A shower that trickles, a kitchen tap that takes an age to fill the kettle, or a washing machine that stops mid-fill: weak water flow has several possible causes, and they are fixed by different people. Voltify Contractors provides property maintenance in Plumstead Common as part of its documented SE18 coverage, including plumbing repairs, appliance connections and general repairs. Use this page to work out where the problem is likely to be before you call anyone.
Start with the cold kitchen tap
The cold tap in the kitchen is usually fed directly from the incoming mains, and Thames Water’s low-pressure guidance suggests starting there. If water comes out of that tap strongly but not elsewhere, the problem is very likely in your internal plumbing. Then:
- check that your inside stop valve, often under the kitchen sink, is fully open by gently turning it anti-clockwise;
- ask a neighbour whether they have the same problem. If they do, it could be an issue with the water network;
- look up your postcode on your water company’s website to see whether there is planned or emergency work nearby.
Symptom, likely cause and who to contact
| What you notice | Likely cause | Who to contact |
|---|---|---|
| Your whole street has low pressure or no water | A problem on the water network | Your water company |
| The whole house is weak but neighbours are fine | A partly closed stop valve, a leak on the supply pipe, or old narrow pipework | A plumber; the supply pipe is usually the owner’s responsibility |
| One tap is weak, the rest are normal | A blocked aerator or tap cartridge, or a partly closed isolating valve | A plumber |
| The washing machine or dishwasher fills slowly or shows a water-supply error | A partly closed valve, a kinked hose or a blocked inlet filter | Appliance or plumbing repair |
| Only the hot water is weak | The hot water system itself, such as the boiler or cylinder | A heating engineer. For boilers and gas work, use a Gas Safe registered engineer |
Boiler, heating and gas work are not among the services Voltify Contractors lists. Taps, valves, pipework and appliance connections, on either the hot or the cold side, are plumbing work.
When low pressure is really a leak
A gradual drop in pressure, together with a higher water bill or damp patches, can mean water is escaping somewhere between the boundary and your taps. If you have a meter, the 30-minute test on our hidden leaks guide shows whether water is being used when everything is off. A leak on the supply pipe is usually the property owner’s to repair. If you rent, report it to your landlord.
Faults that are quick to fix
Some pressure complaints turn out to be small. A furred-up aerator, a worn tap cartridge, an isolating valve left half-closed after earlier work, or a washing machine inlet filter packed with grit can each be put right in a short visit. A slow-filling appliance is often a connection issue, which our appliance installation service covers as well as new installs.
If the fix involves lifting a floor panel or opening a boxed-in pipe, handyman and property maintenance work can put it back afterwards.
Booking a visit in Plumstead Common
Tell us what you found in the checks above: which taps are affected, whether neighbours have the same problem, whether it is hot, cold or both, and when it started. A short video of the tap running helps. Standard hours are 7am–5pm, Monday to Friday. The documented standard minimum call-out is £80 for the first hour, and the final cost depends on the work. For a burst pipe or a leak that will not stop, out-of-hours emergency call-outs are available at different pricing.
Call 020 3411 1855 or email info@voltifycontractors.co.uk. Nearby SE18 pages include Plumstead and Shooters Hill. See every area we cover or our full list of services.
