How to Increase Shower Head Water Pressure: 7 Handy Tips to Keep Around

Having the best shower heads in your bathroom but the water pressure is not there?

If you’re not satisfied with the level of water pressure that your shower head delivers, you should know that there are ways to improve water pressure. These tips are primarily DIY, so you should be able to fix problems on your own. However, a professional plumber or a shower installation company will also be able to help.

Without further ado, let’s look at seven smart and trusted ways to boost shower head pressure. All of them have been used with success by many people and they’ll probably work for you, too!

Remove Aerators

A lot of people find that boosting water pressure is as easy to removing the aerators from their shower heads. Aerators are small components which put air into the water. They are designed to make a shower experience feel “wetter”. However, sometimes, they decrease water pressure.

Removing aerators should be a simple matter – however, every shower head system is different. Refer to your owner’s manual in order to find out where the aerator is. It should be easy enough to put it back if it doesn’t work the way that you want it to.

Since aerators change the way that water flows, via the addition of oxygen (as you can see in these shower heads), they are often a culprit when lower shower head water pressure crops up. Luckily, they are small parts which are typically simple to take away. Since models vary, make a note of your shower head model. There may be people online who have posted full instructions for removing aerators from your particular shower head. It’s worth taking a look for these types of resources, especially if you’re not too handy and aren’t sure what to do.

De-clog the Shower Head

Sometimes, gunk, grime and/or salts build up in shower head components and cause clogs which reduce water pressure.

Giving your shower head a good cleaning with the right tools should help you to improve water pressure, if clogs actually are the problem. Sediment is a typical issue which triggers clogs. An array of substances may cause clogging. However, resolving clogs should be pretty straightforward.

It’s wise to perform regular maintenance on shower heads, in order to prevent clogs before they start. If it’s too late for that, be sure to avoid using abrasive cleansers or cleaning tools, especially if your unit is made from a material which may be scratched.

Some people use pins in order to clean the holes. Others soak the shower head in vinegar for a few hours in order to de-clog it. There are plenty of ways to clean shower heads. Look online if you need more tips.

Remove the Flow Regulator

In America, there are federal regulations which stipulate that water flow via shower heads be restricted, with a mind to conserving H20 and power. This is why many shower heads which are sold nowadays don’t deliver the flow and water pressure that people want. You may tweak your shower head by removing the flow regulator – this has been added so that your shower head meets government guidelines. However, it’s very simple to remove and this should definitely improve water pressure fast!

During our research for this article, we found tons of tips on exactly how to locate the remove flow regulators. One interesting tip is that these flow regulators are often a brighter color than other components. This makes them easy to find, once you know what to look for.

Switch Shower Heads

Yes, this isn’t a repair, but we should mention it anyway. It is possible to access shower heads which may be screwed into place in mere minutes and, for some people, changing shower heads is the simplest way to enhance water pressure. (See these shower heads)

In particular, those who don’t want to spend a lot of time fixing the problem will find that buying high-pressure shower heads that screw into place is a real time-saver. Read customer reviews in order to find designs that deliver excellent water pressure to homeowners or renters.

A high-pressure shower head will deliver maximum water pressure and tons of different styles are available. Some may require more intensive installation, but many will definitely screw into place.

Fix Water Leaks

Sometimes, leaks direct water away from the shower head. If you suspect that leaks may be contributing to your low pressure water woes, contacting a plumber or shower installation professional will be the best way to get the problem analyzed and fixed.

Of course, you may also look for leaks yourself – sometimes, they crop up behind the shower wall. As well, when Teflon tape is damaged or hasn’t been wrapped properly, leaks may happen.

Access Adequate Plumbing

Some homes don’t have adequate plumbing. A signal that this may be an issue is low water pressure everywhere, including taps and shower heads. Sometimes, recent plumbing tasks which were performed in homes are the problem. If you suspect inadequate plumbing, you’ll need to ask an experienced, top-notch plumber what needs to be done in order to resolve the problem.

Adjust Main Shut-off Valve

If you want better shower pressure, another tip is to look at your central shut-off valve. It should be opened up all the way. If it isn’t, this may be the reason why water pressure is less than optimal. By opening it up all of the way, you’ll be able to take care of things without paying a plumbing professional. This is a quick fix that many people have utilized in order to improve shower head water pressure.

In Conclusion

Now that you know a few great tips, you’ll be ready to move forward and do all that you can in order to make water pressure better. One tip may be all that you need.

However, the reasons for water pressure issues do vary, so some trial and error may be required. If one tip doesn’t work, try another. The process of figuring out what’s causing water pressure issues with the showerhead may take a bit of time. In general, the most useful and quick tips are probably to clean the showerhead and to remove the flow regulator.

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