You’re taking a quick bath under the shower, and suddenly realize that the pressure is weak. And you ask yourself, is there a way to increase the pressure?
In most cases, corroded water pipes are the leading cause of the problem. But there could be many reasons that are easier to tackle than pulling out all the pipes in your house.
Here are some reasons and solutions that will help you increase your shower’s water pressure. Let’s take a look:
● Check the Primary Shutoff in the House
There could be a problem with the water supply, but there could be a problem at your house. So, make sure you check the main water value as it enters your home.
Cautiously, spin the house shutoff counterclockwise (when you have a round handle) or parallel to the water pipe (when you have a lever-type handle). The valve may be rusted or corroded; don’t use excessive force on it.
If any part of the pipe or valve appears to be corroded (that it might break), or if the valve won’t turn, calling a plumber is the right thing to do. So, when doing it all yourself, you risk damaging a pipe or the valve and flooding the house. In case that happens, you or someone else will have to run to the curbside to shut off the main.
● Cleaning Your Shower Head
After a while, minerals present in the water scale clog your showerhead. And this happens a lot sooner than you might think because all tap water contains minerals.
To make your showerhead scale-free:
- Unscrew it and dip it into a bowl of white vinegar for nine to ten hours.
- Clean out any remaining scale build-up from every spray opening with a toothpick or something similar with a pointy head.
- Once you are finished with the cleaning, reinstall the showerhead and run water to maximum pressure through it to check the flow.
If the problem persists due to excessive clogging in the shower that is still present after cleaning, it’s time to call a plumber.
● Open Up In-Line Shutoff Valves
Some homes have an in-line shutoff valve installed on the water lines that feed the shower, much like the ones found on sink supply lines. Homeowners can find these valves on individual branch pipelines and function as emergency stops.
So, if your home has these shutoff valves, they are most likely to be found near the supply point. A shower that has its supply of water coming from the basement, you will find these shutoffs on the pipes leading up to the showerhead.
As for the main water shutoff, the valves on small fixtures may not be fully open. Be sure to turn these valves entirely counterclockwise for maximum pressure.
To Sum It Up
Low shower pressure can be a bigger problem than you think. The tips mentioned above will help you deal with these issues. However, if you can’t still find what’s causing low water pressure issues in your shower or home, seek assistance from a professional plumber who can find the solution for you.
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