Showerhead / Pressure Help

[PCCraig]

Slight OT.


I believe this has been discussed here before but I wasn't able to find the thread using the search feature. Since the shower water pressure has been a hot topic here before, I am curious to see if anyone has any recommendations.


We have a shower in our home that gives off terrible water pressure. I believe it is a low-flow showerhead. Does anyone have any good recommendations for a good showerhead replacement? One that is pretty easy to remove the water saver from pre-installation?

[Mike_Young]

Pat, the limit on your shower pressure will be determined by your actual actual water pressure at the house.  Often there will be a pressure regulating valve for safety reasons in case there was a surge etc.  Also, the municipalities often have a limit on the gallons per minute a shower head can disperse. 

The only way I have seen it done in clubs and in a few homes is dedicate a larger water heater to only that shower and water is connected to a large (250 gallon) tank at an elevation calculated above the shower head and a 1.25- 1.5 is connected from the tank to the head.  NOTE: the trick can be in finding an older head that can accept the larger pipe....Such a set up will give you "Merion" gallons per minute ....in a new house it should not be a big deal....the talk and water heater determine maximum shower time...

It will also meet code in most places as long as the pipe size filling the tank is in compliance.

[Joel_Stewart]

Pat, the limit on your shower pressure will be determined by your actual actual water pressure at the house.  Often there will be a pressure regulating valve for safety reasons in case there was a surge etc.  Also, the municipalities often have a limit on the gallons per minute a shower head can disperse. 

The only way I have seen it done in clubs and in a few homes is dedicate a larger water heater to only that shower and water is connected to a large (250 gallon) tank at an elevation calculated above the shower head and a 1.25- 1.5 is connected from the tank to the head.  NOTE: the trick can be in finding an older head that can accept the larger pipe....Such a set up will give you "Merion" gallons per minute ....in a new house it should not be a big deal....the talk and water heater determine maximum shower time...

It will also meet code in most places as long as the pipe size filling the tank is in compliance.

This is exactly right.  I think standard homes have a 1 to 1.25 inch pipe.  When I played Cascata a few years ago, the pro said they had 2 inch pipes.  Honestly, when I turned on the water the room rumbled. I was drenched in 1 second.

[PCCraig]

My club here in the Twin Cities has a clubhouse that was built in the 1950's. The basement locker room isn't much to look at, but when I joined the shower pressure was the best I have ever experienced. All of the water came out of an unassuming tiny steel head (not a hubcap style like at Merion). A couple of years ago management switched out the showerheads with newer low flow heads which was/is a travesty.


Have either of you guys had any luck replacing a showerhead and removing the water restrictor?

[Ian Mackenzie]

My club here in the Twin Cities has a clubhouse that was built in the 1950's. The basement locker room isn't much to look at, but when I joined the shower pressure was the best I have ever experienced. All of the water came out of an unassuming tiny steel head (not a hubcap style like at Merion). A couple of years ago management switched out the showerheads with newer low flow heads which was/is a travesty.


Have either of you guys had any luck replacing a showerhead and removing the water restrictor?

Pat -


In every home I have ever lived in I have removed the water restrictors in the showers....except in the kid's bathroom...;-)
Well....not quite "I"....a talented plumber did it and the results were fantastic.


As you may know, the showers at GVC are some of the best around.
I will look at them next time I am there.


Cheers,
Ian

[Mike_Young]

I would bet the old clubhouse had larger pipes grandfathered in and once they did a remodel etc they had to put restricted heads in. I think Merion has gotten by with it by using the old pipes and not changing the heads or valves or anything to kick out the grandfather clause...plus they have huge water heaters

[PCCraig]

As you may know, the showers at GVC are some of the best around.

Agreed...very solid set up. Just took a shower there this past October!

[Dan Kelly]

Pat --


Cheap, and great pressure in our 75 year old pipes:


I'm not sure if ours is this exact one or the Delta one below, but I think it is this one:


https://www.amazon.com/EZ-FLO-15023-Saving-Shower-Head-2-0/dp/B00068UXNA


When I get home, I will check.

[Ed Brzezowski]

I would bet the old clubhouse had larger pipes grandfathered in and once they did a remodel etc they had to put restricted heads in. I think Merion has gotten by with it by using the old pipes and not changing the heads or valves or anything to kick out the grandfather clause...plus they have huge water heaters

Those pipes there are older than most folks here.

[Dean Baggett]

I am a member at the Honors course, we have great shower-heads and water flow.  I tried to install
a similar head at my home... just wasn't the same.  My plumber told me it was all about "volume", not necessarily pressure.  Meaning the size of the pipe ...I think they are 2 inch at the Honors... that  exceeds  code at my home
so once again "government" telling us what to do     

[Dan Kelly]

The shower head I mentioned was made by Resources Conservation, Inc. of Greenwich, Connecticut.


Couldn't find it or the company.


I think this is the closest to it: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BQPBQG/ref=psdc_6810213011_t2_B00068UXNA

[John Kavanaugh]

I would believe that blatantly modifying your shower to use more water is illegal in Minnesota or at least morally repugnant. Please review the following link and respect the other citizens of your state less fortunate. http://www.mrwa.com/waterconservation.html

[Steve Lang]

   Get real...

Most homes have a half inch or 3/4 inch service line, commercial buildings are much larger due to service requirements.  Water heaters are typically 40 gallon capacity.

A pair of needle nose pliers or small screwdriver is all that's needed to remove the flow restrictors in most heads... you don;t need to replace head unless you're looking for "features"

Best to use a towel or rubber pad when screwing off/on fixtures with wrench or pliers.. if you want to keep them from getting marred..

You're not saving or impacting the planet's water supply, so don't let anyone make you feel guilty.. unless you like it

[Dan Kelly]

I would believe that blatantly modifying your shower to use more water is illegal in Minnesota or at least morally repugnant. Please review the following link and respect the other citizens of your state less fortunate. http://www.mrwa.com/waterconservation.html

The one I'm recommending is a low-flow, high-pressure shower head.


I shower with a clear conscience.

[John Kavanaugh]

The five gallon shower, really?!? I guess you don't sweat much up north. http://www.mrwa.com/PDF/WaterUseHabits.pdf

[Paul Jones]

I have Delta Shower heads in my house and I took the shower head off and removed the regulator (small piece of plastic to reduce water flow).  Quick Google/Bing/etc... search and you can watch a video...

[Mike_Young]

As Dean Baggett says in an earlier post....remove whatever restriction you wish but if you dont have the volume it will not be the same...and if pressure is what you think the solution is then put a pressure washer in the ceiling of your shower and try that

[Donnie Beck]

I would highly recommend the Commando 450! I hear it can be found on the black market out of the former Yugoslavia.

[John Crowley]

Pat,
Speakman shower heads are high quality and the flow restrictors are usually easy to remove.
J

[PCCraig]

  Get real...

Most homes have a half inch or 3/4 inch service line, commercial buildings are much larger due to service requirements.  Water heaters are typically 40 gallon capacity.

I have no dreams of exactly replicating the showers at Merion in my master bedroom. I was only curious if anyone else had run into the same issue and found a way to make their pressure better with a new shower head or whatever.

[JMEvensky]

I would highly recommend the Commando 450! I hear it can be found on the black market out of the former Yugoslavia.

Seinfeld references are always appreciated.

[Doug Siebert]

Slight OT.


I believe this has been discussed here before but I wasn't able to find the thread using the search feature. Since the shower water pressure has been a hot topic here before, I am curious to see if anyone has any recommendations.


We have a shower in our home that gives off terrible water pressure. I believe it is a low-flow showerhead. Does anyone have any good recommendations for a good showerhead replacement? One that is pretty easy to remove the water saver from pre-installation?

Are you sure it isn't just clogged with sediment? My shower was getting lower and lower pressure over the years without me really noticing but eventually I decided I needed to do something about it. Since I have to remove/clean the aerators on my faucets every few months due to little bits of 'black sand' (probably tiny pieces of iron from old water mains) I figured I should do the same for my shower. Man, what a difference, I forgot how powerful it used to be! Only downside is that now I use more water, since it is delivering the pressure it was supposed to