10 Ways to Increase Water Pressure in a Shower

After a long day, it's nice to come home to a relaxing hot shower. The high-pressure spray helps to massage away the worries of the day, but when water pressure is too low, it can make the entire experience feel like a chore. Weak water pressure makes it difficult to adequately wash, rinse, and get clean without remaining in the shower for an extended period of time.

Luckily, there are several methods for troubleshooting and improving weak water pressure in the shower, so you don't have to settle for a lackluster rinse. Use this guide to find out why the water pressure is low, then learn how to increase water pressure in your shower.

Testing for Low Water Pressure

Before attempting to increase the water pressure in the shower, it's a good idea to test the flow rate of the shower. This can be accomplished relatively easily. Turn on the shower to full pressure and let it run for about a minute. When you are ready, place a five-gallon bucket under the showerhead, so all the water that comes out of the showerhead runs into the bucket.

As soon as first drops of water hit the bottom of the bucket, start a timer. Keep it going until the moment when the bucket is completely full, then stop the timer. To find out the flow rate, divide the number of gallons by the time it took to fill the bucket. Since you are using a five-gallon bucket, it should be five divided by the amount of time required to completely fill the bucket. For example, if it took two minutes to fill the bucket, you would divide five by two, which works out to 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM).

Check the flow rate against these standard benchmarks for flow rate:

• 1.5 GPM: Standard flow rate for a low-flow showerhead.
• 2 GPM: Current U.S. Federal WaterSense standard.
• 2.5 GPM: U.S. legal maximum flow rate for all showerheads.
  

How to Increase Water Pressure in a Shower

Once you've tested your shower's flow and determined it does need to be increased, use these methods for increasing water pressure in the shower.

1. Turn Off Water-Using Appliances

The easiest way to increase the water pressure in the shower is relatively simple. Just make sure that all water-using appliances and plumbing fixtures—like the dishwasher, clothes washer, irrigation system, garden hose, toilets, and other showers—are turned off when you want to take a shower. This should direct the full flow of water to the one shower you're using, leading to an increase in the water pressure.

2. Shower During Off-Hours

Another easy fix for low water pressure in the shower is to simply avoid showering during the peak hours of the day. Peak hours typically refer to early morning when most people are getting up and showering before heading off to work. Late afternoon and early evening are also considered peak hours because people are returning home after work to make food and shower after a day outside the home. To ensure you get the best water pressure in the shower, choose a time during off-hours to rinse off.

3. Check the Valves

If switching up the timing of the shower doesn't work for your schedule (or it had no noticeable effect on the water pressure of the shower), then there may be an issue with the showerhead or plumbing system. Start by checking any valves that are located upstream of the shower. This can include isolation valves on the shower line, the main shut off valve for the home, and the emergency curbside valve.

If any of these valves are not fully open, then they could be restricting the flow of water into the shower. Inspect each valve to ensure that it is fully open, then test the water pressure in the shower to determine if there is a change. If there isn't an issue with the isolation valve or main shut off valve, then you may need to contact the local water utility services to have them test the emergency curbside valve given that most homeowners will not have a curb key to operate this valve. 

4. Unkink or Replace the Shower Hose

A common problem that often goes unnoticed is a kinked shower hose. Not every shower has a handheld shower head that is connected to the wall with a hose, so if your shower does not have one, you can skip this method. However, if the shower does have a shower hose, then check the link for any kinks that may be restricting the flow of water. In most cases, the kink can be untwisted with no further work required, though if the hose has been kinked for a long period of time, then it may need to be replaced to restore the water pressure.

5. Clean the Showerhead

Your showerhead might be the source of the water pressure problem, especially if it isn't clean. Over time, the water flowing through the showerhead can leave behind mineral deposits and scale build-up that partially clogs the showerhead, restricting the flow of water. Depending on the severity of the problem, this can usually be resolved by cleaning the showerhead in a white vinegar solution.

Start by filling a bowl, bucket, or other container with enough white vinegar to fully submerge the shower head, then unscrew the showerhead and soak it in the container for about eight hours. After soaking the showerhead, use a soft-bristle brush and a toothpick to remove any remaining particles from the individual spray openings, then reinstall the showerhead and test the pressure.

6. Replace the Showerhead

In some situations, the showerhead may be damaged or may have too much sediment to completely remove. Unfortunately, this means that you'll need to replace the showerhead in order to improve your water pressure. Additionally, some showerheads are specifically designed to reduce the flow of water, so this may be a good time to switch to a standard showerhead that doesn't restrict the water pressure. Just keep in mind that the maximum flow you can expect is 2.5 GPM.

7. Replace the Shower Valve

While the showerhead may be causing part of the problem, the shower valve can also contribute to reduced water pressure, especially if the shower currently has a single-handle valve. This is because over time the internal components of the valve can wear out, ultimately affecting the flow of hot and cold water through the valve assembly. Replacing the shower valve with a new valve assembly should restore the regular flow of water to the showerhead. However, you may need to hire a plumber to complete this job, depending on your skill and experience with home plumbing.

8. Inspect and Replace the Pipes

Old water lines gradually accumulate mineral deposits and scale build-up on the inside of the pipes. This decreases the internal diameter of the pipes and restricts the flow of water, so even if you have 3/4-inch copper pipes the flow may be reduced to the internal diameter of a 1/2-inch copper line. Depending on the kind of pipes you have, the issue could also be due to a bent or even collapsed water line.

In this case, it may be time to upgrade the plumbing for the home. Speak to a plumber about possible options for replacing the plumbing lines throughout the house, but be prepared for the high cost of this renovation project.

9. Upgrade to Larger Water Pipes

Even if there aren't any existing issues with the water pipes, the diameter of your pipes may be too small to keep up with the demand. Most residential properties have 1/2-inch or 3/4-inch plumbing lines running throughout the home. Larger properties may have 1-inch or even 2-inch lines. If the water pressure throughout your home is too low, then the problem could be due to narrow water lines. Consult a plumber about upgrading the water lines to a size above what you currently have to increase the water pressure for the entire home.

10. Install a Shower Pump

If none of the above methods worked and you're still looking for a way to increase water pressure in the shower, another option is to install a shower pump. When you turn on the water to the shower, the water will flow through the shower pump, which uses an impeller to increase the water pressure before it reaches the showerhead. Keep in mind that you will need to have a plumber install the pump, so this is another more costly solution.