Here’s a practical tip: bypass the softener temporarily. Most units have a lever or valve that lets water flow around the system. If your pressure magically returns when bypassed, you’ve found your problem zone.
Next, check the pressure gauge on your main water line, if you have one. Normal household pressure is between 40 and 60 psi. If it’s lower, your softener might be restricting flow even when the system is clean.
Fun fact: Ancient Romans used aqueducts that relied on gravity, not pressure. They’d have loved a modern water softener—until a slave had to scrub resin beads by hand. We’ve come a long way, but the physics of flow hasn’t changed.
