How to remove a water restrictor from a shower head 

I couldn't figure out why the water pressure on my new hand held was absolutely s***! Took the head off and it had a small purple one in it like the yellow one in the video, huge improvement in pressure, Thanks for the tip! 👍

Thanks so much for the video. My new Waterpik restrictor was identical to the one you showed, couldn't have figured out how to remove the parts without your help.

This video was truly helpful. I removed the first water restrictor last year but I didn't know about the second one until I watched this video today. I went and checked the shower head for a second water restrictor and sure enough, I could see a second one lower down in the tube part of the head. I didn't think my needle nose pliers would reach down that far but after a few attempts they did and I was able to pull the restrictor out. Wow, it is so nice to finally have water pressure. When the water pressure was lower I spent more time in the shower rinsing so I ended up using more water. Now I'm rinsed off in a few seconds and I'm sure I'm using far less water because I spend less time in the shower. At worst, I'm might be using the same amount of water but the showier is much more enjoyable. Big thanks to Tom Leeman for this video.

THANK YOU! Just used a new shower system this morning and thought I'd never get the shampoo out of my hair! I can't wait to try this!!

On some of the newer shower heads sold at big box stores (Waterpik being one of them) you have to break the water restrictor out of there, especially on the 1-piece shower heads. Just take a screwdriver and a hammer, put the screwdriver onto the water restrictor and smack it with a hammer to break it out of there. The restrictors are plastic and break fairly easily, no need to use too much force.

This saved me from getting a new instant water heater or shop around second hand vintage shower head. as I’ve currently got a Bosch Hydropower and it relies a slightly higher water flow to ignite the unit. In winter its fine but in summer even on I tweaked the temp setting a million times it doesn’t quite work. Either burning hot or bloody cold. As some comments said it’s actually more efficient as we take less time to moisturize and rinse. Thank you!!

Changed my life. Thankyou wise sir!

Very helpful since I could not find any documentation online. THANK YOU!

I just did this tonight, perfect!! Thanks, brother!

I think the first one was the filter/strainer, and the second one the water restrictor. You should probably leave the strainer, especially if you have well water with a lot of sediment. It unscrews so you can clean it periodically.

Thanks just did it. Way better flow.

The first one is you took out is for sediment and should not be removed, just cleaned occasionally. the second one is for water restriction.

FYI mine was not in the handheld part. Waterpic . It was in the part that attaches to the shower spigot for the handheld. It had 2. Second one inside I had to drill , but it came out on the bit. Yayyy thank you!

The static water pressure always remains the same and nothing you can do will change that. Whatever the pressure is at the service entrance is what you have to deal with. When you open a valve the pressure always drops. You might start with 65psi at the service entrance but you end up with 45psi in the shower with the valve wide open without restrictor. I have 3/4” pipe feeding my showers with 70 PSI at the entrance. I actually have 105 psi at the entrance but have an adjustable pressure reducer . 105 wears out seats and valves faster plus the water hammers the pipes when the washer valves kick on and off so 70 is the sweet spot.

Thank you!

Thank you 🙏

Thankyou!!!!!

Thank you for the video! I removed one restrictor before watching this video. Now my shower makes a high pitched sound. Can the second restrictor be causing it? The shower head is a brand new Delta with removable handle. Thanks again!

I don’t even remove them, I just drill a hole through the center, accomplishes the same thing

I just installed a new showerhead with a filter in it. Brondell large round showerhead with filter. Will removing the flow restrictor affect the filter at all? I assume it would still filter out minerals in the water even with the flow restrictor removed?

Thank you! I had a little blue piece of plastic in my cheap Mainstays handheld showerhead from Walmart. I could not wash my balls. Now I can!

That black stuff on that water restriction thing looks like mold! I'm removing mine now!

Is that possible for a shower column? ( hansgrohe raindance E310 ecosmart)

Does anyone have a video on how to add one back in? My plumber took it out and I didn’t ask him to and now our water bill is higher

Maybe a post operation video?

Many thanks, Tom. My Briout Handheld Shower Head (only $14.59 on Amazon!) apparently did not come with an installed water restrictor. (Made in China...lol)

Praise Jesus!!! This solved EVERYTHING!!!!

You removed the water filter filter.

This is really a waste of water. There are very efficient water-saving high-pressure shower heads. The pressure can be very high with shower heads that use only 6 litres per minute, instead of 18-20 litres without a flow restrictor. Saving water resources is a real issue. We have more and more water restrictions where I live because we don't anticipate water shortages and droughts are more en more common.

The hose also has flow restrictor