We’ve all had the experience of standing under a dribbling low pressure shower trying in vain to wash our hair, or experiencing a sudden drop in pressure when someone elsewhere in the house turns a tap on.
Sometimes, this is a temporary problem caused by a blockage in the shower head or another problem which is very easy to remedy.
If however your problem is caused by low water pressure coming from the mains or from the header tank in the loft, you need to take another path to resolve your showering dilemmas.
What can we do to deal with low pressure shower heads and do shower head sizes make a difference?
Special Low Pressure Shower Heads
We’re all becoming more environmentally friendly these days, and there are lots of different shower heads on the market which are designed to give the feeling of a high pressure shower while simultaneously cutting down on the amount of water you use.
These shower heads work by mixing in air to the water coming out through the shower head nozzles.
This gives the feeling of a powerful shower but without the requirement for a powerful flow of water from the mains, or a pump attached to your shower.
The best thing about swapping the shower head is that it is a cheap and very simple job.
Most UK shower heads and connecting pipes are a standard size, so swapping a shower head is really as simple as unscrewing the old head and attaching the new one in its place.
A very basic shower head designed to boost the performance of a low water pressure shower could cost as little as £10, so it is worth changing the shower head yourself before taking further measures to boost your shower’s performance.
Don’t I Need A Pump When the Water Pressure is Low?
In certain situations, it can be possible to install a pump to pump water into the shower more quickly and improve the flow of water through the shower head.
This is a much bigger – and more expensive – option than simply replacing the shower head.
Pumps cannot be installed on all sorts of systems, and you have to make sure you get the right pump for your system.
You will also need a professional electrician to install your new pump for you, or sign off your installation work.
Most people immediately think of the pump option when having problems with water pressure, but they’re not always the most straightforward solution.
What About a New Shower to Solve Low Pressure Problems
It might sound like a drastic option, but often buying a new electric shower can be the cheapest and most cost-effective option, especially if the wiring is in place for a shower already.
For less than £100 you can pick up an electric shower designed to be used in low pressure systems from leading brands like Mira or Aqualisa, and depending on the amount of wiring which needs to be done, it might cost another £200 to have it professionally installed.
Modern electric showers are more efficient than older ones too, so you could find that your new shower pays for itself more quickly than you may think.
