Water Pressure

[hautemama15]

How do I fix our water pressure in the upstairs bathrooms?? We just moved into a 5 year old house. It is 2 stories, both showers are upstairs. The water pressure is horrendous!! Downstairs at the kitchen sink and the half bath the pressure is fine. My washing machine pressure and dishwasher pressure are both fine, but it takes us a long time to rinse our hair when we take showers. Is there some trick to it or are we doomed!!

[tarabenet]

If the shower is the only place it bugs you, you might try the low-flow, high-pressure shower heads that you can find at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. We use one at home, where we have very normal water pressure, because DH loves a high-pressure shower. But we also use one at our house at the farm to make up for the really weak water pressure out there. We get a normal pressure shower there that way. The ones we like are actually the cheapest ones, too, so this is a $5 fix.

Beyond that, or if it is bothering you at fixtures other than the shower, you may need to talk to a plumber.

[Momof3Labs]

Definitely change the shower heads first, they may be full of mineral build-up. My first shower in our last house was miserable - not much more than a trickle - and an inexpensive new shower head did the trick! Is the sink pressure okay upstairs?

[hautemama15]

Well, we changed the shower heads last week, no help. So, I am wondering if we bought a high pressure, low flow shower head. I will see and go from there.

[BillK]

We have a Teel 1/2 horsepower pump with a 15 gallon pressure tank in our basement for a poor water pressure issue at our house. Works wonderfully - any good plumbing contractor should be able to hook you up.

[bostonsmama]

I don't claim to know anything about plumbing, so take the following for what it's worth. My aunt moved into a brand new house last year and she is a high water pressure NUT. She literally likes to be blasted with water. Well, she was so irritated with the low water pressure on their third floor that at the final walk through for their one year warranty with the builder, she had a plumbing specialist take out the water saving device that's built into the plumbing/shower head in each bathroom. Apparently the plumber said it was illegal and that he technically couldn't do it, but she flashed him a pretty smile and out it went. He also increased the household water pressure by turning up some knob or valve (from the street, in the house...I don't really know). But it sounds like since your house is relatively new that you might be able to do something like that. Since you really hate the low flow, it might be worth the $50-150 visit from a plumber. But I'd call first and ask what they can do, what your options are, and a per hour price rate/quote. It'd be ridiculous to pay all that money for them to come out to your house and them give you the same suggestions Benet & Lori did (high pressure faucet).

Larissa

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[MMEand1]

No real advice for you, but I was wondering about water pressure the other day. I love high water pressure to the point that my DH says that if it "doesn't peel off your skin", it's not enough water pressure!!

I told my mom the other day that when we look at buying a house, I am going to have to take a shower first to check out the water pressure before we agree to anything!

Good luck. I know how frustrating it can be to have to run around just to get wet in the shower!
Mariah P.

[tarabenet]

DH and I are like you! We like to get blasted in the morning. Really, those shower heads changed things dramatically. TMI, but DH packs one in his suitcase any time he's going to be stuck in a hotel for more than a night or two. Don't let the shower be a dealbreaker on a house you really like! Just tuck a high-pressure showerhead in your purse and test it that way! LOL! Can't you just see the look on a realtor's face?