Shower pressure low

[Stoo]

Hi all, I'm having a bit of a problem with the water pressure in our shower and was hoping for some advice.

We just got the cold water pipes in the house replaces, and a new continuous hot water systm put in. Through most of the house we have great water pressure.

We have a shower over the bath, and here is where the problems is. The water pressure from the bath is fantastic, but the water pressure from the shower is very, very low, not a shade on the bath or any of the other taps in the house.

We've got new taps for the bath and show, and a new shower head, not a water saver or anything. When you adjust the shower head to make the water come out more horrizontal, it seems like the water is *choking*, or stuttering, you can just feel the pressure changing up and down slightly. There also seems to be a bit of a "whine" next to where the shower head attaches goes into the wall.

Has anyone got any suggestions for what it may be?

Thanks alot for eveyones help,
Stoo

[Gumby]

I'm no plumber and this may be way off the mark but....

Have they put a wrong pressure reducer in the line perhaps ? I think continuous hot water sytems require special reducers. I had that problem with a unit i had built recently and the plumber changed it over. They are colour coded and i think the new one was green.

New regulations are making water pressure lower in an attempt to save water.

[Doughboy]

Stoo

Firstly I would check to see that the washer where the shower arm screws onto the water pipe has not been squashed into the pipe restricting water flow.Or Secondly and more dire it sounds to me like the plumber might have 'crimped' the pipe when he did the shower pipes. This would 'choke' the water flow as you have desribed.

Good luck.

Pete

[Ashore]

As only the shower is affected and you don't have a water saving device fitted it appears like you may have a blockage , the most likely to me would be where the shower head is connected, it your plumber was using thread tape some times they can put some over the tube as well as on the thread and this can cause a blockage.
I would be tempted to remove the shower head and connecting pipe and check the flow

Rgds

[Stoo]

Thanks the ideas guys, I'll have a look tonight!

[johnc]

This comes from the dumb @rsed handyman file, recently I reseated the taps in the ensuite shower after which pressure plunged in the rose. After several weeks pulled the rose off to discover the filter/choke was blocked with brass filings.

Another alternative?

John

[woodsprite]

I too suspect some gunk in the pipe works. It is surprising how much junk lies in pipes and can get stirred up when the pipes are tampered with. We had a similar problem with the new bathroom and its shower. Great pressure at the basin, next to none at the shower. Luckily the plumber who fitted the new pipe work was at hand, and he undid the shower head and flushed some water through the pipes - a heap of his gunk came out from where he had been doing other work on other pipes.

In the older shower in the other bathroom, when the flow drops a bit, I take the arm and rose off, and spend some time with a pin, cleaning out the tiny holes inthe rose. It's surprising how much fine material gets into the water supply!

Try the above suggestions - sounds like a very local-to-the-shower problem and should be easily fixed.

Jeff

[Stoo]

Just an update incase anyone comes across the same thing. I went to the hardware store and looked at some other shower heads and noticed there was an extra piece in it. Upon removing it the water pressure was great. I think it was a water saver or "pressure reduction" device.

Thanks for everyones help.
Stoo

[OBBob]

Yeah, they can't sell shower heads without that little water saver washer now but on some systems it can be excessive. Glad you worked it out.

[Pete J]

I am no plumber. This however will work for you with no tools at all.

I recommend that you sit on the shower floor to have your shower. Gravity will accelerate the speed of the drops and consequently they will hit you harder as they have further to fall - and it will feel like you have more pressure.

And all this for no cost !

Regards