The fact that we have running water in our homes is pretty wonderful when you think about it. Unlike other points in history – and in other parts of the world – many of us have the privilege of turning a few buttons and being showered in clean, hot water. But sometimes the pressure of this water is not ideal. This can be especially frustrating when showering in your own home that you know is capable of bigger things but is below par in terms of pressure for some reason. If this is something you are dealing with, here are some things to try.
Test your water pressure
Sometimes you can easily tell if you are dealing with low shower pressure, but sometimes you may want to do a quick check to confirm this. In this case, all you need is a measuring cup. Just Follow the infographic above: and take your measuring cup (ideally a liter or two), turn the shower on at full blast, and then state how long it takes to fill the jug with a liter of water.
If it takes more than six seconds, you are likely dealing with low water pressure Anchor pumps, a UK based plumbing company. However, the low pressure can have various causes. Here are some easy ways you can try to fix the problem yourself without calling a plumber.
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Clean your shower head
We put this first because sometimes the simplest solution is the one we overlook. It is completely normal for shower heads to become clogged over time with mineral build-up and other debris. So, if you haven’t cleaned yours in a while (or ever), start over.
Instead of investing in a disposable cleaner, just unscrew your shower head and Soak it in a bowl of vinegar for eight hours. Once it’s over, if you see any remaining mineral deposits, The spruce recommends Push this out with a toothpick. If it’s still clogged, it’s probably time to invest in a new shower head.
Check your shower head and its settings
Another possible cause of low pressure is a water-saving shower head. This can be the case after you’ve just moved to a new location and find that the pressure is low to begin with. In this case, the previous tenant may have installed a water-saving shower head to reduce flow and save water. While this is better for the environment, it may not remove all of the lather from your hair.
Some low flow shower heads have a flow limiter that allows you to adjust the water pressure. The solution to your problem may be to reset the flow restrictor. To do this, follow the instructions in the Home guides vertical from SF Gate::
Use wide neck locking pliers or a pipe wrench and rag to disassemble the shower head. Many shower heads come with a built-in flow restrictor to help homeowners avoid wasting water. The flow restrictor is typically a white plastic disc with a small hole in the middle. The water has to push through this small hole before it comes out of the shower head. You can improve the flow of the shower by removing the flow restrictor.
Check the main water valve
If you’ve tried both of the above possible solutions and you’re still having problems, you may need to check your main water valve, which controls the amount of water that goes to each of the faucets in the house. It may turn out to be partially closed, which can definitely affect the water pressure in your shower. There are two main valves that you will want to check Experts at Terry’s Plumbing in Pittsburgh, PA:
Main valve: The water pipe to your home is near your water meter. You will see two valves; Turn both counterclockwise to open them fully.
Shower valve: This is likely in the basement of your home, in the crawl space, or in an access door behind the shower. Turn it counterclockwise to open it.
If none of these are partially closed, there may be a problem with your roadside water valve. You must therefore contact your local church.
Call a professional
At this point, if you haven’t been able to fix or track down the water pressure problem, you’ll likely want to call a plumber. You should be able to locate and then resolve the problem so that you can be back in a shower with adequate water pressure in no time.
This story was originally published March 1, 2013 and was updated with more information on April 23, 2021 to meet Lifehacker style guidelines.