Why does my new plumbing still have bad water pressure and risky joints?
Poorly installed pipes and high-tension fittings put excessive pressure on joints, creating constant risks of leaks and floods. Even after professional upgrades like Pex, substandard workmanship leaves homeowners dealing with weak water flow and questionable setups like S-traps that require tearing out walls and digging up pipes just to check for defects.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Adding an extra horizontal length of PEX and another elbow to remove tension
- 2Lifting pipes slightly and strapping them to the wall
- 3Getting the house inspected
- 4Using a pressure washer to wash the car
- 5Living with the low water pressure
- 6breaking it off and using a zip coupling
- 7Buying a flange repair head and bolting it into the concrete around the cast iron pipe
- 8Using a twist and set insert toilet flange repair kit
- 9leaving the janky accordion pipe setup alone if it works and does not leak
- 10sending it and treating it as a life lesson not to touch poorly maintained rental property plumbing
- 11Reporting them to their boss
- 12Walking away from the job site
- 13Having the fittings changed or installed with a copper stub out or different crimp ring for peace of mind.
- 14waiting for tile guys to give it slope
- 15Hiring professional help
- 16Leaving minor inconveniences alone
- 17fixing it as best as possible with available materials
- 18modifying pipe lengths or configuring an air admittance valve
- 19Switching out unbranded or cheap shower valves for name brands like Delta or Moen
- 20Installing accessible valve setups inside the shower area rather than behind walls
- 21Consulting online forums or local plumbers to check if DIY or contractor plumbing meets regional building codes
- 22Calling the company back to demand corrections or a refund
- 23Withholding payment
- 24Hiring a different professional to fix the work
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Get rid of that doody ass Amazon/wayfair shower valve. Those things are complete junk.”source ↗
“She won't be happy when you're ripping open tile in a few years to replace this valve”source ↗
“Other than there is no access from the back so when the valve fails you get to bust up whatever interior surface you chose.”source ↗
“This also wouldn’t pass inspection where I’m at in northern CA. I’ve learned through this sub that different states and countries definitely have different rules…”source ↗
“sorry you have to deal with that shit.”source ↗
“Never in my (admittedly short) 2 years of plumbing have I seen a piece of ABS glued to copper like this.”source ↗
“I’m in the same boat thinking about putting a full bath in the basement. I’d have to tie into the main stack somewhere on another floor with the only place the bathroom can go in the basement. Otherwise a vent like this would solve me a lot of problems but I don’t think it would pass code in my area.”source ↗
“got told we have water in the drawer under the sink, never thought of looking at the setup where I live, should have, old owner was a do it yourself type”source ↗
“I left mid conversation with the dude, told me he’s been doing this longer than I’ve been alive. He called my boss and told him he’s never had to vent a washing machine and that vent 90’s are fine and that I just had a hard on for him. I should’ve just left when there was no air or water on the drain lines. So many things wrong in each pic 🤣”source ↗
“Drain was clogged, used one of those zipper cleaning tools and it decided to break off in the drain.”source ↗
“I took everything apart and got broken piece out along with ungodly muck. Put everything back together and no leaks, but this just doesn’t look right. This is a bathroom sink.”source ↗
“I’m in a rental home, should I just call it a win and put everything back?”source ↗
“I have been trying to improve the water pressure in my residence and thought I might have a leak in this area so I dug out the pipe.”source ↗
“I couldn't find any leaks but the pipe looks old crusty rusty and my neighbor broke the knob with his mower.”source ↗
“I see 42 psi at this faucet but it sure doesn't feel like water pressure/flow inside the house is as strong as it should be.”source ↗
“All of the house plumbing was recently professionally upgraded to pex but the quality of my showers or speed of filling a bucket never improved.”source ↗
“It looks like the 90-Degree fittings will snap and flood the house one day. Am I crazy? That bend must be putting a lot of pressure on the fitting.”source ↗
“I am looking a buying a new house. I also saw a P Trap that is actually an S Trap. I gotta have this place inspected for sure.”source ↗
“I have encountered a copper to pvc repair where massive amounts of silicone were used to make the connection.”source ↗
“Dad took the basement toilet off now I need to help put it back on.”source ↗
“Looks like the bolts were just in the concrete floor and broke off?”source ↗
“The cast iron pipe is too wide to anchor a flange?”source ↗
“Im just very confused, this doesn't look like the other one I have done. What am I supposed to do?”source ↗
“Unfortunately I live in Tennessee, no plans required for residential homes under 5k sq ft. They were caught working with no permits to begin with.”source ↗
“I do drain cleaning and this can't be serviced”source ↗
“They were so close. Had all the right pieces and everything”source ↗
“I’m a total rookie and so is my husband. But after the tile installer left today, he noticed that it was way crooked. This is a Schluter channel body.”source ↗
“It’s already connected to the pipe that goes in the ground and shouldn’t it be level?”source ↗
“Still makes me salty I gotta deal with this lol. I don’t even want to think about the huge crack in the main line(large cast iron pipe) to the septic tank.”source ↗
“The rest is going to be a headache without professional help.”source ↗
“Trap couldn't be straight under due to the drawer”source ↗
“Yeah really thought about carving the bottom of the cupboard for it and prayed a little I could make it work without it”source ↗
“I’m just worried about that little band clamp if that’s something reliable or up to code. Not looking to come home to a flooded house.”source ↗
“Everywhere I read this Schluter system channel body should be completely level every direction before proceeding with the tile and the shower pan. Please tell me I’m mistaken because I’m super worried right now.”source ↗
“The gas line only has one cut off and is tied into a pipe that’s running to seemingly nowhere too.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 4Home inspection found plumbing issues but seller says it's fine
- 2Am I responsible for fixing plumbing work I didn't do?
- 4Busted a pipe trying to fix a drain
- 20Sump pump dumping water back near the foundation
- 2How to deal with failing and rusted galvanized pipes
- 56How to fix a leaking water pipe in a tight space