| laborlitigator |
Everytime my wife goes to a hotel, she always comments about the strong water pressure in the shower and why can't we have it at home.
Any suggestions? I wouldn't have the first idea on how to do it. I don't assume there's a valve somewhere that simply allows me to open the water up more. . . right? |
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| Blueflame |
| Try changing shower heads. |
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| paul123 |
quote:
Originally posted by laborlitigator
Everytime my wife goes to a hotel, she always comments about the strong water pressure in the shower and why can't we have it at home.
Any suggestions? I wouldn't have the first idea on how to do it. I don't assume there's a valve somewhere that simply allows me to open the water up more. . . right?
All shower heads have a water saving gasket in it. All you have to do is remove this gasket or even punch holes in it and the pressure will double. Becareful your water bill will also increase. This is the secret to high pressure showers!!!!!! |
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| paul123 |
Sold at Home Depot in New York:
Chrome Monsoon Ultimate Turbo Massage
$39.95
Model 06930003
3 spray selections - full, massage, and aerated
4 speed flow settings - ultimate, normal, soft, and water saver
60 no-clog spray channels
\""rub-it\" cleaning system - rub away lime and debris"
Durable high quality finish
Pvd polish brass will not tarnish, corrode or fade
Limited lifetime warranty
Simple do-it-yourself installation
Sell Pack Description:
Each
Sell Pack Ship Weight:
32 oz.
Sell Pack Length:
4.75"
Sell Pack Width:
5.5"
Sell Pack Height:
8"
Sell Pack Cubic Size:
209 in.³
Does Product Nest?
No
Sell Freight Class:
77.5
Shower Head Type:
Fixed Shower Heads
Series Name:
Monsoon
Number Of Spray Patterns:
12
Color/finish:
Chrome
Color/finish Category:
Metal/Chrome,Nickel,Silver
Surface Finish Category:
Polished
Vacuum Break (required In Calif):
No
Easy Clean:
Yes
Manufacturer:
Hansgrohe
SKU #:
555517
UPC #:
4011097900858 |
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| Tom-TX |
quote:
Originally posted by laborlitigator
Everytime my wife goes to a hotel, she always comments about the strong water pressure in the shower and why can't we have it at home.
...
I'm in a hotel in Thailand right now. I'll bet your wife wasn't talking about this place! :mad: |
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| EXCALIBUR |
quote:
Originally posted by Tom-TX
I'm in a hotel in Thailand right now. I'll bet your wife wasn't talking about this place! :mad:
Sawat dii khrap. Cheu Thai rohng raem arai na khrap? Thai rohng raem yuu thi nai khrap? Khawp khun maak khrap. |
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| BLACK-BLING-MDX |
quote:
Originally posted by EXCALIBUR
Sawat dii khrap. Cheu Thai rohng raem arai na khrap? Thai rohng raem yuu thi nai khrap? Khawp khun maak khrap.
Exactly! :rolleyes: Also, DON'T GET SARS!!! |
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| laborlitigator |
| Thanks Paul123. . . |
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| laborlitigator |
Paul123,
What exactly am I looking for in the shower head? |
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| renov8r |
Just like in NASCAR the "authorities" have deemed that too much flow is a bad thing.
In the case of faucets & showerheads the main method of "limiting" the volume of water is simply to insert a washer like plate in the inlet. These plates are about as thick as the metal in a cheap pie plate, same overall diameter as the inside of the fitting and have a hole in the center. You can often pop it out with a whack, otherwise stick a small screwdriver into the hole and pry it out.
You will use more water, because the VOLUME of water will increase.
Another option to increase PRESSURE is to re-plumb. The most important "segment" is from the hot water heater to the bathroom. In older houses sediment can build up and really cut down the flow.
Repiping is NOT CHEAP, as it may take some 'demolition' to re-run lines. In my old house I had the cold water supply to the water heater redone, as well as the feed from the water heater to the first floor bath. The plumber was a friend and was still over $600. But,as the commercial goes "feeling like a fire house is hitting your back -- priceless".
BTW I think that MOST hotels do have 'low volume" shower heads. Typically the "water saver" shower heads with good pressure are designed to mix some air into the stream. BUT they also have MUCH larger pipes to supply the hot & cold water, as well as water heaters that operates with much larger volumes & pressures. You COULD reproduce that at home, but it may be impractical...
quote:
Originally posted by laborlitigator
Paul123,
What exactly am I looking for in the shower head?
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| Blueflame |
[QUOTE]Originally posted by paul123
[B]Sold at Home Depot in New York:
Chrome Monsoon Ultimate Turbo Massage
$39.95
Model 06930003
3 spray selections - full, massage, and aerated
4 speed flow settings - ultimate, normal, soft, and water saver
60 no-clog spray channels
]
There are a lot of different types of shower heads that could change the water presure. Best is to visit a Home Depot and ask the salesman. I perfer OSH because is less crowded. |
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| frostyra |
| 'Nuther possibility: most houses have water pressure regulators, normally set to 60psi (more can be dangerous). If your house has one and its setting has dropped to, say, 40psi, that could make a huge difference. Might be worth checking if the restrictor plate change doesn't help much. |
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| EXCALIBUR |
quote:
Originally posted by BLACK-BLING-MDX
Exactly! :rolleyes: Also, DON'T GET SARS!!!
Mai mii panhaa. Mai ao SARS jing jing. |
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| DaleB |
Jack up the side of the house opposite where the showers are. Ony a few inches are necessary.
:2: |
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| frostyra |
| DaleB, you ARE an engineer's Engineer!! Why didn't anyone else think of that simplest, most direct solution? Or are you and I just both weird? |
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| paul123 |
quote:
Originally posted by laborlitigator
Paul123,
What exactly am I looking for in the shower head?
once you remove the shower head it right behind it.
It's a rubber gasket with usually a very tiny hole in it. You can remove entirely, which I did at first and the pressure was to hard. Then I just punched a few more holes in the gasket and that made the pressure just right. I believe you should have at least a 55 gallon water heater or you're going to find out that once you increase your pressure you will run out of hot water much faster. The amount of water used for the shower will also be increased alot. But the shower is like heaven. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by frostyra
DaleB, you ARE an engineer's Engineer!! Why didn't anyone else think of that simplest, most direct solution? Or are you and I just both weird?
What's more reliable than good ol' gravity? |
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| renov8r |
...a pressure regulator is pretty un-common on single-family-detached housing. The municipal water systems rarely supply more than 60 PSI to the "buffalo box" (streetside connection to the water mains...)
Anyhow, if you do have a regulator here are some links to help you identify it:
http://www.wattscda.com/faq/regulat...orscommonlyused
http://www.plumbingsupply.com/water...regulators.html
quote:
Originally posted by frostyra
'Nuther possibility: most houses have water pressure regulators, normally set to 60psi (more can be dangerous). If your house has one and its setting has dropped to, say, 40psi, that could make a huge difference. Might be worth checking if the restrictor plate change doesn't help much.
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| shootist |
quote:
Originally posted by laborlitigator
Everytime my wife goes to a hotel, she always comments about the strong water pressure in the shower and why can't we have it at home.
That comment cost me $1,100 for a new 1 hp well pump. I had already pulled out all the water restrictors in the shower heads. |
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| laborlitigator |
quote:
Originally posted by DaleB
Jack up the side of the house opposite where the showers are. Ony a few inches are necessary.
:2:
Knowing my wife, she'd say it wouldn't be enough
:21: |
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| Number 6 |
| get a nice grohe shower head (made in germany unfortunately...) and take the flow restrictor out... i first had a shower with one of those amazing heads in kuala lumpur at the pan pacific glenmarie... wow... it's definitely fire hose-like... |
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| laborlitigator |
| Little pricey, isn't it? Even on ebay |
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| TheWorm |
I just replaced ours in the MBath w/a Speakman from Home Depot. $30 or so. Big difference and even the wife is happy w/it. Tried the flow regulator removal on the old one. Nice and powerful -- but damn the hot water only lasted a few minutes.
If you're looking for a "more upscale" designer type, take a look at www.faucetdirect.com
Good prices and excellent service (recently ordered & installed a bathroom sink faucet). |
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| mdxxxx |
quote:
Originally posted by Number 6
get a nice grohe shower head (made in germany unfortunately...) and take the flow restrictor out... i first had a shower with one of those amazing heads in kuala lumpur at the pan pacific glenmarie... wow... it's definitely fire hose-like...
Agreed. Our grohe shower head is great. :4: |
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| laborlitigator |
MDXXXX,
Is it worth the extra expense? |
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| mdxxxx |
quote:
Originally posted by laborlitigator
MDXXXX,
Is it worth the extra expense?
Yes. However, the extra cost was negligable... I had a hookup at Home Depot's Expo Center. It was an emplyee discount in addition to it being a sale item (roughly 60% off) ... I would have paid more than I did, that's how good it is...:4: |
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| laborlitigator |
| Thanks. . . ebay, here I come |
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| jnk_tx |
| On my previous house, the main water valve was not open all the way. When I finally opened it up it made a big difference. The valve is normally by the meter in the ground. |
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| zman |
Kind of like jnk_tx said:
Or for those of us in the north the valve is right next to the water meter in the basement. It is just a simple valve like an outdoor faucet. See if you have access to it and if it is open all the way. |
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| renov8r |
You don't want the main cut off valve to get "calcified in place". If you have a ball valve (which only requires a 90 degrees to go from full open to full closed) or a gate valve (pretty rare in residential plumbing, because of their higher cost and larger dimensions) that won't happen.
If you have a regular rotary seat valve (the most common type that is compact and operates just like an old fashioned faucet/hose bib) it CAN become calcified OPEN. Then when you most need to shut it (a pipe burst somewhere in you wall...) it won't budge. You crank like mad man and SNAP, now the plumber has two things to fix.
The idea is you don't twist it "open hard" so that if it gets a little calcified you can wiggle it toward open and close a bit so that it will close when needed. It doesn't restrict flow when it is less than an eight turn from "open hard" against the stops, it just is a safety margin,
geez, with all this plumbing talk I feel like Cosmo Castorini in Moonstruck,if I were a plumber I wouldn't have to care about how much MDXs cost... |
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| Tom-TX |
quote:
Originally posted by EXCALIBUR
Sawat dii khrap. Cheu Thai rohng raem arai na khrap? Thai rohng raem yuu thi nai khrap? Khawp khun maak khrap.
OK, I'm back now but unfortunately didn't get online while in Rayong where my Thai friends could translate for me. |
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| EXCALIBUR |
Tom-TX,
Translation: "Hello! What is the name of your Thai hotel? Where is your Thai hotel located? Thank you very much." |
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| Tom-TX |
| Stayed at the Amari Airport while in Bangkok and the Kanary Bay while in Rayong. Only got caught in one tropical rain fall during a week's stay. Not bad. |
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| EXCALIBUR |
Tom-TX,
Looks like you stayed in some pretty upscale hotels. Were you there on business or pleasure? I hope you enjoyed your stay in amazing Thailand.:4: |
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| Tom-TX |
| All business. In the past I worked for Caltex Petroleum (if you are familiar w/ S.E. Asia, you'll know the name) and now a consultant. Been to Thailand many times over my career and fully enjoyed each trip. People, temples, other places, more temples, food, and more temples, what more could you ask for? Did I mention night life and fried grasshoppers? |
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| ByeByeChrysler |
quote:
Originally posted by Tom-TX
Did I mention fried grasshoppers?
:16: |
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| EXCALIBUR |
quote:
Originally posted by Tom-TX
Did I mention night life and fried grasshoppers?
Nightlife? Arai na khrap? When I visit amazing Thailand, I usually pass the fried grasshopper stand for BBQ and kuaytiaw naam. The temples and shrines are what I enjoy most.:D |
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| mdxxxx |
quote:
Originally posted by Tom-TX
... Did I mention night life...?
No... Do tell, expecially in Bankok. |
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| Tom-TX |
Sorry, my wife sometimes reads this stuff. :twak:
You'll have to just use your own imagination. :eek:
Actually I'm sure that would be more interesting than my stories. (Remember the wife part?). |
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| mdxxxx |
quote:
Originally posted by Tom-TX
Sorry, my wife sometimes reads this stuff. :twak:
You'll have to just use your own imagination. :eek:
Actually I'm sure that would be more interesting than my stories. (Remember the wife part?).
Ah ha.... enough said!;) |
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| laborlitigator |
Come on Tom-Tx. . . you've got our interested "piqued"
Bangkok must have been fun! |
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