Why does water pressure in the showers changes when temperature changes?
In: Engineering
Hi, I am a plumber of over 4 years. Basically there are tons of different types of valves and they all act differently. Since you are specifically asking about a shower, those valves have a point where the hot and cold water meet (mixing valve). The pressure of the water doesn’t change. On older shower valves there if nothing to prevent the hot water to flow into the cold water side of the valve or vice versa. This is where the problem is for example if someone were to flush a toilet close to the shower it would feel like there’s less cold water pressure but the hot water is actually backfeeding into the cold water line. Or if someone turned on only the hot water to wash their hands at that bathrooms sink the water in the shower may feel colder or “less pressure” but it’s the cold water backfeeding into the hot water line. On newer shower valves, kitchen faucets, etc (especially single handled valves) there is a part called a pressure balancing spool. This is similar to a backflow device or a check valve where it will only let water flow in one direction. This eliminates the effect of “less water pressure”. . .
Edit:
And now that I’m reading your question again for the third time I’m realizing I read it wrong and gave you the wrong answer as well as a bunch of useless information. Instead I should have asked what you meant by temperature changes. Do you mean weather or temperature in the house?
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