Water pressure dropped in my apartment - what should I do?

Is the filter dirty or is the water line clogged? If your neighbors have normal water pressure, then the problem is definitely in your apartment. Start with the simplest thing - check if the shutoff valve at the entrance to your apartment isn't closed (usually it's under the kitchen sink or in the bathroom), sometimes people accidentally close it. If the valve is open, then it's most likely a clogged sediment filter - you need to clean it or replace it. If there's no filter or that didn't help, it could be deposits inside the pipes, but then you'd better call a plumber.

If your neighbors have normal pressure, then the problem is definitely in your apartment, not in the building's system. First thing, check the water inlet valve to your apartment - it's usually under the sink in the kitchen or bathroom, or in the hallway near the meter. Try unscrewing it a bit, sometimes it accidentally gets closed. If the valve is already fully open, then check the sediment filter next - it's that mesh thing right after the valve. It can get clogged with silt or rust, especially if you have a meter. The filter's easy to clean: turn off the valve, unscrew the filter cartridge, shake out or rinse the mesh under running water.

If there's no filter or it's clean, the problem could be in the supply pipes. Start by opening all the faucets one by one and listen - there might be a leak somewhere that's reducing pressure. If nothing's leaking and the filter's fine, then most likely the pipe itself is clogged somewhere inside, and you'll need to call a plumber. But nine times out of ten it's either a closed valve or a clogged filter - try those first.

If the pressure dropped only in your apartment while your neighbors are fine, then the problem is definitely inside your place, not in the main line. First, check if the shut-off valve under the sink or the water meter isn't closed - people sometimes forget about them, especially after repairs. Then look at the pipes to see if there's a leak anywhere: under the tub, behind the toilet, at the connection points. A leak might not be visible on the outside, but it can slowly reduce the pressure.

If there's nothing obviously wrong, it's most likely a clogged filter before the meter or the building's filter on the supply line. I had a similar situation at my dacha - the mesh filter got clogged and the water pressure dropped by half. Try shutting off the valve before the filter, unscrew it, and check if the mesh is blocked. If it's yellow or brown from rust and dirt, that's your culprit 😄 Rinse it under running water or replace it with a new one - it costs peanuts.

Another possibility - check the inlet valve to your apartment, it might not be fully open. And if nothing helps, you should call a plumber to check the pressure and rule out internal leaks or buildup in the supply lines to your faucets.

Your neighbors aren't complaining, so the problem is definitely inside your apartment. Start with the simplest thing - check your water meter, maybe there's a leak somewhere and water's escaping. Then close the shutoff valve under the kitchen sink, turn on the tap - if the water pressure comes back, that means the problem is in that section of the pipe. Do the same thing with the valve under the bathtub. That way you'll figure out which part of the system is the issue.

Now about filters. If you have a whole-house filter installed (usually it's a big cylinder under the sink or somewhere in the corner), then clogging slows down the water noticeably - the pressure drops exactly like that, weak flow from all the taps. Read the filter instructions or look at the housing, it usually says how often to change the cartridge. If you haven't changed it in a while, try replacing the cartridge or flushing the filter. It's quick and costs next to nothing.

If the filter's fine and there's no leaks, check the bends and connections of the pipes - maybe the tube got kinked somewhere or the seal came loose. Sometimes it helps to just double-check all the shutoff valves in your apartment, maybe one got accidentally closed. If none of this works, call a plumber - the problem could be deeper, in the main riser or the meter.