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Water Flow
(Not the same as water Volume or Pressure)

Water flow:
the amount of water that moves freely from place to place in a given period of time,
measured in gallons per minute (gpm)

Water Flow is often confused with Water Volume. The two are not the same.

Water flow is the result of pressure on volume. Volume is the amount of water available for delivery, and pressure is the force exerted on it.

Water flows through pipe due to a difference in pressure between each end ... higher pressure on the incoming end, lower pressure on the discharge end.

If not enough water is coming out of your faucet or fixture, chances are the problem is due to low water flow, not because of low pressure.

Low flow is usually caused by an obstruction usually at the faucet valve. The new low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators, and toilets will also reduce the flow of water. Attempts to increase the water pressure will not solve these problems.

Clogged Faucet Aerator
Low water pressure in a kitchen faucet is an extremely common problem, and is usually due to to small pieces of sediment or some other debris that clogged a passageway within the valve cartridge, and/or the tiny orifices within the aerator and or a flow restrictor.

Hard water forms a scale inside of pipes which can break off and clog the aerator. Sand, dirt and other debris can enter municipal piping systems when a water main fractures. Once the water main is repaired, this debris is transported through the water system and can end up in your home.

If a city water main or water line inside your home is drained and then refilled with water, the incoming water can break off tremendous amounts of sediment and carry it through the water system. This happens when the surge of water rushes into the empty pipes creating a miniature tsunami of roiling water and sediment as the water fills the pipes.

To help avoid the problem, remove the aerator and flush it out every few months to maintain water flow.


 
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