I've been struggling with my showerhead lately; it's only spraying water from about 10% of the holes. I've soaked it in CLR twice—once with it wrapped in a bag and another time submerged—without much change. Last year, I had to replace the showerhead for the same reason. We live in an area with hard water (Houston, TX), but I've dealt with hard water before without a problem. The functional spray holes are all clustered together, and I'm looking for solutions besides just replacing the showerhead every year. Any ideas on what else I might try?
6 Answers
a
J
It sounds like you might be dealing with buildup from your water supply, particularly if you have hard water. Sometimes, mineral precipitate can come from the water heater, which clogs up the showerhead. A water softener is a solid solution, but if you're looking for alternatives, consider using a scale inhibitor like the Aqua-Pure AP430SS that goes in front of your water heater. It worked wonders for me, reducing major clogs even if some scale still forms at the showerhead tips. Just a quick scrub can clear that up!
r
You really need to pinpoint what's causing the blockage. If it's calcium buildup, then installing a water softener can be beneficial. For sand or rock particles, a whole house particulate filter is essential. If you're finding coarse black grains, you might have to consider replacing the seals in your shower valve. Don't forget to check your hot water tank for any sediment buildup, and flushing it out could help if that’s the case. Also, consider replacing that old charcoal filter if it hasn't been changed in a while!
c
Sounds like you've had a tough time with that! Those deposits can be tricky, especially if the water heater hasn't been flushed in ages. Glad to hear you got the aerator replaced. Keep an eye on the tank and maybe a good flush will sort things out!