The most common cause of low shower pressure is a blocked showerhead, as a result of limescale build-up. These blockages obstruct the water flow, leading to reduced pressure over time. Most showers are fitted with a filter, protecting the pipework from debris, but this can become partially blocked by scale.
Low pressure in a shower can be caused by several issues such as a clogged showerhead, a worn-out mixing valve, closed valve, leaking pipe, or even a faulty water heater.
More often than not, no water pressure in the shower, bathrooms and other parts of the house are caused by your pipes or drains being blocked. You may also have a broken or leaking pipe. If this is the case, you may notice a damp smell, an increase in your water bill or water on your carpets or walls.
If water is not draining fast enough in the shower, you likely have a clogged drain. If you are standing in a puddle of water at the end of your shower, your drain is likely clogged. A clogged shower drain often smells terrible as well.
Partially Closed Valve
One of the most common issues that can lead to low water pressure problems is that the water is being obstructed by one or more partially closed shutoff valves. Typically, a home will have one main shutoff valve located inside the house.
For water conservation purposes, most plumbing codes require faucets and showering devices to not exceed a certain maximum flow rate. Removing the flow restrictors could cause these devices to no longer meet these codes.
Many modern shower heads are designed specifically to increase the pressure of the water coming out of the showerhead itself. So, while they can't increase the actual water pressure of the home, they do improve the showering experience.
A high pressure shower head maximizes the flow of water through the shower head for a powerful spray. Waterpik® shower head engineers design water passages to minimize flow restriction and optimize the shower force, and put every shower head design through more than 1,000 hours of testing.
Lower pressure could be more severe than you imagine, potentially involving serious problems like leaking or cracked water pipes and may require professional intervention before snowballing into a home plumbing disaster.
Shower and bathtub shutoff valves are usually hidden behind an access panel. That panel can be in the bathroom, the room behind the bathroom or the ceiling of the room below. If you don't have an access panel, it could be hidden behind the wall.
What does a flow restrictor look like? Before you remove the flow restrictor from your shower head, you need to know what it looks like. A water flow restrictor is usually a flat, circular, plastic piece. The center of the restrictor is shaped like a star, or similarly shaped, and comes in a variety of colors.
Two big reasons: To help lower utility bills -- and to conserve water. According to the EPA, the average family could save 2,700 gallons per year by installing WaterSense labeled showerheads. Since these water savings will reduce demands on water heaters, they will also save energy.
Most low-flow showerheads have a rubber pressure-reducing valve (called a regulator) to maintain a lower pressure. You can increase the flow by simply taking it out. You could also consider enlarging the hole that allows water into your showerhead with a drill to increase the amount of water coming through.
A quick and easy way to increase water pressure is to adjust the pressure-reducing valve, which can be found in your home, usually close to your water meter.
If you have low water pressure in all your plumbing fixtures, the issue is almost definitely with your water supply or your pipes. However, if it's one or a few fixtures that seem to have a low flow, you may want to check out the fixtures.
If there's an accumulation of sediments in your hot water tank, it can lower your water pressure. The presence of kinks in the flexible water pipes used in water heaters can result in low water pressure. If the shut-off valve isn't fully open, water pressure can drop.
Contacting a plumber is the best option if you suspect a shower drain is clogged. Plumbers have the professional tools and equipment to not only remove the blockage, but do so with minimal harmful chemicals while also preventing future blockages by thoroughly cleaning the pipes.
The bubbling reaction from the baking soda and vinegar helps to loosen the drain clog, and the boiling water in step 4 helps remove it from your pipes. Baking soda and vinegar can serve as a natural solution to unclog and clean a stinky drain.
Pour about a cup of baking soda down the shower drain, followed by an equal amount of vinegar. Let the solution bubble and foam for a few minutes, and then follow with the kettle full of hot (but not boiling) water. Let the mixture sit for a couple of hours. If the drain still isn't flowing freely, repeat the process.
Take a plastic bag that is big enough to fit over your showerhead and half fill it with vinegar. Place it over the head until it is completely submerged in the vinegar, using string or an elastic band to tie it in place. Leave for at least 30 minutes, preferably around an hour.