Not much is more frustrating than looking forward to taking a long, hot shower after your work day and finding it just trickles out. Standing under the shower head while the water more or less leaks onto your body means unnecessary time spent getting clean than you normally would. We understand how irritating it can be, but there might be a simple fix which doesn’t even require you to call your plumber! We’ve got some insider plumbing tips on how to avoid water pressure loss in the shower, and we’re here to share them with you.
The easiest thing to look for if you’re having a loss of water pressure in the shower is a clogged shower head. Over time, your shower head gets gunk stuck in it and can become clogged. It’s a removable part, so pop off the shower head and soak it in a plastic bag filled with cleaning solution. Not only does this mean that less gross stuff will be flowing out of your shower head onto you during a shower, but chances are you’ll see an immediate improvement in water pressure. Hard water can also build up, as it’s essentially cholesterol in your pipe’s arteries. Unfortunately, no amount of cleaning really fixes hard water build up and you may just need to replace the whole shower head.
Unfortunately, leaky pipes might also be a cause of water pressure loss in the shower. If you’re noticing pressure loss, check around for any signs you have a broken or leaking pipe. If there are pools of water visible anywhere on the walls, floors, or under the cabinets, call a plumber immediately. Leaking pipes inside of walls can cause serious damage and mold, which need to be cared for with no time wasted. A good way to prevent this ever happening is to call a plumber as soon as you notice water pressure loss. A qualified plumber is able to quickly tell if you’re in danger of pipe damage, and you can negate any damage before it happens by replacing the pipes.
The last thing that can cause water pressure loss is the pressure reducing valve. This handy gadget does exactly what the name suggests: reduces pressure. They’re installed in plumbing systems to reduce water waste, but they wear out over time. Typically these wear out slowly, so you won’t notice an immediate change in the water pressure. If you feel like turning on the sink or shower just isn’t giving you the same oomph that it used to, it might be time to replace the valve. Fortunately, it’s not a big repair and any qualified plumber can help you out with it!
If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of substandard showers, don’t hesitate to look around for the three likely culprits listed above. Most of the time, a clogged shower head is the problem and you can fix it yourself – but if you’re suspicious of a more serious problem, don’t be afraid to call in a professional plumber to assess the situation.
