How to Unblock a Shower Head
If your showerhead is blocked, completely or partially, here are a few tricks and tips to solve the problem.
The first thing to do is remove the showerhead. All showerheads will unscrew from the pipe holding them though you may need a spanner if the head is stiff and has been there for a time.
Take care when unscrewing the head. There is usually a rubber seal in there which may fall out and get lost if you’re not careful. Also take care when using a spanner. Some showerheads are plastic and so will crack if you use excessive force.
With the showerhead off the first thing to check is that water flowing freely in the pipe to the showerhead – your problem may not be a problem with a blocked showerhead at all, it could be a blockage in the pipe or a problem with the water pressure supplying the shower. If this is the case, you should use one of our local plumbers who can diagnose your problem for you.
Assuming water is flowing freely and the problem is with the shower head you have three options:
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Use a chemical descaler
Most showerhead become blocked with small pieces of limescale from the hot water system that block the showerhead nozzles. To remove these, soak the showerhead in a descaler solution. White vinegar is a great descaler – soaking your showerhead in a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water for several hours should remove most of the limescale.
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Get a pin out
Its time consuming but you can also just simply open up all the nozzles in the showerhead by inserting a blunt pin or needle into each hole to ensure it is free of limescale, rinsing and repeating as necessary.
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Just buy a new showerhead!
This is the simplest solution and the only solution if the above fails. Showerheads can be bought very easily from your local DIY store with prices starting from around £10 for a basic model. When buying a new showerhead it is a good idea to take the old one with you to ensure the threads of the new head is the same as the old one.
Still didn’t solve your problem? Then you need a Local Hero.
