How to increase water pressure in my shower?

Question

shower pressure

This is in an apartment so I can't really make wholesale changes plus I wanted a inexpensive fix.

Answer 1

Whenever I buy a new shower head, I do the following: Unscrew the head from the base. In the base you will see a very small hole that the water comes through. Get a drill and drill out that hole bigger. I usually drill it out to 1/4 inch. I get great pressure then. That is assuming you get ample pressure from the water source. I just it to a new head I got last week. The small hole is to ensure you are conserving water. Makes for a horrible shower!!!! Good Luck!!!

Answer 2

There is no inexpensive solution to your problem. You can try shower heads which claim they increase pressure. But the fact is they dont!
There must have been an obstruction within the shower faucet body. This is how it is resolved.
First, remove the tub spout, and turn on both hot and cold water. While the water is running, take a hammer and tap the faucet from behind, directly on the mixing chamber. Short, quick, machine-gun taps. Also tapp out along the faucet to each side, where the water enters. The idea is to shake loose any debris and have it flushed out. Dont hammer too hard and cause a leak ;)

Next, cap off the tub spout, and remove the shower head. Using an ear-flushing bulb, squirt some white vinegar into the shower arm. Also shoot in some WD-40 prior to the vinegar. The idea here is to get enough solution into the faucet's mixing chamber, and allow it to soak. Remove the cap, and turn on the water. It will flow strongly! Sometimes there is a pellet-shaped piece of "calcium" on the floor of the tub...most likely the culprit.

Answer 3

Drill out your shower head to about 1/4 inch to make the hole for the water bigger. Most shower heads are created with water conservation in mind -- not a bad thing, but the water pressure is terrible with them. My husband drilled out the shower head in the last two apartments we had. If you don't want to drill out the apartment's shower head (you might get in trouble from the landlord), get an inexpensive one yourself and use it, instead.

Answer 4

There is a washer called a 'regulator' located under the cap where you unscrew the shower head from the pipe. You can pry this out of 99% of shower heads installed with this device, as usally it is put in as a water saving measure by the landlord, not the manufacturer. No need to drill it, it prys right out, and in the worse case, buying a new high volume shower head isnt that expensive, or if you opt to purchase a high dollar showerhead, keep the old shower head and replace it when you move taking your's with you, this I have done myself...OMG..just read that answer..DONT BANG ON YOUR PIPES!!!!!!!!!!!! A ten dollar showerhead is better than a 1000 dollar plumbing bill....

Answer 5

all good some real close....

all shower are regulated to ( 1.2 gal / minute ), new /old law that happened when you got 1.6 gallon flush toilets! you could have a cartridge obstruction.... the easy check is pull the head & see if you get good flow.... you can pull the flow restrictors if they are there & put on old equiptment to restrict flow! The new heads come with restrictors, but its a scam for you to pull'um out & think you beat the system! the oriface will still only allow 1.2 gallons a minute. i'd drill it to 3/8's as the cartridge inlet holes ( 2 ) are about 1/4" moen last i looked. if you can shut off the water for your apt, you can pull the cartridge & check for obstruction. while it is out, goose the water on & squirt any pipe obstruction out that would not go through the cartridge. good luck!

Answer 6

Try cleaning the shower head with CLR, if that does not work a new shower head

Answer 7

Try a new shower head worked for me.

Answer 8

Yes, shower heads.

Answer 9

get a better shower head.

Answer 10

You can get an electric pump installed..