You know the feeling – you step into the shower, turn it on, and instead of a refreshing spray you get a dribble of lukewarm water. Frustrating doesn’t even begin to describe it! We hear your pain. A weak shower is one of the top complaints we get calls about here at Lutz Plumbing in Leawood and Overland Park.
While sometimes it’s an issue with your home’s pipes or water pressure, often the problem is the shower head itself. The good news is, installing a new high-pressure shower head designed for low flow is an easy and affordable way to get that invigorating shower feeling back.
Here is more information about how to diagnose whether the issue is the fixture or something bigger needing a plumber’s attention. Then, we’ll share our top recommended shower heads for low water pressure. These are fixtures we’ve installed time and again over our 100 years serving Kansas City, so you can trust this plumber-approved list to really deliver.
Ready to diagnose the problem and start enjoying strong showers again? Keep reading.
Is It the Shower Head or a Bigger Plumbing Problem?
Before investing in a new shower fixture, it’s important to do a quick diagnosis to understand the root of the problem. Is the issue localized to just the shower, or are all your faucets producing low pressure? This will determine whether a simple swap of the shower head will do the trick or if you’re dealing with a larger plumbing problem needing professional attention.
A Quick DIY Check
Start by checking the water pressure from other faucets around your home. Turn on the sink in your bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room. Check both hot and cold water.
If the pressure is nice and strong elsewhere, you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing replacing the shower head is likely your fix.
While you’re doing this, check for any leaks under the sink and around toilets that could be sapping your home’s water pressure. Drips and leaks take up valuable flow. We have another post all about detecting leaks if you need help.
Next, take a look at your existing shower head. Remove it and inspect the shower arm coming out of the wall for buildup. With Leawood’s hard water, mineral deposits can clog up the works over time. Give it a scrub with white vinegar or limescale remover to clear any blockages.
Reattach the shower head and test the pressure. If giving it a good cleaning removed sediment that was obstructing flow, your pressure may improve.
When to Call a Lutz Plumber
If all your faucets have equally low pressure or you notice new problems like sputtering or strange noises, there may be an issue with your home’s plumbing or water pressure needing professional attention. Some signs to watch out for:
- Low pressure throughout the house, not just the shower. This points to a problem with your home’s water supply lines.
- Dripping or leaking from pipes. Water leaks sap pressure.
- Chugging, banging, or hammering noises when you turn water on or off. This can indicate limescale buildup or worn parts inside your pipes.
- A sudden or gradual drop in water pressure over time. Gradual declines often mean a clogged aerator while a sudden change may point to a burst pipe or broken pressure regulator.
If you suspect the problem runs deeper than just the shower head, give our team at Lutz Plumbing a call. We have almost a century of experience diagnosing and resolving all kinds of water pressure issues throughout Leawood, Overland Park, and Kansas City. Read more about when to call a plumber for low water pressure issues.
What to Look for in a High-Pressure Shower Head
Once you’ve determined the problem is isolated to the shower fixture, it’s time to pick out a replacement designed to deliver maximum spray power.
When researching your options, keep an eye out for:
- High Gallons Per Minute (GPM). This measures the water volume flowing through the shower head. Look for 2.5 GPM or higher.
- Internal pressure-compensating technology. This maintains water pressure even at low flows.
- Adjustable nozzles. Look for multiple spray settings from intense streaming jets to wide coverage.
- Self-cleaning nozzles. These prevent mineral buildup for consistent flow.
The right design maximizes every precious drop from your existing plumbing by injecting air into the stream. That gives you the feeling of high water pressure through an invigorating, drenching spray, even when overall home water pressure is low.
Our Plumber-Approved Picks for 2025
After installing countless shower heads over nearly a century of service in Kansas City, the Lutz Plumbing team has strong opinions on which are the best! Here are our top recommendations for reigniting your shower’s spray power:
Best Overall Performance: The Moen Velocity
The Moen Velocity tops our list for its innovative immersion technology that infuses two liters of air per minute into the stream. The result is a strong, drenching flow that feels like much higher pressure than you actually get out of your pipes.
The easy-clean nozzles resist mineral build-up while the adjustable spray settings let you choose anything from intense streaming jets to a wide flood.
As a trusted brand, you can count on Moen’s quality and durability. If you want one shower head to provide amazing coverage, this is it.
Best for Older Homes with Low Flow: The High Sierra Classic Plus
The High Sierra is designed for maximizing flow even on aging plumbing systems common in older Kansas City homes.
It has an impressive flow rate of 2.5 GPM but with an eco-friendly aerated spray. This makes the most of low pressure by infusing air into the stream while conserving water.
The all-metal construction is rock-solid and built to last decades. Choose from five colors to match any bathroom’s decor.
If you want an affordable, heavy-duty shower head to breathe new life into an old home’s plumbing, the High Sierra delivers.
Best Handheld Option: The Delta In2ition
For the ultimate in flexibility, it’s hard to beat the Delta In2ition. This 2-in-1 combo pairs an adjustable shower head with a handheld on a slide bar mount.
The handheld has Delta’s H2Okinetic technology to sculpt the water into dense droplets for a luxurious drenching feel. The overhead adjustable can be customized with various spray options.
Being able to grab a handheld shower head makes tasks like shaving, cleaning the shower, or rinsing pets so much easier. The slide bar mount lets you adjust heights as needed.
Are You in Need of Help With Your Shower Head? Reach Out to Us Today
Is there anything more deflating than an underwhelming trickle from your showerhead first thing in the morning? While low pressure could signal plumbing problems needing a pro’s touch, often a replacement fixture is the easy solution for restoring that invigorating shower experience.
The key is choosing a shower head engineered to make the most of low flow with features like immersion technology, adjustable nozzles, and self-cleaning designs. We hope our plumber-approved recommendations give you a great starting point to pick out the right model to meet your needs and budget.
Whether you need help swapping in your new shower fixture or suspect your weak pressure stems from deeper plumbing issues, the Lutz Plumbing team has nearly a century of experience keeping Kansas City’s water flowing. Give us a call today and we’ll get your shower back to full power!