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Fast Plumbing Answers: Low Water Pressure in Shower?
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You’re enjoying a nice, hot shower- then, the water pressure drops. You’re left with a weak shower that barely rinses soap off your skin. You aren’t running the dishwasher or washing machine- what’s going on?
Don’t worry: we’ll answer all your questions in 2 minutes or less.
At Mother, our plumbers focus on solving real-world problems like low water pressure in the shower. We provide clear answers based on prevention- it’s much better to spend a little on proactive maintenance than lose thousands on costly plumbing repairs.
Most water pressure issues in the shower are caused by hard water- mineral scaling leads to clogs in the shower head and shower cartridge damage. We’ll show you two "quick fix” solutions, plus the long-term benefits of an inline water softener on your shower arm.
Weak showers in Dallas? Give Mother a call 24/7- we provide same-day shower cartridge replacement and shower fixture installation on most products.
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Hard Water Causes Most Water Pressure Issues in Showers
The harder your water, the higher its mineral content. While elevated levels of calcium and magnesium are fine to drink, they’re damaging to your pipes and fixtures.
Mineral scaling creates clogs, corrosion and leaks in your water lines and water-using appliances. It’s especially damaging to your shower- you’ve probably noticed the gross, chalky calcium deposits on your shower head.
The same chalky deposits form inside your shower head and the cartridge that regulates hot and cold water delivery. It also blocks the incoming water line, limiting the amount of water that reaches your shower.
Less common reasons: check your shower valve
If you don’t suffer from hard water (or you already own a water softener), check the shower valve. It may be partially closed- the valve handle (or knob) should be parallel to your water line.
If your valve is on a diagonal or perpendicular to your water line, that means it’s partially or fully closed. Turn it to parallel with a pair of pliers, and it should resolve the issue.
We’ve seen some guides suggest a faulty water pressure regulator (or pressure reducing valve) causing low water pressure in the shower. In most cases, a faulty regulator creates higher water pressure- not lower.
Top 3 Ways Hard Water Reduces Shower Water Pressure
Mineral scaling caused by hard water limits the natural flow of water to your shower and its fixtures. This most commonly occurs in these 3 locations:
- Clogged shower head
- Clogged shower cartridge
- Pipe blockage or leak
Clogged shower head
Look at your shower head- are the tiny holes clogged with limescale and white gunk? This is the easiest diagnosis of your water pressure problem.
As limescale deposits grow on and in your shower head, they act like a concrete wall between the water supply line and your skin.
Gunky shower heads create a less pleasant shower experience. Besides low water pressure, you may be dealing with these issues:
- Dry, brittle hair after showers
- Dry skin after showers
- Brittle nails after showers
Clogged shower cartridge
Think of your shower cartridge as the “traffic cop” that directs the flow of hot and cold water to your shower head. As you turn the faucet, the cartridge detects your desired water temperature and lets in the correct ratio of cold and hot water to the shower system.
Sediment and mineral deposits in the shower cartridge limit its ability to let in the proper ratio of water. Hot water creates more scaling issues than cold water- so if you notice cold showers along with low water pressure, it’s probably a cartridge problem.
Internal cartridge scaling damages the plastic and rubber components- but long-term, it can also corrode and clog brass parts as well.
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Pipe blockage or leak
In more serious cases, buildup of calcium deposits in your water pipes restricts the water flow to your shower. This most commonly occurs in the supply line from your hot water heater to the shower.
Long-term mineral scaling shrinks the internal diameter of your pipes. This stops water traveling to your shower and lowers the water pressure.
The longer this scaling persists, the more pressure is placed on the internal pipe walls- both by water and the minerals themselves. This creates pinhole leaks in your water pipes that drive up water bills and create property damage.
Look for these 4 tell-tale signs of a leaky supply line to the shower:
- Damp cracks in your bathroom wall
- Loose tiles on the shower wall by your faucet and shower head
- Damp cracks on walls between your water heater and the shower
- Musty smells under your floorboards and bathroom tile
Short-Term Fixes for Low Water Pressure in the Shower
If you’re dealing with hard water scaling in your shower head or shower cartridge, the “quick fixes” for these problems are relatively simple:
Gunky shower heads: Use CLR (but be careful)
CLR (Calcium, Lime and Rust Remover) is a fine product for the short-term reduction of mineral deposits and limescale on your shower head. Its chemicals target the alkaline nature of calcium and magnesium without damaging the chrome, nickel or plastic of your shower head.
A few pointers for use:
- Always work in a well-ventilated area. Crack a window while using CLR, as the fumes are quite strong.
- Stay protected. We use gloves and eye protection when applying CLR- you should too.
- Dilute properly. It’s tempting to use CLR at full-strength if you’re frustrated, but this can corrode your fixtures.
Make sure to rinse CLR and similar products completely off the shower head- you don’t want them touching your skin (irritations, mild caustic effects).
Don’t expect a long-term miracle. Short-term fixes like CLR work fine on external scaling, but don’t do much to resolve the internal buildup of mineral deposits in the fixture itself.
Clogged cartridges: shower cartridge replacement
Shower cartridge replacement is quick and easy when done by a licensed plumber. Our service vans are fully stocked with replacement cartridges, and we handle these jobs in one same-day appointment.
Opt for a higher-quality cartridge with brass components- full plastic products are brittle and crack more easily under pressure. They also provide less protection for internal O-rings.
Don’t DIY: Cartridge replacement seems simple. But you risk damaging the shower valve- this costs a few thousand bucks to replace instead of a cheap cartridge installation.
The Forever Fix: Inline Shower Water Softeners
Dealing with blocked water lines, persistent low water pressure, and pinhole leaks caused by mineral deposits?
A water softening system is the best long-term solution- and did you know there are products that specifically soften your shower water?
Inline water softeners are installed directly on the shower arm to eliminate mineral scaling from the incoming water line, your showerhead and shower cartridge.
The result: clean, clear fixtures, strong water pressure, and no more dry skin and hair after showering. All for thousands of dollars less than a whole home water softener.
Dallas homeowners: Ask our Master Plumbers about inline water softening for your shower- or whole home softening systems that benefit every water-using appliance.
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Softer Water, Stronger Showers: A Winning Combo
The calcium and magnesium in hard water builds up in your shower head, cartridge and incoming water line to restrict water flow. This creates unpleasant, weak showers that don’t deliver the water pressure you expect.
Defeat scale in the short-term with CLR for shower heads and occasional shower cartridge replacement. When you’re ready for a forever solution, an inline water softener keeps your water pressure high and your showers relaxing and enjoyable.
If you live in Dallas-Fort Worth, call Mother 24/7. We’re always here with the soft water solutions that improve your daily life.
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