What Is a Flow Restrictor?
The disc that caps a shower head's flow by law. Usually blamed for weak showers, rarely guilty.
The small plastic disc inside a shower head that caps output at the federal 2.5-gallon-per-minute limit. It's often blamed for weak showers, but a shower that used to be strong and faded is almost always scaled-up nozzles, not the restrictor. The restrictor never changes, so it can't explain pressure that got worse over time.
Fixes that use this
Bathroom
How to Clean a Shower Head With Vinegar
Clean a clogged shower head with vinegar in 90 minutes. Bag soak it, scrub nozzles, rinse the inlet screen, and restore spray without replacing parts.
Time10 min active + 1–2 hr soak Cost$2–$5 easy
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Bathroom
Low Shower Water Pressure? Fix It in One Evening
Weak shower pressure is usually a mineral-clogged head, not your pipes. Soak it in vinegar, check the inlet screen, and know when it's something bigger.
Time20 min active + 1–2 hr soak Cost$2–$25 moderate