Nothing beats a shower. Cold showers increase alertness, speed up recovery from muscle soreness, ease stress, and improve circulation. Hot showers stimulate circulation and blood flow, ease pain, reduce inflammation, and relieve stress. However, when you hop into the shower and turn on the faucet, discovering you have low water pressure can be an immediate buzz kill. Instead of relieving stress, you’re adding to it.
While low water pressure can be the result of a clog or corroded pipe somewhere within your plumbing system, there’s a stronger chance it’s an isolated problem with a quick remedy.
Why Do I Have Low Water Pressure All Of A Sudden?
Here are four common reasons for why you have low water pressure in your shower:
Double-Dipping
The easiest answer is you’re using too much water at one time. If you shower before work, odds are you have a set morning routine. When someone else in your home as the same or similar routine, it can create conflict for your plumbing system. Running two showers or showering while running the dishwasher or flushing the toilet causes water to be directed to different places simultaneously. The reduction in water flow also causes a reduction in pressure. Trying running only one appliance at a time and see if your water pressure returns to normal.
A Clogged Nozzle
Are you familiar with the term “hard water”? Hard water is water that has a high mineral content, mainly calcium and magnesium. Homes with malfunctioning water filters or no water filters may experience a buildup of mineral deposits, sediments, agricultural pollutants, and other contaminants in their water supply. Over time these sediments and minerals can clog the spray holes in your shower head. Simply unscrew the shower head and clean the nozzle using a toothbrush or tooth pick. If you can’t brush out the clog, try soaking the shower head in white vinegar for a few hours.
An Old Shower Head
Some shower heads are specifically designed for low-flow water as a method of conservation. Other shower heads are simply old, rusted, or corroded from age and use. Replacing a shower head is easy and inexpensive, and you can immediately reap the rewards.
A Partially Open Valve
If you’ve recently had a plumber perform maintenance or are basking in the aftermath of a renovation or remodel, low water pressure in your shower could be the result of an issue with your main pressure valve. Plumbers will shut off your water before performing maintenance and repairs, and they may have left it off or partially closed by accident.
Whether it’s an isolated issue or a larger problem, contact the qualified technicians at The Plumber to schedule a service call. We offer true 24-hour plumbing service to all residential and commercial clients. Call us today at (716) 894-4382.
