6 Tips for Increasing the Water Pressure in Your Shower
The lack of consistent water pressure in your shower is one of the most annoying problems you can face during your daily routine. You want to enjoy a brisk, refreshing shower, but instead you get a trickle of water that makes a lightly rainy day look like a flood. The loss of water pressure in your shower is a problem, one that you shouldn’t overlook in the long term.
This following guide contains handy tips to help you get your shower back up to speed. We know how frustrating low water pressure can be while you’re taking a shower. Fortunately, there are some easy fixes to help you overcome the water pressure problem. Here are six techniques to increase water pressure in your shower:
Tip #1: Clean your shower head
Did you know that loss of water pressure isn’t always the fault of the pipes? Sometimes, the issue might rest inside the shower head itself. This means that your water pressure is just fine until it hits that shower head. This is especially the case if you haven’t had water pressure problems anywhere else in your home before. In order to deal with this problem of build-up in your shower head, you’ll need to clean this section thoroughly. You can do this by taking the whole thing apart and cleaning inside the head with a cloth or, preferably, a toothbrush. You can also leave the whole thing to soak immersed in vinegar for several hours. This breaks down any mineral deposits from harder water, so that things can start running smoothly again.
Tip #2: Replace your shower head
Ideally, you don’t want to go out and spend money on a new shower head. However, that may be your best option in some cases. To determine whether you need a replacement, check your shower head’s flow restrictor. The flow restrictor becomes faulty over time. Sometimes, it can be fixed by simply adjusting the flow restrictor. At other times, it needs to be replaced altogether. Contact a plumber to determine whether your shower head needs to be replaced. Replacing the shower head should be a viable solution toward increasing the water pressure in your shower. If doing that doesn’t change anything, you may have a larger problem of lost water pressure throughout your home in general.
Tip #3: Take a look at the shower hose
Another possible answer to your water pressure problem isn’t found in the shower head. Instead, the problem stems from another component of your shower: the hose. Is the hose gnarled, twisted, or otherwise not smooth and straight as it should be? That could very well be affecting the water pressure. When a shower hose isn’t working properly, this will make it difficult for you to get a decent shower. Check the hose carefully for any damage or creases. If there are any malformations, you might have just found the culprit to the lower water pressure in your shower.
Tip #4: Look into getting a shower pump
A shower pump should work well toward expanding water pressure, as it forcefully increases the pressure before the water reaches the shower. These devices are quite handy and successful at increasing water pressure. You should be able to easily install the pump into your shower system with some DIY knowledge. Otherwise, you can always contact a plumbing professional to take care of installation for you.
Tip #5: Take a look at the main shut-off valve
One reason your water pressure could be so poor is because the main shut-off valve isn’t open all the way. This will just take a quick trip to the basement, or wherever your mains are located inside your home. Once there, check and make sure that the valve is open. If they are closed, make sure that you open the valve again to restore the water pressure in your shower.
Tip #6: See if there are any leaks in your pipes
If water is leaking from your pipes, water pressure probably won’t be good, right? Checking all your pipes may be a challenge, as some of them can be hidden behind walls. If you do think you have a leak, you might need to contact your plumber. Sometimes, your plumbing needs a professional touch. Call a professional plumber and let them take on the problem. Hopefully, you’ll have great water pressure in time for your next shower!
