Customer Question: Increasing Water Pressure / Choosing the Best Shower Head
April/14/2010
We received an email yesterday from a customer who had some questions about the new apartment he is moving into. We figured we’d share our response with all of you in hopes this could help other friends and customers of Neptune Plumbing:
Ryan,
Normally, a tenant in an apartment building cannot control or increase the water pressure to their unit. However, one thing you can do is to check and see if the flow restrictors are clogged. This is a moderately easy task and will only require a few hand tools (adjustable wrench, vise grip wrench, flat-tip screwdriver, cross-tip screwdriver).
For Kitchen and Bathroom Sinks:
For Shower heads:
If you don’t feel comfortable removing the aerators or taking apart the shower head, feel free to contact us to have a technician come out and assist you.
In regard to suggesting a shower head, choosing the best showerhead can be tricky. It's easy to be swayed by the more stylish designs that look good, but disappointment can follow when it comes to performance. To avoid disappointment in your new showerhead, follow these tips to help choose the right one.
Adjustable Spray Shower Heads
Your best bet in choosing a new shower head is most likely an adjustable spray model. Adjustable shower heads usually have three settings and provide a strong, dependable water flow. They're easy to install and are usually lower priced than other styles of shower heads.
The drawback to this model of shower head is that they aren't necessarily very stylish and it can be hard to change the setting when your hands are wet. Overall, customers are happiest with these shower heads.
Rainshower Shower Heads
While rainshower shower heads are very popular, they ranked lowest in customer satisfaction. Customers buying these shower heads are happy with the appearance but very disappointed in the water pressure they provide. Water pressure was described at "wimpy" and state that it is difficult to rinse with these shower heads.
Rainshower shower heads also have such a wide stream that it is difficult to keep your hair dry if you want to and require extra plumbing parts requiring additional installation.
Shower Towers
The most expensive choice in a new showerhead is a shower tower. These are the best if you are looking for a "spa" experience but don't want to go to the expense of installing behind-the-wall plumbing.
Be aware that if you want this "spa" experience, it costs more money -- for the fixture and the cost of using it. Shower towers use up to 2.5 gallons of water per nozzle per minute and will require that you have a larger hot water heater.
To choose the best showerhead for your home/apartment , take into consideration how you use your shower. Is it strictly utility -- a quick wash, or is the shower a place for relaxation? By thinking through your usage and your budget, you can easily get the best showerhead and enjoy it for years to come.
Do you have any further suggestions for Ryan? Feel free to post them below in the comments. Have any questions of you own? Email them to service@neptuneplumbing.net or use our contact page and we’ll be sure to respond promptly.
“I’m moving into a new apartment this week. I was wondering if there’s anything I can do to try and increase the water pressure in the sinks and shower. I was also wondering if you could help in suggesting a good type of shower head; I saw a variety of different styles and wanted to know if any were better than others. Thanks in advance for your help. - Ryan”
Ryan,
Normally, a tenant in an apartment building cannot control or increase the water pressure to their unit. However, one thing you can do is to check and see if the flow restrictors are clogged. This is a moderately easy task and will only require a few hand tools (adjustable wrench, vise grip wrench, flat-tip screwdriver, cross-tip screwdriver).
- Either by hand, an adjustable wrench or a vise-grip wrench, unscrew the flow restrictor on the end of your bathroom or kitchen sink faucet, along with any rubber gaskets with it. The flow restrictor is simply the aerator (screen) where the water exits at the end of the faucet.
- Inspect the screen for any clogs. Clean any clogs or debris that may be present.
- Run both the hot and cold water at a high rate for a minute or more. Sometimes debris that is too large to pass through the aerator (screen), or flow restrictor, stays trapped in the plumbing near the faucet, and only moves back and forth between the screen and back to where it rests when the water is turned on and off.
- Replace the flow restrictor. Test the water pressure.
- Remove the shower head by unscrewing it by hand or with a wrench from the pipe extension protruding from the wall. Disassemble the shower head, remembering how you take it apart so that you can put it back together the same way you took it apart.
- Inspect the shower head for any clogs or debris. Clean clogs, if necessary.
- Run both the hot and cold water at a high volume flow. Again, this is to clear out any foreign debris that may be lodged somewhere in the plumbing. Because such debris can't pass through the shower head, it can decrease the water pressure.
- Reassemble the shower head and re-attach it to the pipe extension. Test the water pressure.
If you don’t feel comfortable removing the aerators or taking apart the shower head, feel free to contact us to have a technician come out and assist you.
In regard to suggesting a shower head, choosing the best showerhead can be tricky. It's easy to be swayed by the more stylish designs that look good, but disappointment can follow when it comes to performance. To avoid disappointment in your new showerhead, follow these tips to help choose the right one.
Adjustable Spray Shower Heads
The drawback to this model of shower head is that they aren't necessarily very stylish and it can be hard to change the setting when your hands are wet. Overall, customers are happiest with these shower heads.
Rainshower Shower Heads
Rainshower shower heads also have such a wide stream that it is difficult to keep your hair dry if you want to and require extra plumbing parts requiring additional installation.
Shower Towers
Be aware that if you want this "spa" experience, it costs more money -- for the fixture and the cost of using it. Shower towers use up to 2.5 gallons of water per nozzle per minute and will require that you have a larger hot water heater.
To choose the best showerhead for your home/apartment , take into consideration how you use your shower. Is it strictly utility -- a quick wash, or is the shower a place for relaxation? By thinking through your usage and your budget, you can easily get the best showerhead and enjoy it for years to come.
Do you have any further suggestions for Ryan? Feel free to post them below in the comments. Have any questions of you own? Email them to service@neptuneplumbing.net or use our contact page and we’ll be sure to respond promptly.
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