Q: Inone of our bathrooms (built in the 1960s), the water pressure in the shower islow. I’ve changed showerheads and it makes no noticeable difference. This seemsstrange because it is located next to the master bathroom (remodeled in the1990s), which has great water pressure. While both bathrooms must be connectedto the same main water pipe, the showers have remarkably different water pressures.

I’mplanning to renovate the old bathroom, taking out the old tiles and putting innew ones. This will give me access to the shower pipes, so is it an opportunityto fix the water pressure problem, and if so, how?

A: You’veprovided all the clues we need to solve the problem. The 1960s shower has lowpressure, while the newer model has great pressure. You’ve changed theshowerhead and that didn’t help. So we can rule that out.

Yes, theyare connected to the same main line, so the problem has to be in the showeritself.

We’repretty certain that the low pressure you’re experiencing in the 1960s vintageshower is caused by a blockage in the valve that regulates the water flow.After all, the poor thing is more than 40 years old and has a right to be a littletired.

Tub andshower supply valves of that era came with rubber washers. These washersprobably haven’t been changed in years, if not decades. We’d bet there is somedebris stuck in the valve. We’d also bet that the debris is actually pieces ofa worn-out rubber washer.

Thesolution is to replace the washers in the shower supply valve.

Start byturning off the water at the main shutoff valve to the house. In climates thatdon’t freeze, the shutoff valve is usually located where the water main lateralenters the house.

Next, prythe cover from the faucet handle and remove it from the cold water supply.Handles are usually attached to the valve stem with a Phillips-head screw. Nextunscrew the escutcheon that covers the hole where the valve stem penetrates thewall.

Unscrewthe nut holding the stem in the valve and unscrew the valve stem out of thevalve. At the end of the valve stem, there should be a rubber washer held inplace by another small Phillips-head screw. You may not be able to recognize itbecause of deformity, and pieces of it may be missing. Inspect the housing fordebris and remove anything you see.

Take thevalve stem to the local hardware store and get some replacement washers.Install a new washer on the stem and reverse the steps you just took to put thevalve back together. Repeat the process with the hot water valve.

Onceyou’ve replaced both washers, turn on the water and test the installation.Remove the showerhead so any debris left in the valve will have an unobstructedpath out of the system. This should do the trick.

In yourfuture bathroom remodel, we definitely suggest you replace the old showervalve. It’s the same principle as replacing a thermostat in a car when thewater pump goes. If the area is open, replace the old part. If you don’t, sureas shootin’ you’ll be tearing into the new shower to fix the valve you shouldhave replaced as part of the remodel.

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Copyright 2006 Bill and Kevin Burnett

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 29th, 2006 at 12:00 pm and is filed under Articles. You can skip to the end and leave a response.