, call a plumber to avoid damaging the regulator or creating leaks.
For more related articles, see the Curb Stop & Meter Valve Problems hub.