Everyone loves to take a shower and if you don’t, you more than likely still have a showerhead. While we enjoy cleaning, we don’t enjoy it when our showerheads experience problems while we are in the tub, or before we are about to get in. The issues these shower heads have can be extremely inconvenient, one of them being temperature issues. Cold baths in the winter are not comfortable!
After several months of use, showerheads can begin to lose their ability to control the temperature. A common fix is the replacement of the diverter valve which is responsible for mixing cold and hot water. A temporary fix for this problem can also be to remove the current showerhead, dump the water, and replace it with a new one. Keep in mind that this fix can sometimes be temporary.
Another common problem existing with the showers is controlling the water pressure. This can come from numerous sources. The most likely culprit is a clogged shower head. If hard water flows through your pipes minerals will build up in your shower head. Over time it will decrease, or block the water pressure. You can assess if this is the problem by removing the old showerhead and turning the water on to see the pressure level coming from the pipes. High pressure means that the showerhead is in fact clogged, and you must clean it by rinsing it and soaking it in vinegar. It’s a “green” fix, rather than using harsh chemicals that are bad for the environment and may cause quicker erosion for your shower head.
Another common problem exists with the flow of restricting showerheads. Such restrictions are put into place to help conserve water within the home. You can sometimes regulate the pressure. If you wish to conserve water in the home you need to first locate these restrictors, and they are usually in the faucet.
Another common problem facing the shower is when there is a reduction in pressure through the home. Be sure to check all the faucets in your home to test out the water pressure levels. If you are having pressure issues in the kitchen and outdoor faucets it could be a municipality issue.
Another reason for the reduction could be attributed to a broken water main. One should check with neighbors to see if they are having similar issues, before consulting with a professional plumber in the immediate area.