9 Ways to Increase Water Pressure in a Shower

How to Increase Water Pressure in a Shower

1. Clean the Showerhead

   To remove scale from a showerhead, unscrew it and submerge it in a bowl of undiluted distilled white vinegar for at least eight hours. Then, clean out any remaining particles from individual spray openings with a toothpick. Reinstall the showerhead, and run the water full-blast to check the flow.

   If the deposits will not be removed easily, it's time to buy a new showerhead. 

2. Inspect the Shower Arm

   If your showerhead seems fine after you have cleaned it but there's still low water pressure, the next step is to inspect the shower arm for obstructions to water flow. Take off the shower arm using a rag to protect the metal and adjustable pliers over the rag to loosen it. Once it's off, look inside the arm and the pipe in the wall for any mineral build-up or something else that may be hindering the flow of water.

3. Replace the Water-Restricting Showerhead

   If the last two steps did not reveal any problem, you may need to replace or adjust your showerhead. Your shower flow will be minimized if you have a low-flow showerhead or you have a shower filter or water-restricting device (usually a little plastic disc inside the shower head) installed in a regular showerhead. Depending on your current flow rate, you may be able to increase the flow simply by removing the filter-restricting device or choosing a showerhead with a higher-flow model, such as increasing to a standard 2.5 GPM head.
   

   Tip

   Before you replace a showerhead, make sure that the new model is legal in your area. In California, for instance, showerhead flows have been narrowing for decades, due to that state's ongoing drought problems. Showerheads first went from 2.5 GPM to 2.0 GPM, and then to 1.5 GPM.

4. Replace the Shower Hose

   If you have a hand-held showerhead, you may need to replace a leaky, dented, or broken hose. Shower hoses wear out over time. You'll need a new hose and possibly pliers to remove the old fittings.

5. Ensure Valves Are Open

   Some homes have an in-line shutoff valve on the water lines supplying the showerhead, similar to those found on sink supply lines. These valves are on individual branch pipelines and they act as emergency stops.

   These shutoff valves, if you have them, are likely to be located near the supply point. For a shower that has supply pipes in the basement, these shutoffs would be located on the pipes leading up to the shower.

   Small fixture valves in the main water shutoffs may not be fully open. Turn these valves counterclockwise all the way for full pressure.

6. Replace Single-Handle Volume Control

   Another item that influences a shower's water pressure is the volume valve system on a single-handle shower faucet. This is a rather pricey and complicated part that, over time may wear out and compromise your water flow. Because these are difficult to repair, hiring a plumber to handle the replacement is usually the best option.

7. Check the Main Shutoff in the House

   Check the water main valve at the point after it enters your house. Carefully turn the house shutoff counterclockwise (for a round handle) or parallel to the water pipe (for a lever-type handle). This valve may be corroded and rusty; don't force it.

   Warning

   If any part of the valve or the pipe near the valve looks so corroded that it might break, or if the valve is resistant to turning, call a plumber. You risk breaking the valve or snapping the pipe and flooding the house until you or someone else can shut off the curb-side main.

8. Increase Pressure at the Curbside Main Shutoff

   In some cases, you may have been living with low water pressure throughout your entire house because the curbside main valve is not fully turned on.  

   Where your water main enters your property at the curbside is a water meter and shutoff valve. Check to make sure that the valve is turned on all the way. If the valve has a round handle (like a hose bib), it should be rotated all the way counterclockwise. If it has a lever-type handle, the lever should be parallel to the water pipe.

   Usually, you are not allowed to tamper with curbside meters, so call your water provider if you need to deal with the meter itself. They will send out a worker to check on this for you.

9. Install a Water Pressure Booster Tank

   A water pressure booster tank is an electric pump that flows water into a tank that will hold and deliver the water at the pressure you desire. This tank will likely increase the water pressure to the rest of your house, not just your shower. The booster tank costs between $200 to $1,200 depending on factors such as the size and model. You will need to hire a plumber who has experience installing water pressure booster tanks and who can recommend whether it will work in your situation.

Additional Tips for Increasing Shower Water Pressure

In addition to the listed solutions, increase your shower water pressure by using only the shower without running other sinks or appliances that use water at the same time. Try showering during off-peak hours during the day or night and avoiding showering at the same time as everyone else in your neighborhood.

When to Call a Professional

If the above solutions do not work, and your fixtures and valves all look good, call in a professional plumber to take a closer look at your pipes to diagnose the problem. Call a plumber any time you are unable or unwilling to tackle a replacement or an inspection.