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Taking a hot shower in the morning or before bed is one of the little pleasures in life. You can enjoy some time alone and rejuvenate your body and mind. Nothing can ruin that like poor water pressure.
If you’re used to starting your day with a shower, you probably rely on it to wake you up and get you in the right mindset for the day ahead. A shower with low water pressure is not a good way to start your day.
A good shower will get you out of bed in the morning or refresh you after a workout. Low water pressure can be very frustrating and annoying to deal with.
While it may seem like a minor inconvenience to some, it could be a much bigger problem than that. Something is causing the low water pressure in your shower, and it’s always good to know what it is.
Let’s find out what causes low water pressure in the shower and what you can do to fix it.
What Causes Low Water Pressure in the Shower?
There is a variety of reasons that could be causing low water pressure. For starters, it could be triggered by the plumbing in your house. There could be a blockage or a leak in the plumbing system. Checking to see that your plumbing system is working as it should is a good start.
Here are some other common reasons.
Blocked showerhead
Shower water contains mineral deposits that can clog your shower head. Over time, they can stop the water from flowing at full strength. If you haven’t cleaned your shower head in a while, this could be the reason.
Unscrew your shower head and soak it in vinegar for 8 hours. If there are still mineral deposits left after 8 hours, you can push them out with a toothpick. If the showerhead is still clogged, it might be time to invest in a new one.
Home water valves
If the water pressure is suddenly low, it could be because your home’s water valves are shut off. Water valves are usually located in the home’s water meter box.
Find your water valve and check to see that everything is “on.” If the switch is even half-way “off,” it will have an effect on the water pressure. This is probably the best-case scenario that requires a very simple fix.
Too much demand on the water supply
If you’re taking a shower while the dishwasher is running or your partner is using the toilet, the water is going into two places at once. The water that was going your way was just sent somewhere else. If that’s the case, the water pressure should return to normal in a matter of minutes.
To fix this, don’t run water anywhere else when you’re taking a shower. See if that makes a difference. If not, then this is not the issue.
Using showers during peak periods
If you’re using the shower at peak times, such as in the morning before work, or in the evening before bed, that could be the problem. There are probably many other people in your building or your neighborhood using the shower at the same time.
To find out if that’s the case, check if your water pressure returns to normal during non-peak times. Run the shower in the middle of the night or the day when everyone is at work.
You have a water-saving showerhead
If you’ve always had a problem with your current showerhead, it might have a water-saving feature you were unaware of. These showerheads are designed specifically to lower water consumption. That can mean decreasing the water pressure.
If you have a water-saving showerhead, replace it with a regular one.
Faulty pipes
If the problem is not with the showerhead, it could be with the pipes. Galvanized pipes are coated with molten-zinc. They are no longer used in newer homes because of the following reasons. The zinc will corrode and rust, thus falling off the walls and blocking the way for water. All of the water won’t get to the showerhead. The water that does will have a slightly coppery color because it passed through a lot of metal.
In this case, you need to call a professional to deal with the pipes. Unfortunately, there is no easy fix.
Pressure regulator device
The water pressure regulator in your home may be malfunctioning. Normally, it should be set to between 45 and 60 psi.
If the problem is with the water pressure regulator device, you should contact a plumber. Trying to fix it yourself can be dangerous and result in more expensive repairs.
Other Ways to Increase the Water Pressure in Your Shower
Buy a low-pressure showerhead
If you’ve confirmed that the problem is not with the plumbing, you can try using a low-pressure showerhead. Those are designed specifically to increase water pressure. It won’t work miracles, but it will help to produce a stronger stream of water.
Open the water heater shut-off valve
If the water pressure is only low when it comes to hot water, the issue could be in the water heater. Check to see if the shut-off valve is open. Open it if it wasn’t, and you got your answer!
Flush the water heater
The water tank could be blocked by sediment, and the pipes could be blocked by debris. If that’s the case, drain the water heater and flush out all the lines. This will remove debris from the pipes and raise your water pressure.
Install a shower pump or similar
If you’ve tried everything and nothing works, you might need to explore the more expensive options. For starters, install a shower pump that boosts water pressure.
It is more expensive than simply getting a new showerhead, but it’s still on the affordable side of the spectrum. This is not anything you can easily do yourself. Contact a professional plumber to help you pick the new shower pump and install it.
Call in a professional
At the end of the day, if all else fails, call a plumber! They will definitely be able to find the problem and fix it for you.
Ending thoughts on what causes low water pressure in the shower and how to fix it
Try these tips to see if you can identify the problem and solve it yourself. It won’t hurt! Unfortunately, some things are out of your control. Those will require the help of a professional and/or expensive repairs.
To avoid spending money for no reason, try these easy fixes first. At the very least you’ll know what the problem isn’t and will be able to help the plumber.
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