DIY Network

All Projects

TV Projects

    What Do You Want To Work On?

      What Activity Do You Want To Do?

        0

        Available Projects

        Get Results

        DIY Network /

        Message Boards

            DIY Message Boards  Hop To Forum Categories  Home Improvement  Hop To Forums  Plumbing    low water pressure in shower
        Go
        New
        Find
        Notify
        Tools
        Reply
          
        low water pressure in shower Sign In/Join 
        posted
        is there any way I can boost water pressure in my shower? I tried changing shower head
         
        Posts: 2 | Registered: Feb 04, 2013Reply With QuoteReport This Post
        posted Hide Post
        Did you look at the flow restriction device inside the head? This are a little dime sized piece of plastic, though sometimes they are stainless steel with a small hole in the middle. If you drill the hole a bit bigger you can improve the flow.

        What is the flow like without a head? Take the head off and hold a bucket to catch the water and time how much water is coming out of the unrestricted pipe in a minute, or half a minute and double it for gallons per minute.

        It is possible to get good pressure and spray pattern with a good low flow head. Since you replaced the head the head is not likely the problem. They can get clogged up with mineral deposits.

        How old is the plumbing and what are the pipes made of?


        General Disclaimer

        Any advice given here is general in nature and is not necessarily valid for your given area. If in doubt check with your local codes enforcement department for what is required when doing electrical, plumbing or structural work on your house. Permits may or may not be required in your area and home owners may not be able to DIY some tasks. I have no way of knowing if you have the skills needed to complete the tasks you are asking about, when in doubt seek professional assistance.

        My advice may be worth exactly what you pay me for it. :-) For the record I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.
         
        Posts: 214 | Location: Cary, NC | Registered: Aug 17, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
        Picture of Frodo
        posted Hide Post
        good advice from sparky..
        another cauise could be. a scald guard on your showerr valve. if you have one.
        if you do, readjust the scald guard to give you more hot water.
        if that doesnt work then you have the dreaded calicum deposits the only fix for it is to take valve out and replace


        i dont shoot all the time
        but when i do, i shoot M1 carbine
        stay armed my friends
         
        Posts: 3315 | Location: I live in southern mississippi | Registered: Jun 01, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
        posted Hide Post
        Perhaps I should have been a little clearer. I have low water pressure in whole house .The only place it's really an issue is in the shower. I was wondering if there was anything I could install (booster pump) to help increase the pressure
         
        Posts: 2 | Registered: Feb 04, 2013Reply With QuoteReport This Post
        Picture of Frodo
        posted Hide Post
        go to a plumbing supply house
        ask the guy to give you a hundred lb gauge that screws onto your outside hose bib
        screw it on, tyurn water on and ck the pressure
        if under 50 psi. ck water pressure at meter
        might have to disconnect meter and add a nipple to use your gage
        ck and see if you have a pressure reducing valve installed at meter or where house hooks up to main service line
        you might have a old water service tyhat is old galvinized piping. i9f so..rip out and replace with a pvc service
        need to know psi at house first.before go another futher


        i dont shoot all the time
        but when i do, i shoot M1 carbine
        stay armed my friends
         
        Posts: 3315 | Location: I live in southern mississippi | Registered: Jun 01, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
        Picture of Jaybee
        posted Hide Post
        From my experience, low water pressure is caused by a restricted main line well over 90% of the time. especially if your main line is galvanized, by now the interior is all rusted crud with a working diameter somewhat less than a pencil.

        Have your water company to a pressure test at the meter, then test the pressure as near as you can get to the input to the house. Don't just go on the initial pressure as the restricted line will still build up pressure, just will have a low flow rate.

        Unfortunately, the fix is installing a new main line from meter to the house.


        Jaybee
         
        Posts: 9100 | Location: Knoxville, Tennessee | Registered: Sep 27, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
        Picture of Frodo
        posted Hide Post
        most plumbers, as a rule of thumb
        will install a faucet. directly above, where the main water line from meter ties into the house piping
        8 times out of 10, dig down under a faucet im the front of the house. you will find the main line
        that info, may or may not help you find the main water line


        i dont shoot all the time
        but when i do, i shoot M1 carbine
        stay armed my friends
         
        Posts: 3315 | Location: I live in southern mississippi | Registered: Jun 01, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
          Powered by Social Strata  
         

            DIY Message Boards  Hop To Forum Categories  Home Improvement  Hop To Forums  Plumbing    low water pressure in shower

        © Scripps Networks 2009

        Advertisement

        Posting Guidelines

        • Please be sure posts are category appropriate.
        • No off-topic or off-color postings.
        • Postings may be deleted at the discretion of DIY moderators.
        • No advertising is allowed.
        • Be nice. No name calling, personal attacks or flaming.
        • Certain words will trigger moderation of the post. These words mostly cover political or religious topics, which are OFF the topics covered by DIY.

        Full Guidelines

        For general message board help, click the tab labeled "Tools," and choose "Help" from the dropdown menu.