Low Pressure in the Shower When Using the Kitchen Faucet
You're in the middle of a nice hot shower when someone turns on the kitchen faucet to get a drink — lowering the water pressure and reducing the flow from the shower head to a trickle, and leaving you standing there with a head full of shampoo. The potential reasons for low water pressure when you use two plumbing fixtures at the same time are many, ranging from simple to very complex to diagnose and correct. Does this Spark an idea?
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Low-flow Showers
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Low water pressure in the shower while another plumbing fixture is running may be the result of a low-flow shower head. Some newer shower heads have a flow restrictor disc inside them that has a series of small holes in it. The disc slows down the flow of water that comes into the shower head through the water pipe. Because of the reduced water pressure, you use less water than without the flow restrictor. You may remove the flow restrictor from the shower head by taking the shower head off the water pipe and then inserting a screwdriver or knife in the back of the shower head where you can turn the disc left or right until it breaks free.
Mineral Deposits
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Like other plumbing devices in your house, your shower head may fall victim to hard water mineral deposits that have accumulated inside or outside of it. If you look at the shower head and see white, chalky buildup on it, this is a sign of hard water deposits. The deposits shrink the openings in the shower head, dropping its water pressure. To remove the mineral deposits, remove the shower head from the water pipe and soak it in vinegar for several hours or overnight.
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Valves
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Partially closed valves in your house’s plumbing system may reduce the water pressure to the shower, which becomes noticeable when you run other plumbing fixtures at the same time. Some showers have an access panel on the wall that sits directly behind the shower’s faucet. If your shower does not have such a panel, you may create one with a drywall saw. The panel allows you to access the shutoff valves on the shower’s hot and cold water lines. By turning both shutoff handles counterclockwise until they stop, you open them fully and allow the full water pressure to reach your shower head.
Other Causes
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Other sources of poor water pressure in your shower may include the fact that the shower sits on a second story, which reduces the water pressure since the water has to climb higher in the water pipes. Leaks in your house’s plumbing system may also reduce the water pressure to your shower. Hiring a plumber to examine your house’s plumbing system can help you determine other causes for the problem. The plumber may also help correct the low water pressure by fixing leaks or installing a new water pressure regulator.
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References
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