Low Water Pressure in Shower and Tub: Causes and Fixes

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One of the most annoying things that can happen inside a bathroom is a lack of water pressure inside a tub. It’s quite frustrating not to be able to wash your hair or simply take a shower like you used to before.

The loss of water pressure in a tub is definitely the problem that needs to be taken care of as soon as possible.

Now, what is causing low water pressure inside a tub and how to fix this problem is not always a simple task. But, let’s not jump to any conclusions so far. Let’s take a bit deeper look into what’s causing this problem.

Let’s begin.

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Low water pressure in shower and tub

Causes of Low Water Pressure in a Shower and Tub

In order to fix the problem, we first must determine the cause. Namely, as we all know, the water pipe that brings water in the shower or a tub faucet must be free of clogs. Also, the faucet needs to work properly in order for the pressure to be normal.

But, let’s see the most common causes of low water pressure in a shower and tub.

1. Cracks on the Pipe

Sometimes, if the pipe that brings water to the shower faucet is old, the cracks might appear somewhere.

This means that the water will leave the pipe at some point and there won’t be enough water that reaches the faucet. This will result in a loss of water pressure and you won’t be able to take a shower as you used to.

Now, this mostly happens because the pipes are old or if there might be a build-up that accumulated inside the pipe.

These build-ups are quite dangerous for the pipes since they can detach at some point and suddenly create a clog or even a crack inside a pipe.

Low water pressure in shower and tub

Anyhow, if you think that there might be a crack inside a pipe that brings water directly to the shower faucet, you need to look for these signs:

  • Leaks
  • Water stains or puddles under the cracked pipe
  • Unusual noise coming from that pipe

If you spot these signs, then you are definitely dealing with the cracked pipe. This problem needs to be fixed immediately, but, we will discuss that later.

2. Clogged Pipe

In some cases, the pipe is simply clogged and there isn’t much water that comes through the shower faucet. This might happen even if the pipe is partially clogged; the loss of water pressure is determined by the clog’s size and density.

However, clogs are not that hard to deal with so you won’t have many problems unclogging a problematic pipe. But, we’ll come to that later.

Now, the clog is usually caused by all sorts of build-ups that can be found inside the pipe. Namely, if you live in an area where the water is a bit harder, then having clogged pipes is not a that big surprise.

These build-ups can be caused by rust as well since rust will provide a good surface for other debris to accumulate inside a pipe. If that’s the case, you might even need to change the whole pipe.

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3. Faucet Valves 

One thing that you need to inspect first is the valve. If the valve is not opened all the way, that might be a reason for low water pressure inside a shower or a tub.

However, there are some shower faucet installations that have two valves so there might be a different kind of problem located here.

Namely, if you have a double-valve faucet, then you will need to remove the valves completely. But, make sure to turn off the water supply first.

After that, you can easily inspect whether the valves are malfunctioning or if they are working properly.

In case they are full of dirt or simply broken, the only thing left is to replace them. Sometimes, just a little part of the faucet valve can cause a significant drop of water pressure.

Anyhow, you should always check for valves when you have low water pressure inside a shower or a tub.

How to Increase Water Pressure in a Shower or Tub

As we saw all about the most common causes of low water pressure in a shower or a tub, it is time to see how to increase the pressure now.

So, simply follow these steps and you will be fine.

1. Dealing with the cracked pipe

If you have a crack somewhere on a water supply pipe, then you should follow these steps.

  • Locate the Crack

First, you will need to find the crack in the pipe. That’s fairly easy since all you need to do is to locate the place where the water leaves the pipe.

  • Remove the Pipe

Once you located the crack, it is time to remove the whole pipe out of the water supply system. This way, you will be able to fix the crack easily.

  • Patch up the Crack

For this step, you will need to use a hand torch and a piece of metal. Simply patch up the crack with the metal piece and a melt it together with a hand torch.

  • Reinstall the Pipe

Once the pipe is all patched up, it is time to reinstall it back into the water system. This way, the water pressure will be back at a normal level.

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2. Dealing with the clogged pipe

In case you have a clogged pipe, then you should unclog it – here’s how to do it.

  • Remove the faucet

First, you will need to remove the faucet and place a bucket where the pipe ends. This is important since you want the clog to fall into the bucket, not the tub.

  • Pour baking soda and vinegar into the pipe

Baking soda and vinegar solution is a great way of dissolving almost any clog. So, create a solution of out these two ingredients and pour it down the pipe.

  • Run water through the pipe

After that, you will need to run water through the pipe so the clog will be pushed out of the pipe. And, the clog will fall into the bucket so your pipe will be perfectly cleaned.

Conclusion: Low Water Pressure in Shower and Tub

Dealing with low water pressure in a shower or a tub is a lot easier if you know where the problem is located. So, we’ve explained everything when it comes to the causes of low water pressure inside a shower and a tub.

And, we have also provided you with a detailed explanation of how to increase the pressure. Anyhow, we surely hope that this little guide helped.

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