Low pressure everywhere
Often a failed pressure-limiting valve at the meter, a partly closed mains tap, or corroded galvanised pipe choking the whole house.
Weak Shower?
Pressure back today.
Dribbling showers, taps that take forever, or pressure that comes and goes, we test your system, find the real cause and fix it properly. Fixed price, $0 call-out, across Wollongong & the Illawarra.
45min*Emergency response$0Call-out fee24/7Online bookingNSWLicensed & insured
*45-minute emergency response during service hours (7am to 5pm) in serviced areas, subject to availability. Book any hour by phone or online.
Pressure Check
Book a Pressure Check · 1300 707 059
Low Water Pressure? Tested & Fixed. $0 Call Out Fee
We measure it, find the cause and give you a fixed price before we touch anything.
On the Tools
Pressure Sorted Properly.
The same licensed crew, the same tidy finish, every Illawarra job.
Sound Familiar?
Which One's You?
Pressure problems have a handful of usual causes. Tell us what you're noticing and we'll tell you what it probably is.
Low pressure at one tap
A blocked aerator, worn tap cartridge or a partial blockage on that branch. Usually a quick fix.
Pressure drops when two things run
Undersized or restricted pipework can't supply two outlets at once. We find the bottleneck and open it up.
Banging pipes (water hammer)
Pressure too high or loose pipework. We fit a pressure-limiting valve and arrestors so the banging stops.
Pressure comes and goes
A failing valve, a leak elsewhere on the line, or the hot water system's tempering valve. We test to find which.
Weak hot but strong cold
The restriction is in the hot water system or its valves, often sediment or a failing tempering valve.
What We Check
Test First. Then Fix the Cause.
A pressure gauge tells us in minutes whether the problem is supply, pipework, valves or the hot water system, so we fix the right thing.
Pressure Test
We measure static and flow pressure at the meter and at your taps to isolate where it's being lost.
Valves & Regulators
Failed pressure-limiting valves, stop taps and non-return valves replaced and set to the correct pressure.
Pipework
Corroded galvanised or undersized pipe replaced with correctly sized copper or PEX to restore full flow.
Booster Pumps
Where mains supply is genuinely low, a quiet pressure pump gives you proper showers without touching the street supply.
Want to know if your pressure is normal? Ask, we'll test it free with any job.
Talk Pressure Now · 1300 707 059Straight Answer
Too Low or Too High?
Both cause problems, and both are fixable. Here's what each looks like.
Too low if… Fix the restriction
- Showers dribble, especially when another tap runs
- Taps take ages to fill a kettle or bath
- Pressure is weak at every outlet in the house
- Your pipes are old galvanised steel
Too high if… Fit a limiting valve
- Pipes bang or thump when taps close
- Taps and toilets keep needing new washers and seals
- Flexi hoses under sinks are bulging or failing
- Your hot water relief valve keeps dripping
Compare the Fixes
Test, Valve, Pipework or Pump?
The four ways we sort water pressure problems across Wollongong and the Illawarra, from a 20-minute test to a booster pump.
| Pressure test | Pressure limiting valve | Pipework upgrade | Booster pump | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solves | Tells us whether it's supply, plumbing or a leak | Pressure too high (over 500 kPa), banging pipes, failing flexi hoses | Old galvanised or undersized pipes choking the flow | Genuinely low supply, hill-top homes, tank water |
| Time | 20 to 30 minutes | 1 hour | Half a day to 2 days | Half a day |
| Relative cost | Free with any job | $ | $$$ | $$ |
| Lifespan | n/a | 10 years plus | 50 years | 10 to 15 years |
| We recommend it when | Every pressure call, first | Test reads high, or the Illawarra escarpment mains are pushing it | Pressure fine at the meter, poor inside | Pressure poor at the meter and Sydney Water is already at its minimum |
Sydney Water must supply at least 15 metres head at the connection; AS/NZS 3500 caps pressure inside the house at 500 kPa. Bands are relative, not quotes.
Local Knowledge
Water Pressure Across Wollongong & the Illawarra
Pressure in the Illawarra swings more than most places because of the hills. Homes up at Helensburgh and Austinmer on the escarpment side can sit at the low end of Sydney Water's range, while streets at the bottom of the hill in Cordeaux Heights or on the flats around Berkeley often get more than the 500 kPa the standard allows, which is what murders flexi hoses and makes pipes bang.
Weak hot but strong cold is nearly always the tempering valve or the hot water unit itself, not the supply. Low pressure at a single tap points to a blocked aerator or a leak on that branch. We test at the meter and at the taps before recommending anything, so you never pay for a pump you didn't need.
The same local crew does the test, the valve and the pipework, so there's one point of blame if it isn't right.
Fixed Price. Nothing Hidden.
What's Included in a Pressure Fix
- Static and flow pressure test at the meter and outlets
- Diagnosis of the actual cause, valve, pipe, appliance or supply
- Fixed price before any work starts
- Replacement of failed valves, regulators or restricted pipe sections
- Pressure set to the correct level and re-tested
- Advice on protecting appliances and fittings long term
No hourly rates, no surprises. See exactly how a quote is built.
Proper shower again.
How It Works
Pressure Fixed in Four Easy Steps
1
Call or Book
Phone 1300 707 059. Tell us where the pressure is weak and whether it's hot, cold or both.
2
We Arrive Fast
A licensed plumber with pressure-testing gear, same day.
3
Test & Fixed Price
We measure, find the cause and give you the exact price before any work starts.
4
Fixed & Re-Tested
Valve, pipe or pump sorted and the pressure confirmed at your taps.
Questions
Good to Know Before You Call
What is normal water pressure?
Household pressure in NSW is generally regulated to around 500 kPa at the meter. Much above that stresses fittings and appliances; much below it and showers feel weak. We measure yours and tell you where it sits.
Why is my pressure low only when two taps are on?
The pipework can't deliver enough flow for two outlets, usually undersized or partly corroded pipe, or a restriction at a valve. We find the bottleneck and open it up.
Can you increase the pressure from the street?
We can't change the mains supply, but we can remove restrictions in your system, correct a failed valve, or fit a booster pump where the supply is genuinely low.
Is high pressure a problem?
Yes. It causes water hammer, burst flexi hoses, dripping relief valves and shortens appliance life. A pressure-limiting valve fixes it and protects everything downstream.
Why is my hot water weak but cold water fine?
The restriction is in the hot water system, commonly sediment, a failing tempering valve or a partly blocked outlet. We test and fix it, or advise if the system's due for replacement.
Do you charge for the pressure test?
No. Testing is part of diagnosing the job, and you get a fixed price before any work starts. With no call-out fee, checking costs you nothing.
What pressure is Sydney Water required to give me?
At least 15 metres head, roughly 150 kPa, at the point the supply connects to your property. Most Illawarra homes get between 15 and 65 metres according to Sydney Water's pressure management program. Inside the house, AS/NZS 3500 requires a limiting valve if pressure exceeds 500 kPa. If you're below the minimum at the meter, that's a Sydney Water call on 13 20 90; if you're fine at the meter and poor inside, that's us.
Weak Pressure? We Can Fix It Today.
One call gets a licensed plumber on the way to test and fix it, fixed upfront price, no call out fee. Sunny says: life's too short for a dribbly shower.
*45-minute emergency response during service hours (7am to 5pm) in serviced areas, subject to availability. Book any hour by phone or online.
Sources & further reading
- Sydney Water Water Pressure Management Program minimum 15 metres head at the connection; most Illawarra homes get 15 to 65
- Sydney Water customer contract what Sydney Water must supply, and who fixes what, for the Illawarra
- Standards Australia: AS/NZS 3500 plumbing and drainage series the standard every job is installed to, including the 500 kPa limit
- NSW Fair Trading licence check search 489163C
Reviewed by the licensed plumbing team at Wollongong Plumbing and Hot Water, NSW Licence No. 489163C. Last updated .