How to Troubleshoot a Sudden Loss of Pressure in the Shower

Water pressure may suddenly drop in the shower.

Being in the shower is a lousy time for the water pressure to drop, so it's important to seek out the cause of the problem so that it doesn't happen again. Low water pressure will cause the volume of water per minute to decrease, leading to poor performance of showerheads and other devices that rely on steady water pressure. A sudden loss of water pressure in the shower has several potential causes, so you will need to check them all to be sure of where the problem is coming from.

Instructions

1. Turn the shower on, using a mix of both hot and cold water.

2. Check to see if any other devices in the house are using water while the shower is on. This includes toilets, faucets, sprinkler systems, laundry machines and dishwashers.

3. Turn off anything that is using water. This includes changing any automatic sprinkler timers to run during times when the shower is not normally in use. Check the shower to see if the pressure has been restored.

4. Check with your local water utility provider if the pressure has not been restored after turning off all water-using devices. Often, a utility will tell you whether there is maintenance in the area, new construction or a problem that could be causing the pressure surge.

5. Disconnect a water softener, if you have one, by turning the bypass valve on top of the softener to allow water to bypass the softener. If the shower's performance improves, there may be a blockage within the softener.

6. Disconnect the sediment filter on your main water line, if you have one, by turning the bypass valve on the filter. Pull out the filter to check for blockages or a dirty filter. If it appears dirty, discard the filter and insert a new one before turning the bypass valve back to the on position.

7. Check each toilet in the house to see if any flappers are stuck. A stuck flapper will cause a hissing noise as the fill valve continuously fills the tank with water. If there is a stuck flapper, remove the top of the tank and pull up on the flapper chain before gently lowering it back into place. The flapper should correct itself and stop the leak.

References

• The Pump Connection: No Water? Low Water Pressure?
• Lowes For Pros: Solve Water Pressure Problems