Flow-restrictor clog cuts shower pressure
Tim Carter
Q: The water pressure in my shower has dropped suddenly. It’s fine in my bathroom sink and all other places, except that I have noticed the flow at my kitchen sink is getting worse. What might be the problem, and is this a do-it-yourself project?
A: Low water pressure in showers is a more common problem than when I was growing up. A few decades ago, government officials enacted laws to try to conserve water. Little did they know that the secondary effects of these laws would be millions of frustrated homeowners.
Plumbing-fixture manufacturers had to install flow restrictors inside shower heads and other faucets to comply with the new laws. These tiny discs have all sorts of different designs, but one thing they have in common is screens or small holes to limit the flow of water.
Small pieces of sediment and gunk in the water start to clog these holes one at a time, and soon the flow of water is much reduced. Fortunately, you can remove these flow restrictors and clean them out. You also can remove your shower head and soak it in warm white vinegar for a few hours in case hard water deposits are clogging the tiny outlet holes in the head.
Q: How do you drill a hole into ceramic tile? I tried using a cordless drill and I just grabbed a drill bit, but it’s getting hot. Is it the drill? I’m trying to install a few plastic anchors and am getting frustrated.
A: Not too long ago, I heard a saying, “You don’t know The plastic disc inside a shower head can become clogged and cause the water pressure drop.
what you don’t know.”
The first thing that comes to mind is the drill bit. You might be using the wrong one. A drill bit used for wood or metal is not going to do much to drill into ceramic tile. You need a special bit that has a carbide tip.
It’s important to realize that not all ceramic tile is the same. It comes in a wide range of hardness. You can
run into trouble fast if you’re trying to drill into porcelain tile, which is some of the hardest out there because of its high silica content and the high temperatures used to transform the soft clay into the hard tile.
Ceramic tile is often glazed. This glaze is just a very thin layer of glass. A wood or metal drill bit will not penetrate glass. Carbide is harder than glass, and it will grind its way through.
Not wanting to assume anything, you also need to make sure the drill is in forward, not reverse. Believe me: I’ve seen people try to drill holes with the drill running backward wondering why nothing is happening.
Another key point is you need to use a slower speed when drilling through ceramic tile. High speeds create too much friction too quickly and elevate the drill tip heat.
Do not use a hammer drill setting when drilling tile. This rapid pounding will crack the tile in almost all cases. Keep nice steady pressure on the drill, and before you know it, you’ll have created your hole.