Quick checks
Is it every fixture?
One low faucet usually means a clogged aerator or cartridge. Every fixture means something on the main line or the supply.
Ask a neighbor
If nearby homes are also dry, it may be a city main break or planned work. Contact the City of Anaheim water utility.
Check the house valve
Make sure the main shutoff has not been partly closed, for example after recent work.
Look at the meter
If the meter is spinning with everything off, water is escaping somewhere between the meter and the fixtures.
Walk the property
Look for wet ground, water along the foundation or water bubbling up in the yard.
What it probably is
- IfNeighbors are affected tooThenA city supply issue. Contact the city water utility.
- IfOnly your house, meter spinning, wet yardThenA break in your service line between the meter and the house. Close the house valve, or the meter valve if needed, and call a plumber.
- IfOnly your house, meter still, pressure low everywhereThenPossibly a failing pressure regulator or a partly closed or failed main valve.
- IfLow pressure only on hot waterThenLikely an issue at the water heater, such as a partly closed valve or sediment.
The pressure regulator
Many homes have a pressure reducing valve near where the line enters the house. It lowers street pressure to a level the house plumbing can handle. When it fails, pressure can drop sharply or spike, and a spike is just as much of a problem because it strains every pipe and hose.
Old galvanized pipe can also slowly close itself off with rust and scale, which shows up as gradually weakening pressure over years rather than a sudden drop. That is a repiping conversation rather than an emergency.
Sudden drop or slow decline
Sudden drop
- City outage or main break
- Service line break
- Failed regulator or valve
- Worth sorting out the same day
Slow decline over months or years
- Scaled or corroded galvanized pipe
- Mineral buildup in fixtures from hard water
- Aging regulator
- Better handled as a planned repair
Who to contact
- Street-side or meter issue
- City of Anaheim water utility
- Line from meter to house
- Owner's responsibility; licensed plumber
- Inside the house
- Licensed plumber
- Check any license
- cslb.ca.gov
Questions for the plumber
- What is my static water pressure?
- Is my pressure regulator working, and how old is it?
- Is my supply line copper, galvanized or plastic?
- Does replacing the service line need a permit?
Common questions
How do I find out about a city water outage?
Contact the City of Anaheim water utility or check the city's own channels for service notices.
Can high water pressure cause leaks?
Yes. Excessive pressure strains supply hoses, fittings and water heaters, which is why a working regulator matters.
Why is only my kitchen faucet low?
A clogged aerator or cartridge, often from hard water scale, is the usual cause. Cleaning or replacing it often fixes the problem.
General information for Anaheim, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.