There is almost nothing more annoying than taking a shower with low water pressure. Washing your hair and having a good old lather can take an age when using a shower with low pressure.
Do you feel like the power of your shower isn't as robust as it was in the past? Sadly, there are many potential causes for low water pressure in showers.
The good news is, there may be some DIY approaches to fix this issue. Firstly, identify if the issue is low water pressure. Then, look at how to resolve it.
So how to identify and fix low water pressure in showers? Read on for potential explanations, and more importantly, solutions to resolve your water pressure issues.
Signs Of Low Water Pressure
There are numerous potential causes of low water pressure. First, it is essential to recognize the indications that can lead to this issue.
There are several signs that you may have low water pressure in your home. These include:
- Weak shower stream
- Low water pressure from taps
- Reduced water pressure from washing machines
- Reduced water pressure from dishwashers
There are of course many other signs of low water pressure but these are some of the key ones to look out for.
What Causes Low Water Pressure?
So you’ve identified that your home is suffering from low water pressure but the questions now are what causes low water pressure and how do you fix it.
There are some simple explanations with easy-to-fix solutions, whilst some others may require professional help. All are worth investigating however, before drafting in a professional.
Clogged Shower Head
Believe it or not, one of the main causes of low water pressure in a shower is an unclean shower head. Limescale can build up in and on your shower head if not cleaned regularly. This can result in bigger issues, like low water pressure.
Giving your shower head a deep clean using a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar should remove any mineral build up. Mix two parts white vinegar to one part bicarbonate of soda, spray directly onto the shower head, and leave to soak. Thoroughly rinse with hot water after 15 minutes.
Test your shower head after soaking to see if water pressure has improved. If it has but only marginally, repeat the process again. If limescale build up seems to have cleared from the showerhead but water pressure hasn’t improved, this may not be the issue.
Check out our other cleaning tips in our recent article 8 Bathroom Cleaning Hacks.
Settings On Shower Head
You may think this is an obvious one, but depending on the shower head you have depends on how obvious it is that you may have various settings that could affect the water pressure in your shower.
Many spray shower heads have a lever to change the mode on your shower head which tends to range from power spray to mist. If on one of the less powerful settings, this will certainly not help with water pressure issues, so be sure to check out the mode on your shower head.
The Kartell K-Vit Plan Thermostatic Bar Shower with Adjustable Slide Rail Kit - Chrome is a great example of a shower with various modes that can be altered on the shower head.
If you’re not sure, refer to your manufacturer's instructions.
Using Water-Fed Appliances Simultaneously
A common sign of low water pressure is when using more than one water-fed appliance at one time (e.g. a shower whilst someone is brushing their teeth and running a tap), either or both appliances drop in pressure, or show signs of pressure fluctuation.
The first thing to do in this instance is conduct some testing to determine if it’s just these two appliances, or if it happens all over the home.
Try switching the washing machine on whilst running the shower, or flushing a toilet. If the same issue with water pressure occurs, unfortunately there may not be an easy fix for this one and it might be time to draft in a reputable plumber to do some professional investigating.
Plumbing Issues
Your plumbing could be the answer to what is causing your low water pressure in the shower. If you live in an older property, you may have narrow pipes which can cause low water pressure. Or, you could be experiencing blocked pipes in your system. This could be anything from limescale to dirt, or even rust.
It is not possible to fix either of these issues by yourself. Therefore, we recommend you contact a plumber. They will be able to investigate and resolve the issue.
How To Increase Water Pressure In Shower
So by now, you might have identified why you have low water pressure, and with some of the above tips or through seeking professional advice, you have hopefully discovered what is causing it.
If none of the previous tips have resolved your issues, you might need to look at more permanent solutions:
Fit A Shower Pump
A shower pressure booster, or shower pump, is a clever tool to increase water pressure in the shower and can typically be fitted to most systems.
After installation, the shower pump activates when the shower is switched on and subsequently, the water travels through the pump before being dispersed by your shower head. Shower pumps are greatly helpful for gravity fed systems. Always seek professional help for installations of any kind.
Install A New Shower
Depending on costs, it may be more cost-efficient to look at installing a new shower to increase your water pressure. Providing you don’t have a combi boiler, you could look at purchasing a power shower for a guaranteed increase in pressure.
Alternatively there are plenty of electric options specifically designed to increase pressure, such as the Triton Home Digital Mixer Shower Diverter with Riser Rail & Fixed Shower Head - High Pressure. Browse our full range of showers here.
Before you consider swapping out your entire shower system, it may be a good idea to try a shower head that operates at a higher water pressure.
FAQs
How to increase water pressure in an electric shower?
There are a couple of ways to potentially increase pressure in an electric shower. Firstly, ensure your shower head has been cleaned thoroughly to clear nozzles. Ensure there are no bends or twists in your shower head hose, and double-check your water filter.
Once you’ve thoroughly checked the electric shower itself, check to make sure your water isolators are fully switched on. Also double check the stopcock to ensure this is fully open. If you’re not sure of any of this, you may want to ask a professional for help.
Do High-Pressure Shower Heads Work?
High pressure shower heads are an effective way of increasing water pressure in the shower. They ensure an even flow with water being sprayed at a high pressure which in turn could save water. For more shower water-saving tips, check out What type of shower head saves the most water?
How to increase water pressure in shower with combi boiler
Combi boilers are mains fed which means you may be restricted on options to increase water pressure in your shower.
Choosing a combi boiler powerful enough to optimize good flow rate around your home in the first place is the best way to resolve this issue, but this may not always be possible.
A good workaround would be to utilize an electric shower if experiencing low water pressure in the shower with a combi boiler. Whilst electric showers aren’t renowned for being hugely powerful, they do provide consistent water flow regardless of other appliances in use, which may improve your situation.
How To Increase Hot Water Pressure In Shower
The pressure of your hot water in your shower can be affected by the distance between the shower and the boiler. The further the hot water has to travel, the higher the chance of pressure being reduced.
The only way to resolve this would be to repipe the plumbing leading to the shower. We’d recommend contacting a professional to help with this one.
Discover our range of shower heads and showers and don’t forget to take a look at other
