Little Water Coming Out Of Shower Head? (6 Reasons & Fixes!)

It can be such a drag to jump into the bathroom ready for a shower and then have little water coming out of shower head. After plowing through the disappointment and the difficulty in lathering, you might have wondered what causes it.

Well, little water is coming out of your shower because of a clogging, a leakage, a malfunctioning water pressure regulator, or a faulty mixing valve. It could also be due to valve shut-off or a case of high-water usage during peak hours.

The good thing about most of these issues is that they are easy to fix and DIY. Some may require a simple adjustment or cleaning, while others may need a replacement or a plumber’s intervention.

So, I’ll explain all the causes and their respective fixes. Even better, I’ll share a simple guide on how to increase the flow of your shower water.

Here we go!

Is Little Water Coming Out of Shower? Here’s Why:

There are so many possibilities as to why you cannot have enough water running down your showerhead, but here are the commonest:

1. Clogging

There are two possibilities here; clogged shower head and in-pipe clogging.

Let’s discuss them

Possibility Number 1 – Clogged Shower Head

Generally, shower heads are made from ABS plastic and metals such as stainless steel and solid brass. While plastic shower heads tend to attract mold and limescale faster than their metallic counterparts, none is immune to getting clogged up.

Clogging in shower heads can be caused by limescale deposits, residual chlorine, rust, or bits of debris such as sand.

Fix

To unclog a shower head, pour some cleaning vinegar in a zip lock bag and soak the shower head for a minimum of 30 minutes. Before rinsing off the showerhead, use a brush, perhaps an old toothbrush, or a cloth to wipe away the grime.

Usually, cleaning vinegar is 20% stronger than white or regular vinegar, and that’s why I recommend it, and a good choice is Heinz Cleaning Vinegar.

But in its absence, you can use baking soda, Coca-Cola, or a liquid multipurpose cleaning soap like Dr. Bronner’s.

But before anything, you should soak the shower head for about 15 minutes in a bleach solution made of four tablespoons of bleach in two and a half cups of water. Soaking in bleach will take care of mold that might have started developing.

how to make water come out of shower head

Possibility Number 2 – In-Pipe Clogging

The shower head is not the only thing that could clog and reduce shower water flow. You should also check the pipe connecting the shower head. If it’s blocked, then water won’t flow adequately.

Fix

Fixing an in-pipe clogging is easy with a long auger like Drainsoon Auger 25 Foot. You can use it all around your home to unclog various drains.

But before you can use this auger in your shower’s piping, you should unscrew and detach the shower head.

2. Leakage

Like the first case, there are two possibilities here; a broken pipe or a loose connection.

1^st Possible Source of Leakage – Broken Pipe

If there is a major crack on the pipe connecting to the shower head or if it breaks, water will leak, and very little (if you are lucky) will reach the shower head. So, it’s essential to check the pipe for any form of breakage.

Fix

You can take up a broken pipe if the break or crack is not a major one. But if it is, then you should talk to a plumber to help you fix it or do it yourself if you have the technical know-how.

2^nd Possible Source of Leakage – Loose Pipe Connection

Little water may come out of your shower head if there is a loose connection between it and the shower arm. In such a case, it could be that the connection between the shower head and shower arm is not completely sealed.

It could also be that there is a difference in diameter and threading between the shower head and the connecting hose. However, this difference is rare.

Most shower heads in the US and Canada have a standard diameter of ½ inch NPT (National Pipe Thread Tapered).

In contrast, the majority of countries in the rest of the world, including Europe, Australia, Africa, and Asia, use the ½ inch BSP (British Standard Pipe)

Fix

You can fix a loose connection by:

Turn off the faucet and detach the shower head from the hose.

Check whether the threads have the plumber’s tape (Teflon tape)
If it’s not, apply a few rounds of Teflon tape in a clockwise direction.
Reconnect the shower head and turn on the faucet

Overall, if you discover a mismatch in diameters or threading, detach and take the shower head or arm with you on the next visit to your local hardware. They should be able to help you find a match.

3^rd Possible Source of Leakage – Worn-Out Rubber Washers

Washers are placed in the shower head and shower hose attachment to provide a waterproof seal. Overall, rubber or silicone washers are more likely to wear out faster than their ceramic and nylon counterparts.

If not replaced, the worn-out washers could lead to leakage and cause little water to come out of the shower head.

Fix

If the washers are old, replace them. Also, check the gaskets and replace them if they are old.

Before getting into how to fix this, here is a list of the tools needed:

Phillips screwdriver
Crescent wrench (A channel lock pliers can also work)
Socket wrench (Cowbell wrench)
Valve seat tool (Allen wrench can also work)
Drainage stopper
A towel
Penetrating oil
Utility knife

Now, here’s how to make water come out of shower head by replacing worn-out showers:

Turn off the water at the main water supply valve
Fit the drainage stopper and lay out the towel to ensure small equipment parts don’t go into the drain
Unscrew the handle
Use penetrating oil for rusted screws. For older models, the screw is visible. For newer models, the screw is hidden by a cap. You will need to use a utility knife to pry it out.
Due to calcium build-up, getting the handle out is tricky. You will need to work it back and forth while being careful not to damage the valve system or use a faucet puller.
To loosen the stop nut that connects the rising pipe and the cartridge, fit the socket wrench over the valve stem
Using the crescent wrench, apply counterclockwise torque on the socket wrench to loosen the valve body.
Replace the worn-out washer
Ensure you screw it snug fit

very little water coming out of shower head

Tip:

The numbered side of the washer should always face down

Replacing the washer should be enough to deal with the leakage. However, a leakage can manifest within a week or less after a washer change, indicating that the valve seat is also worn out.

To avoid such a scenario, always ensure to check the condition of the valve seat every time you change the washers.

3. Malfunctioning Water Pressure Regulator

On your water supply line is a pressure regulator whose job is to regulate the water pressure. If the regulator malfunctions for whatever reason, the water pressure will be affected, and you are more likely to have little water running down the shower head.

Fix

Check the water pressure regulator to see if it’s defective. If it is, then you should replace it. Preferably, talk to an expert plumber.

4. Faulty Mixing Valve

The mixing valve, which you find inside the shower head, can lead to little water flowing out of it if it’s faulty. Overall, the job of the mixing valve is to control the quantity flow of cold and hot water. So, if it’s old or stuck, it won’t regulate water flow.

Fix

This can be too technical to fix. So, it’s advisable to talk to an expert plumber.

5. Valve Shut-Off

If the main water supply valve is shut off, there will be no water in all the taps, the shower included.

Fix

In most cases, you need to reset the main water supply to ‘On.’

Tip: Turning the valve clockwise restricts flow while counterclockwise allows flow. For simplicity’s sake, left-loose, right-tight.

6. High Water Usage

The other reason you might be experiencing less water coming out of shower head is high water usage. Little water will come out of the shower if all the water pipes run simultaneously, especially in peak hours like late nights and early mornings.

Fix

Consider showering when very few people are using the water.

Ways to Avoid Having Little Water Coming Out of the Shower Head:

Now, you can increase water pressure and shower head water flow using these tips:

Clean the shower head routinely
Ensure the valves are open
Check for water leaks and fix them
Shower off-peak hours (when few people are using the water)
Invest in a low-pressure shower head

Little Water Coming Out Of Shower Head? (6 Reasons & Fixes!)