If a flow restrictor is present in your shower head, the water flow will be minimal during the shower. Let us find out how to remove the flow restrictor from the shower head.
Experts say that these devices reduce the flow of water to 2.5 shower gallons per minute. If you want to reduce your energy bills, placing such a device is a good idea.
Additionally, it also helps in saving water. So, it’s excellent for the environment. However, to increase the speed of a low-flow showerhead, you can remove it.
Removing the Flow Restrictor from a Shower Head
- Remove the shower head from the shower arm.
- Take away the O-ring and screen.
- Remove the water flow restrictor.
- Get back together all the components.
What is a Flow Restrictor?
It is also called a flow limiter, which limits water flow in the shower head. Its center is made of metal, where a star-shaped hole is located. It is round and flat. Showerheads have two primary types:
- Fixed showerhead
- Handheld showerhead
Flow restrictors come in different colors. They are made of materials that resist high water temperatures. You can easily replace or remove them.
Tools Required to Remove Flow Restrictor
- Needles nose pliers
- Screwdriver with flat head
- A pipe wrench or an adjustable wrench
Plumbers tape - Paper clips
- Towel or cloth
How to Remove Flow Restrictor from Shower Head?
Read the manufacturer’s manual to see where the flow restrictor is positioned. This step will save a lot of your time, and you will find it quickly.
Fixed Shower Head Removal
Follow these steps to remove the fixed shower head:
Step 1.
Disengage the shower from the main point. Remove the showerhead by unscrewing it. Use a wrench tool for this purpose, or you can also do this with your hand.
Use a cloth to cover the shower head to protect its finish. Save the nuts to re-screw them after taking out the flow restrictor. It would be best if you turned the head anti-clockwise for unscrewing.
Step 2.
Some shower heads have mesh screens that prevent sediments and impurities from coming with the water. If your shower head contains this screen, remove it with care.
Moreover, the shower head may require a gentle tap to remove the screen, or you can use a needle nose plier.
Step 3.
There is an O-ring in the showerhead, also called a gasket. Unbend it and remove it using a paper clip.
Step 4.
Now, you will find a star-shaped flow restrictor, gently remove it. Pick it up by twisting it with an unbent paper clip, needle nose plier, or screwdriver.
Handheld Shower Head Water Restrictor Removal
In order to remove handheld Shower Head Water Restrictor, follow these steps:
Step 1.
Take a cloth and cover the nut. Now, use a wrench to unscrew the handle from the arm.
Step 2.
The next step is to remove its components. Removing the shower screen, flow restrictor, and O-ring from a handheld showerhead is the same as pulling from a fixed shower head. So, use the same techniques to remove them.
Removing Flow Restrictor Shower Head by Brand
Different brands manufacture different flow restrictors. So, every brand has its distinct ways to remove them.
Moen Hydro Energetix Shower Head
You can easily get rid of Moen hydro energetix shower head by following these steps:
Step 1.
Remove the shower head by holding it with one hand and holding the wrench with the other. But, cover it with a cloth.
Fix the wrench on the covered shower and grip the pipe with the other hand. Keep twisting your wrench clockwise until the head is removed.
Step 2.
You will find here a rubber-made O-ring gasket. You can remove it with your hand or use a screwdriver. Screwdrivers can ruin the head, so using fingers is recommended.
Take out the screen and shake it to refresh it. Now, the gasket can be removed using a hand.
Step 3.
There is a flat head screw in the flow restrictor, which an adjustable screwdriver can remove. The screws are made of plastic and come in several holes.
Step 4.
There are many tiny threads in the shower, so it requires a lot of focus to separate the flow restrictor.
Again use a screwdriver to detach the shower head and flow restrictor. Don’t move the screwdriver quickly to avoid damage.
Step 5.
Make sure the gasket is clear and put it back into the shower head where it was located. Check proper alignment of the O-ring gasket and fix it.
Step 6.
Wrap around the shower head using the plumber’s tape and put it back. Be careful of threads to prevent any damage.
Step 7.
Take a soft cloth and hold the valve with it firmly. Then thread the shower tube with the valve for more than three quarters. Firm tightening is not recommended to avoid damage.
Delta Shower Head
Follow these steps to remove the delta shower head:
Step 1.
To soak small droppings from the basin, place a cloth on your shower drain.
Step 2.
Cover the delta’s base using masking tape. There is a piece of a base sprout that is called an aerator.
Step 3.
Twist the aerator clockwise with joint pliers. Now, use your hands to twist it.
Step 4.
Separate the washers in the aerator using your hands. A flat object with a hole is present in the middle of it. It is the water restrictor; take it out and make a solution of vinegar and water to clean it.
Step 5.
Now, get back together the rubber and washer into the aerator.
Waterpik Shower Head
These are the steps to removing waterpik shower head:
Step 1.
Carefully remove the shower head from the pipe connected to the wall. To avoid scratches, you can use a cloth-covered wrench too.
Step 2.
The black rubber washer must be removed from the shower. It’s located in the mid of the shower head and shower arm.
Step 3.
Remove the flow restrictor from the shower head using a screwdriver. Put the screwdriver in the star-shaped hole of the spray nozzle. Turn it to lose it.
Step 4.
Use the plumber’s tape to wrap the threads on the arms of the shower. When connected to the shower head, it will protect the thread from rusting.
Step 5.
Install again and get back together the bathroom fittings. Put back the shower head and rubber gasket. A crescent-shaped wrench must be used to tighten the wrench.
Kohler Shower Head
To remove Kohler shower head, follow these steps:
Step 1.
Using a wrench or your hand, separate the aerator from its faucet. If you are using your hand, you have to turn it clockwise. In the case of using a wrench, use a cloth to protect the spout from scratches.
Step 2.
The flow restrictor is present in the middle of the aerator. It can be removed easily with little force using a screwdriver or hands.
Step 3.
Get everything back together in the aerator.
Important Factors to Consider Before Flow Restrictor Removal
Before you begin to remove flow restrictor, take care of these crucial factors:
- Always choose a wrench with lightweight; it will provide a perfect grip because you will use it to hold the shower arm and head.
- Measure or look at the top part of the screwdriver before its setting. If it’s adjustable, this means you have picked the correct screwdriver.
- While you are removing the flow restrictor, get help from a partner. You must be careful in the whole process. So, another person will assist you in the jobs like holding the shower arm on the wall or taking out the restrictor.
- Before you begin the process, ensure the shower tap is closed to stop the water flow.
How to Identify a Handheld Shower Water Flow Restrictor?
In three different places, you can find flow restrictors in the latest models of shower heads.
- The shower head handle’s edge.
- The showerhead’s back.
- The top of the pipe or inside the bottom.
Different brands have made different locations for it. So, you can read the manufacturer’s manual to find the restrictor’s exact location.
However, it is easily visible when the handheld shower head is unscrewed from the shower arm.
Tips for Flow Restrictor Removal
- After starting the process of removing the shower head, avoid too much pressure if the connecting nut is unable to move. The thread on the shower head must be checked for rust. If you find rust on it, apply rust remover and leave it for half an hour. You can use a silicone spray to lubricate it.
- If there is a lot of dirt on the shower head, soak it in the mixture of vinegar and water for the whole night before removing it. Clean all the dirt thoroughly.
- The whole process should be done with extra care. You will not make mistakes if you take a lot of time and do the task with patience. After re-connecting the shower head, if you find any leakage, tighten the seal with more thread on the shower arm.
- If you find shower head flow restrictor removal difficult, you can get the help of a professional.
Increasing the Spray of A Peerless Shower Head
If the spray of a peerless showerhead has little water flow, you can clean the connection and pry out the flow restrictor to increase the water flow. There are some ways to improve it with the low pressure of water.
Step 1.
Take out the shower head from the base. In this way, it can be cleaned quickly and easily. If you don’t feel it easy to remove the shower head, an adjustable wrench can be used. Disengage it from the base by turning it clockwise.
Step 2.
Take out the screen mesh from the showerhead by plugging in the screen driver. Find the line that attaches both, then use a screwdriver.
Step 3.
Carefully remove the filter screen and rubber gasket using a screwdriver. Then, you will see the flow restrictor.
Step 4.
In the middle of the shower head, a small part is the flow restrictor. Gently twist it to take it out.
Step 5.
Press the screwdriver on the restrictor to remove it. If it is unable to take out, keep pressing until it lifts.
Step 6.
Gently separate the restrictor from the shower base. You have to remove it carefully as there is a high chance of its breakage.
Step 7.
After completing all the above steps, carefully put everything back to its location. First of all, a screen filter and rubber gasket should be placed. Gently perform all this work to avoid any damage.
Step 8.
As you place the parts together, you must firmly fix them to protect them from breakage. Now put the showerhead back onto the base.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Are Flow Restrictors Present in All Shower Heads?
Flow restrictors are present in most shower heads that control the flow of water. They play an important role in decreasing our utility bills. But, in some bathrooms, they deliver water with low pressure.
Should I Take out The Water Restrictor from the Shower Head?
Flow restrictors can be taken out from the showerhead, but removing them is not recommended. In most aerators, they are an integral part.
How to Remove Flow Restrictor from the Shower Head?
Put the screwdriver into the shower head pipe. Press it on one side of the plastic restrictor. Twist it and carefully remove it from the shower head.
Can You Pierce a Flow Restrictor?
If the size of the drill bit fits the size of the hole of the flow restrictor, you can pierce it by using a drill. However, the hole cannot be removed once made.
How to Increase the Pressure of Water on My Shower Head?
The pressure of water can be increased by:
- Cleaning the shower head.
- Replacing it.
- Installing a pump for the shower.
- A closed pressurized cylinder can be installed.
- Install a shower with a power supply tank of cold water collector.
- Removing the flow restrictor from the shower head.
In a Showerhead, What is a Flow Restrictor?
Flow restrictors are designed for shower heads to decrease water flow up to 2.5 gallons per minute. It is the order of The National Energy Act to install flow restrictors in shower heads.
Final Thoughts
In this article, you have learned how to remove the flow restrictor from the shower head. These restrictors are placed in shower heads to decrease water flow, especially in areas with high water pressure.
It also helps in reducing your home’s utility bills. However, in some shower rooms, its presence makes the water flow very low. So, it should be removed in such cases.
It must be detached carefully to prevent damage to the shower head. In the case of any difficulty, you can call an expert.
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