Avoid water pressure drops in the shower

AVOIDING WATER PRESSURE LOSS IN YOUR SHOWER

Any loss in shower water pressure is an inconvenience, even if it's just a brief disturbance due to a flushed toilet. And of course it's much even worse if it's a persistent problem that makes it more difficult to rinse away shampoo and soap. There are several ways of fixing and avoiding this typical problem, but they differ depending on the root cause.

Pressure Balancing Valve Limitations

If your shower has a pressure balancing valve-- where there's a single knob or deal with to control both the temperature level and flow of water-- you're probably at danger of water pressure interruptions due to the usage of other neighboring components. The traditional example is when a flushing toilet triggers both a water temperature level change and a drop in pressure.

This type of valve blends hot and cold water together at a specific pressure level. When the toilet flushes, cold water is diverted to refill the tank, which causes a pressure drop in the cold water line. It takes a pressure balancing valve a few seconds to adjust, during which time the water might turn extremely hot due to the fact that the valve isn't really getting all the cold water it requires. And then when the valve does adjust, it does so by reducing the pressure originating from the hot water line, leading to a total drop in pressure.

There's another type of shower valve that enables you to avoid this problem completely. It's called a thermostatic blending valve, and it offers separate controls for water temperature and pressure. Call your relied on plumber to ask about upgrading to one of these valves.

Malfunctioning Diverter Valve

If you have a bathtub and shower combination, you probably have a diverter valve-- a knob or switch that diverts water from the bath tub faucet as much as the showerhead. These valves can break or malfunction after a lot of years of service, and the result might be that the valve can't open enough to send full water pressure to the showerhead.

If water streams from the tub faucet at complete pressure however stops working to match that pressure from the showerhead, this is a most likely offender. A plumber can verify this medical diagnosis and complete the repair work with a replacement diverter valve.

Water Pressure Reduction Valve Needs Adjustment

When your water pressure problem affects all the components in your home, the cause could be close to the water source. In some houses, a gadget called a water pressure reduction valve is connected to the main water line near the point where it gets in the home. This valve can malfunction, break or fall out of modification-- and all 3 are jobs for a professional plumber.

Broken or Obstructed Pipe

The worst possible cause of a shower pressure drop is a damaged pipeline, given that the resulting leak might do major damage to an unseen location of your house. If you can hear water running when and where it shouldn't be, or if you unexpectedly observe leaking or water stains, shut down your supply of water at the primary valve and call a plumber for emergency service right now.

Clogged Pipe or Showerhead

On the other hand, the very best case circumstance is that your showerhead is just dirty and blocked. To obtain a close look, loosen your showerhead from the wall if possible. You might want to soak it in an appropriate cleansing solution for several minutes before cleaning all the nozzles thoroughly with an old toothbrush.

If you live in a location with hard water, you might likewise have mineral deposit build-up inside your pipelines. This minimizes flow gradually and will eventually have a noticeable result on water pressure. This problem can be prevented with the installation of a water softening system, but pipes that are badly blocked might have to be professionally cleaned up or replaced.

Can't find the source of your water pressure issue? Not exactly sure how to continue with repairing it? Call your regional Midwest Plumber and let the pros take on the task.

When the toilet flushes, cold water is diverted to refill the tank, which triggers a pressure drop in the cold water line. It takes a pressure balancing valve a couple of seconds to adjust, throughout which time the water might turn extremely hot due to the fact that the valve isn't really getting all the cold water it requires. And then when the valve does change, it does so by lowering the pressure coming from the hot water line, resulting in a total drop in pressure.

When your water pressure issue affects all of the components in your house, the cause might be close to the water source. In some homes, a gadget called a water pressure decrease valve is linked to the main water line near the point where it gets in the house.

contact our Greenwood office today!

The article Avoid water pressure drops in the shower Find more on: Midwest Plumbing Blog