I was using my kitchen sink the other day and the cold water pressure dropped suddenly to about 50% flow. Hot water still at 100% - Checked other sinks around the house - one is very noticeable as is the kitchen sink but the other two sinks appear to have normal cold water flow. Outside spickets, showers, tubs and toilets - I do not notice a difference. Cold water flow is still 50% in two of the sinks (only.)

My inclining is that there's a mineral build up in one of the supply lines in the basement. I draw water from the county (not a well) and do not have a water softener or a filter system. I'm thinking of ripping out a small section of the copper and replacing hoping it will solve the flow problem. This making sense to anyone else?

Have you check you aerator caps on the spout to see if you have crud or mineral buldup there restricting flow?

Since they stated that the hot water flow is still at 100%, I'm going to have to figure that the issue is a clogged cartridge at the faucet... or at the least, it is the place to start!

Here, shut off the water supply to the faucets in question and then remove the guts/cartridge assembly and then check the cartridge for sediment/debris. While the cartridge is out, put a towel over the faucet and turn the water supply on for a second or two to flush the hot and cold lines.

Replace the cartridge and check flow now that you have cleared the lines. If that failed to fix the issue, the problem could be a clogged cartridge (clogged internal where you couldn't see it), or the cold water shutoff under the sinks needs to be cleared in a manner similar to what I have described here for the cartidge (i.e. pull the guts of the shut off and clear/clean). If that fails to resolve the issue then you look for a shut off valve common to both sinks and pull the guts on that shut off valve, etc...

Try this and post back with results!

Mark

Quote:

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Originally Posted by massplumber2008

Since they stated that the hot water flow is still at 100%, I'm going to have to figure that the issue is a clogged cartridge at the faucet...or at the least, it is the place to start!

Here, shut off the water supply to the faucets in question and then remove the guts/cartridge assembly and then check the cartridge for sediment/debris. While the cartridge is out, put a towel over the faucet and turn the water supply on for a second or two to flush the hot and cold lines.

Replace the cartridge and check flow now that you have cleared the lines. If that failed to fix the issue, the problem could be a clogged cartridge (clogged internal where you couldn't see it), or the cold water shutoff under the sinks needs to be cleared in a manner similar to what I have described here for the cartidge (i.e., pull the guts of the shut off and clear/clean).

Try this and post back with results!

Mark

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Good point... that one wizzed right past my head when I posted that.

Easy to do at the rate/frequency we post, Smoothy!

I took apart some 1/2 and 3/4 in copper piping in the basement where I thought the lines may have had a mineral build up but not at the actual faucets because there are 2 of them on different levels of the house and both started suffering from the cold water reduction at the same time... Copper piping is good in the area which I thought the build up would be - no point in checking the faucets, at least in my mind. Any other suggestions?

Hi Jmone22

First, I'd check to see if there is a common cold water shutoff to these bathrooms... may be clogged up.

Next, since the cold water pipe probably also feeds the toilets and the tub/shower valves in these bathrooms I would think it would be a good idea to disassemble the faucets and clean/purge of sediment/debris.

Be sure to check the cold water shutoffs under the sinks of these faucets. Here, sometimes sediment can get in them and lower volume as well!

Good luck!


Mark