How to Increase Water Pressure in the Shower

A shower should wake you up with force, not feel like tears running down your cheek. If you're standing under your so-called “shower” wondering whether it’s just a leaky ceiling in disguise, then it’s time to figure out how to increase water pressure.

There could be many reasons behind your issue, anything from mineral deposits plotting revenge, a pressure regulator that’s lost the will to live, or your entire plumbing system quietly crumbling with age. But with a little effort, and possibly a booster pump, you can restore your water flow from “dehydrated hamster sneeze” to “confident waterfall”.

Here’s how to take back control from your moody shower.

Common Causes of Low Water Pressure

Low water pressure doesn’t just happen. There’s usually something in your plumbing system actively working against your happiness. Here’s the rogue’s gallery of usual suspects:

• Clogged or corroded pipes: Years of mineral deposits building up like your unresolved issues.
• Faulty fixtures: Old shower heads that should’ve retired years ago, or those cursed flow restrictors that save water but ruin lives.
• Water leaks: Somewhere, water is escaping. And it’s probably having more fun than you are.
• Broken pressure regulator: This little control freak might be strangling your incoming water pressure.
• External supply issues: Your municipal water supply might be slacking off, or a main valve might be half-shut out of sheer spite.

If one of these gremlins is why low water pressure occurs in your home, you’ll want to catch it before your next cold drizzle of disappointment.

How to Measure Your Home’s Water Pressure

Before you tear apart your bathroom like a budget reality TV reno, we recommend measuring water pressure properly and methodically.

The first step is to grab a water pressure gauge from your local hardware store and attach it to a garden tap. Turn everything else off, then check the reading in pounds per square inch (PSI) as you turn the garden tap on at full capacity. You’re aiming for 40–60 PSI. If your number’s lower than your self-esteem on a Monday, you’ve got low water pressure.

Also, measure where your main water supply pipe enters the house to see what you’re dealing with before your pipes get involved in the drama.

Quick Fixes to Instantly Boost Shower Pressure

Don’t worry, not every attempt to fix low water pressure involves digging up your garden or crying in a tool shed. Some of the following tips might actually work without requiring you to pretend you’re a licensed plumber.

• Clean the shower head: Get rid of all that sediment buildup that’s been quietly sabotaging your mornings.
• Remove the flow restrictor: It’s there to save water, not your mood. Just make sure that doing so doesn’t breach Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) regulations. That could open up a can of worms you might not be able to close!
• Check for water leaks: Because nothing says “great pressure” like half your water exiting stage left through a crack in the wall.
• Open the main water valve fully: If it’s only halfway open, guess what? Your water pressure is halfway useless.
• Be smart with your shower times: Avoid the pressure drop that happens when everyone else on your street decides to bathe simultaneously.

Try these before you go full DIY-plumber – which we don’t recommend you do by the way – and start blaming the water gods for your less-than-adequate water pressure.

When to Blame the Regulator or the Plumbing

Still stuck with low pressure, even after these basic troubleshooting tips? Your water pressure regulator is possibly phoning it in, or your pipes might be hosting a secret club for mineral deposits.

A broken pressure-reducing valve can throttle your incoming water pressure for no good reason. And don’t underestimate the power of tree roots—those sneaky saboteurs can crush your main water line while you’re out there watering them.

If you’ve ruled out the obvious, these gremlins might be to blame. But fair warning: adjusting your pressure regulator without knowing what you’re doing is a great way to turn “low pressure” into “no pressure and a lawsuit.” Call someone with actual qualifications.

Upgrade Options: From Booster Pumps to Tanks

Sometimes you’ve got to throw a bit of tech at the problem.

Enter: the water pressure booster pump AKA the MVP of the sad shower rescue mission.

It boosts pressure across your entire house, so your taps, shower heads, and water-using appliances can finally work in harmony with premium water flow. If you’re on a well system, a pressure tank can help balance things out without frying your water booster pump.

Of course, you’ll want to make sure everything’s up to building code and installed by someone who doesn’t just watch plumbing videos on YouTube. If your mains water supply is lacklustre, a booster pump might be your new favourite housemate.

Know When to Call the Pros to Increase 

If you’ve tried everything short of casting a spell and your poor water pressure issues are still clinging to you like a bad ex, call in a licensed, professional plumber.

They can do a proper water pressure test, inspect your main water line, and spot hidden problems like sneaky water leaks or a quietly failing pressure regulator. If you’re thinking, “Sure, or I could just try to fix complex plumbing problems myself!”, think again. Not only is it against the law in South Australia, it’s also how people end up with no water and a tragic DIY story.

If you’re seeing constant pressure drops, weird water flow changes, or just feel utterly defeated by a leaking showerhead, get someone who won’t make things worse.

Get Your Water Flow and Pressure Back on Track

Look, you don’t have to settle for the water pressure equivalent of being gently wept on. Whether your problem is a clogged pipe, a broken valve, or just an outdated plumbing system, there’s always a way to increase water pressure and reclaim your dignity.

Start with the basics—scrub that shower head, grab a pressure gauge, and check your main water supply. Still stuck? Time to talk booster pumps and licensed plumbers. A strong, consistent shower isn’t too much to ask. Unless, of course, you don’t do anything about it.

Please note: Thank you for reading our blog “How to Increase Water Pressure in the Shower”. This information is provided for advice purposes only. Regulations differ from state to state, so please consult your local authorities or an industry professional before proceeding with any work. See our Terms & Conditions here.