Water Pressure
 

Hey folks! Hoping someone could give advice regarding the water pressure in our showers. Is there a way to increase the pressure? I already changed out the shower head but the difference was only minimal. Sure would appreciate any tips. Thanks.

Is it just the shower and not the sink faucet? What is the water pressure in your house? If you don't know, buy a 10 dollar pressure gauge from Amazon and attach it to an outside hose bibb. Mine is 60 psi and I have a 2.5 GPM shower head and the pressure is fine.

The maximum legal flow rate for shower heads is 2.5 GPM. Don't buy one with a lower flow rate. Some people will modify the shower head to allow more flow, but you shouldn't need to. If these things seem okay, you may have a problem with your shower mixing valve. That would probably require a plumber.

What I've discovered in my year in The Villages, at least in my home, when it was built, the plumbers used "reduced pressure" feeds everywhere. Those devices get clogged up. At least once every month or two, I have to take the feeds off my vanity sinks & toilet, to clean out the screens. I assume the Showerheads are the same, but mine isn't too bad.

Keep in mind, any showerhead installed prior to 1992, is limited to 2.5 gallons/minute.

I'm sure there are plumbers on here, who know way more about it, than I.

Most shower heads have restrictors in them. You used to be able to remove them with a screwdriver but the ones in our new home needed to be drilled out.

To answer your question, it is not practical to increase the water pressure, you may be able to increase the flow rate as previously mentioned. Depending on the age of your house you may have a buildup of calcium in the plumbing. I have seen houses with no water softener or other filters have significant buildup. Since you have already changed the spray head, I agree the mixing valve would be the next place to look. NOTE: if your house is like ours, you will need to turn off the water to the entire house before you work on this valve.

I'd check your pressure before doing anything radical. We live in a relatively new house and my shower pressure in both showers has always been marginal. I think it's just the way it is here. My place up north has a well pump that lets me set/change the water pressure and I have it set higher so my shower is magnificent.

We also live in a new area. Our water pressure is a near constant 75psi. Even with that our showers were pretty anemic until I removed the restrictors.

You need to purchase the "Commando 450" shower head...

https://i.makeagif.com/media/2-28-2016/k66woq.gif

For a slight upcharge you can get the commando 621 that will really blow you away.

50psi is the best water pressure to run through out the house. Anything above that wears out flush valves, ice maker valves and some dishwasher valves. I started out with 70psi coming into the house so I installed a PRV and cut it back to 50psi. Get a different shower head!

I removed the flow restrictors on mine. Works great now. There are many YouTube videos that show you how to do it if you’re unfamiliar with it.

Shower valve
 

The shower valves have been made more restrictive. 🤨

Can you explain what you mean? As far as I know, shower mixing valves have not been made differently to restrict water flow.
There is a Federal law that has required all shower heads made since 1992 to restrict the water flow rate to a maximum of 2.5 gallons per minute.

Flow rate
 

In the hose that connects the shower head, there will be a washer with a small hole. This is a flow regulator to keep the flow rate to 2.5 gpm. If that regulator washer is removed, the flow rate will be whatever the hose, shower head, water pressure allows. It's illegal to sell shower heads that deliver more than 2.5 gpm; however, as far as I know there is no law that prevents you from removing the flow regulator.

Take the Water saver out of the shower head.

Most new shower heads do not have a removable flow regulator. It is permanent, but it can be drilled out.

You need to remove the little water saver piece inside your shower head. You didn't need to change out the entire head.

Look up your type and pieces online.

See Post No. 16.

Water Pressure
 

Thank you everyone for your smart and quick replies. I will let you know how it goes!

Buy Modified Shower Head on eBay
 

As noted by others, you may have a "pressure" problem, but, more likely, have a "flow" problem.

If the flows at your faucets are fine, it's not likely you have a "pressure" problem. If there are problems at the faucets, there could be numerous causes. They range from calcium build-up in the pipes; a defective pressure regulator; a collapsed matrix bed in a water softener; or a cartridge filter that needs to be replaced.

Most likely, you have a "flow" problem due to the restriction in your shower head. Even before the government mandated "low-flow" heads of 2.5 GMP, hotels were installing these heads to save money. I used to travel for business. I got so tired of not being able to take a decent shower in many hotels that I started carrying a screwdriver to pry out the restrictor plate that was inserted in the shower head. With the passage of years, manufacturers seldom add these plates to restrict flow and, instead, design the shower head with a small diameter hole in the "ball"which is what allows the head to swivel on the pipe from the wall. To increase the flow with these heads, you have to drill out the hole. This can be hard to do as the "ball" easily turns as it is designed to allow the head to swivel.

Fortunately, some entrepreneurs have solved this problem for you. Go to eBay, search for shower heads, and then search for "modified" heads. Usually, these are Delta heads which have had the "balls" drilled out. Most state they increase the flow to 10-14 GPM. DO NOT buy one which only says it is a "high pressure" head.

The Delta heads are satisfactory, but plain vanilla. I searched longer and found a fancy head which is only sold overseas and is not subject to the 2.5 GPM mandate.

Remove the shower head. Look at the diameter of the inlet. Note it is much smaller than the diameter of the pipe to which you had attached it. Usually you can use a pliers to remove the flow restricter, then your problem is solved. Otherwise, drillthe inlet hole and make it larger.

Increased shower water pressure
 

Moved here a year ago with the same problem. The issue is not the water pressure because that is controlled in the community. The issue is the flow. I removed the restrictor valve ( a green ring). Bought a new shower head from hammacher.com item #97436 $69.95
Because our pipes have tapered ends this shower head is from Europe and they still use the straight line pipe connector I had to buy an adapter. Do not try to put a straight connector without the connector adapter. You will strip your pipe.You can find the adapter connectors on Amazon. It’s called:
Metal brass pipe fitting converter1/2g female-1/2 Npt male.it costs $12.99. Installed this in about 10 minutes. Great pressure and flow just like the old days. Hope this helps.