Why is my shower pressure low?
Low shower pressure can come from the water system, the shower itself, or the way the bathroom has been plumbed. The fix depends on the cause.
Start with the water system
A combi boiler, unvented cylinder, gravity-fed tank or pumped system will all behave differently. A shower that works well on one system may be poor on another.
Before choosing a shower, it is worth checking the home’s water pressure and flow rate, not just the look of the shower valve.
Common simple causes
Blocked shower heads, partly closed isolation valves, dirty filters, kinked hoses and scale can all reduce flow.
If the pressure has suddenly changed, it is also worth checking whether other taps are affected. That helps show whether the issue is local to the shower or wider in the property.
During a new bathroom
Pipe sizing, long pipe runs and product choice can all affect the final result. Rainfall heads can feel disappointing if the system cannot feed them properly.
A good installer will match the shower style to the property, rather than promising pressure the system cannot deliver.
What to check
- Does low pressure affect hot, cold or both?
- Do other taps have the same problem?
- Is the shower head scaled up?
- Has the problem appeared suddenly or always been there?
- What hot water system does the property use?