Can You Turn Shower Water Pressure Up & Down in the Basement?

Adjust Your Water Use

• Your home only has a certain amount of water pressure at a given time and it splits it among the places using it. If you're using water in different locations of the house at the same time, each location gets a portion of the water pressure and every other location gets less as a result. If someone is using the basement shower, maximize the water pressure by turning off other fixtures such as sinks, bathtubs, dishwashers and washing machines.

Check the Water Valves and Shower Head

• Examine the valves for the pipes going into the basement shower to ensure they're turned up all the way. If the shower was installed recently, it's possible the valves were still partially closed on the installation and this minimizes the pressure the shower receives. Also, examine your shower head because hard water often causes deposits to build up inside the head over time and, as a result, the water can't pass through it effectively. The head should be clean and free of blockages to guarantee the best possible pressure.

Use a High-Pressure Nozzle

• Even if the shower head is perfectly clean, it might not be maximizing the pressure in your basement shower. Attach a high-pressure shower head to the shower faucet and you'll likely notice a considerable increase in the pressure. High-pressure heads increase water pressure by forcing the water out through fewer openings in the head, increasing the pressure in each individual water stream. The shower head normally twists off the shower faucet and the replacement twists back on, making the nozzle switch a quick process that can be done in seconds.

Install a Water Pressure Tank

• Water pressure tanks are commonly used in rural areas where water pressure is frequently a problem. The tank holds a water reserve that allows your existing water pressure to last longer. This helps prevent your basement shower from losing pressure in mid-shower. It's best to have the tank installed by experts and the tank should be placed directly after the main shutoff valve in your main water line. One advantage the basement shower does have is that the water doesn't have to travel upwards like it does in showers on the higher floors but the tank still helps maximize that advantage.