Learn How to Increase Your Shower's Oomph Without Guzzling Water
Is your shower just not as invigorating as it used to be? Do you feel like the water pressure has decreased, making it harder to rinse out shampoo or quickly wet your hair? Many homeowners experience this frustration as their showers seem to lose power over time.
Often, the culprit behind a weak shower is actually a small plastic device inside your showerhead called a flow restrictor. While these restrictors are designed to save water, they can sometimes reduce that satisfying strong spray we love so much.
In this article, we'll explain what flow restrictors are, their pros and cons, and most importantly, simple ways to boost your shower's oomph without removing the restrictor completely. With a few easy DIY adjustments, you can increase flow while still conserving water and lowering utility bills.
What is a Flow Restrictor?
A flow restrictor is a small plastic filter inside shower heads and faucet aerators that limits the amount of water that flows through. Restrictors mix water with air to control the volume of water in gallons per minute (GPM) that comes out.
Flow restrictors are also often called:
- Water restrictors
- Flow controllers
- Flow regulators
They usually look like a small plastic disc with small holes or channels in them. Flow restrictors are required by law for all showerheads and sink faucets in many places across North America and beyond.
Purpose of Flow Restrictors
Flow restrictors serve several valuable purposes:
- Conserve water: By limiting water flow, restrictors reduce water usage. This saves thousands of gallons over a year without compromising water pressure.
- Maintain pressure: The aerated flow helps retain a strong feeling spray.
- Reduce bills: Lower water usage cuts utility and energy bills since less hot water is needed.
How Do Flow Restrictors Work?
Flow restrictors work by controlling the water flow rate, or GPM, that can pass through the showerhead. The small holes and channels in the plastic restrictor device limit the amount of water that is released.
As water tries to flow through these openings, it creates a backup of pressure. This causes the flowing water to draw air in through vents in the sides of the restrictor.
The mixing of water and air helps maintain the feeling of pressure to the user while reducing overall water volume. This is how restrictors deliver a strong spray while conserving water.
The Downsides of Flow Restrictors
While excellent for saving water, flow restrictors do have some drawbacks:
- Reduced flow - Even with air mixing, the flow can feel decreased compared to full blast.
- Slow rinsing - Rinsing long hair after conditioning can take longer with restricted flow.
- Clogs easily - Small holes clog more easily, requiring filter cleaning.
Many people wish to remove their flow restrictor to increase pressure. But take care - this may waste water, cost more in heating bills, and even violate local plumbing codes.
Instead, we recommend these easy, affordable tips to add oomph back to your shower without fully removing the restrictor.
Option 1: Remove Your Restrictor
Legally, homeowners are allowed to remove the restrictor from their showers and faucets. However, before doing so, be sure to check your local plumbing codes.
Removing the device is fairly straightforward:
- Unscrew your existing showerhead from the arm or pipe.
- Locate the flow restrictor inside. It may be visible or require disassembly.
- Remove the restrictor with pliers or by knocking it out from the other side.
- Reassemble and reattach the showerhead.
While this can increase flow, there are downsides to removing restrictors:
- May violate plumbing codes and regulations
- Increases water usage and utility bills
- Boosts energy usage for water heating
- Usually not worth it just for more shower power
We only recommend removing restrictors if you live in an area without water shortages or restrictions. For most homeowners, we suggest the following water-saving tips instead.
Option 2: Adjust Your Water Heater
One easy DIY method to make your shower feel more powerful is turning up the temperature on your home's water heater. Hotter water flowing out of your showerhead can mimic the sensation of higher water pressure.
Just take care, as there are some risks to be aware of with this approach:
- Increased risk of accidental scalding
- Higher energy bills from water heating costs
- Doesn't solve the underlying issue of low pressure
Overall, for a free solution, adjusting your water heater can provide a quick boost in your shower's force. But for a longer-term fix, read on for better options.
Option 3: Partially Open Shut-Off Valves
Most homes have shut-off valves near water hookups and fixtures. These control how much water is allowed to flow into the plumbing system.
By partially opening up the shut-off valves in your home, you can increase water flow and pressure. Just use caution not to open valves too much, or you'll waste water.
The steps are simple:
- Locate the shut-off valve for your shower
- Use a flathead screwdriver to turn the valve counter-clockwise to open
- Open the valve in increments, testing shower pressure in between
- Once you achieve desired flow, stop opening the valve
This easy, DIY trick boosts pressure at no cost. But it does use more water. For the best balance, pair it with our final recommendations.
Option 4: Install a Pressure-Balancing Valve
Pressure-balancing valves, also called anti-scald valves, are special faucet valves designed to stabilize water temperature and pressure from showerheads.
Benefits of installing pressure-balanced valves include:
- Maintain consistent pressure as other fixtures turn on/off
- Prevent temperature fluctuations that cause scalding
- Allow for a full flow without removing restrictor
The downside is that professionally installing these valves can be expensive compared to DIY options. But it's a reliable solution that simultaneously increases your shower's oomph while protecting you from scalding risks.
Option 5: Replace with High-Flow Restrictor
One easy DIY solution is to simply replace your existing flow restrictor with one that restricts less flow. You can purchase showerhead restrictors with different GPM ratings.
Just take care not to choose one with too high of a flow, or you will waste water. Look for a rating around 1.5 - 2.0 GPM, which should provide ample pressure but still conserve water.
Steps for swapping your restrictor:
- Unscrew showerhead
- Remove old flow restrictor
- Install new higher-flow restrictor
- Reattach showerhead
This can be done in minutes with no special tools required. Just be sure your new restrictor matches your existing one's sizing and connections.
Option 6: Pair With a Rainfall Showerhead
One of our favorite solutions is to pair your restricted showerhead with a rainfall shower panel or shower system. Rainfall showerheads disperse water over a wide, gentle spray pattern.
The benefits of combining rainfall showerheads with restricted flow are:
- Provides drenching flow perfect for rinsing hair
- Wider dispersal makes water feel more powerful
- Still conserves water since it mimics rain
Look for a rainfall showerhead with flow of around 2.0 GPM. This high-flow restrictor combines perfectly with the wide rainfall spray. Your shower will feel amazingly invigorating even with reduced flow.
We hope these tips help you increase the oomph and pressure from your shower without removing the entire flow restrictor. While fully removing the restrictor is an option, it can quickly lead to wasted water and higher utility bills.
For best results, try combining approaches like a rainfall showerhead with a higher-flow restrictor, or opening valves slightly paired with pressure balancing. This way you get the power you need while reducing your environmental impact.