If you just experience a (dramatic) increase in pressure it is very likely that you flow regulator stopped working correctly. Maybe it broke, became unscrewed, or whatever. To stop the flow you would need to find a replacement regulator (probably from manufacturer) or just get a new shower head.
A broken water pressure regulator can cause high pressure. Trapped air can increase water pressure in pipes. Your showerhead's restrictor valve may have malfunctioned. If you hear a banging in your pipes, something called “water hammer,” you could have high water pressure.
Pressure regulator valve failure: As previously mentioned, these valves have a limited lifespan. If your water pressure suddenly changed and became very high, your valve may have failed.
A surge in pressure within a piping system, known as water or fluid hammer, occurs whenever the linear flow rate of fluid in pipe changes quickly – when pumps start or stop, valves open or close with quick acting actuation devices, or entrapped air moves within the system.
Replace Your Water-Restricting Showerhead
Depending on your current flow rate, you may be able to increase the flow simply by removing the filter or restricting device or replacing the showerhead with a higher-flow model, such as increasing to a standard 2.5 GPM head.
The regulator will have a screw or bolt and a locking nut system. Loosen the locking nut with a wrench and using quarter-turn increments, use a screwdriver to turn the screw counter-clockwise (to the left) to decrease water pressure, and clockwise (to the right) to increase water pressure.
Do different shower heads affect water pressure? Yes, depending on which shower head you choose, they can increase the water pressure at the head itself in order to create a more powerful shower or decrease it to create a more gentle shower.
If you're dealing with ongoing high water pressure, you should check on your regulator. You may be able to lower your water pressure by adjusting the regulator, or you might need to replace it with a new one.
As far as fluctuations in overall water pressure throughout the entire house, that is abnormal and definitely needs to be fixed asap. This post identifies issues that can cause inconsistencies, fluctuations, or overall lack of water pressure in your home and how to remedy the situation.
Normal psi for a home pipe system is between 30 and 80 psi. While you don't want the psi to be too low, it violates code to be above 80. Instead, you should aim for a psi that's between 60 and 70.
Your shower head has very high water pressure and is harsh on your scalp. If you have a high-pressure shower head that does not have a gentle flow, then the water itself might be causing the hair fall and hair loss. When water hits your scalp at very high pressure, it makes your hair prone to premature breakage.
Temperature Settings
If you set it too high (above 120°F), then this could result in an increase in internal pressure levels within the tank. Eventually, this leads to leaks or other issues, as mentioned previously.
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.
If your water flow and pressure fluctuates, you might need to fix a clogged or faulty valve, pipe, appliance, or component in your plumbing system.
Evaporated hot water cannot leave the pipes correctly, causing air to get trapped in the piping system. If you have a water heater, air can enter your water pipes due to the water heater's anode rod getting corroded.
Unequal Low Pressure – when the cold water pressure is higher than the hot water pressure, which can cause water to mix unevenly. Turn the cold tap on fully and then the hot – you can see the cold water pressure is higher than the hot water pressure.
When the pressure regulator starts failing it will bleed pressure from the city side into your house lines causing higher than normal water pressure due to a failing diaphragm inside the regulator. Buy a new pressure regulator, install it (super easy) and your problem will be solved.
Water pressure regulator replacement: $250 to $1,000. Pipe section replacement: $500 to $4,000.
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.
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.
(Normal is 60 psi and very few areas are below 40 psi) The pressure of the streams will drop under these extreme conditions, of course, but the stream integrity is preserved. This photo shows the stream integrity of our Perfect shower head (old style).
Differentiating Between Low Flow And High Flow Shower Heads
If you're looking for the most pressure, go for the 2.5 GPM Flow Rate, unless you are restricted because you reside in California, Colorado or New York. Again, this has been the Maximum Flow Rate since 1992. The step down from there in Flow Rate is 2.0 GPM.
The primary way to fix high water pressure is by installing a water pressure regulator. If you already have one, you will need to adjust it or replace it.