Akdy shower panels are made of stainless steel and they offer flow rates of 2.5 gallons per minute. They achieve this flow rate with the included flow restrictors. However, if you find that the water pressure is low; you can get the flow restrictor removed and get an improved water flow. This article deals with how we can remove flow restrictor from Akdy Shower Panel.
Table of Contents
What are flow restrictors?
Before getting into the flow restrictor removal process, let us see what a flow restrictor is. Flow restrictors in showers are used to reduce the water flow from showers and thereby save water. Made of plastic, they feature a disk shape structure with tiny holes resembling much of a filter. Thus water stream gets converted into a much smaller water stream resulting in a reduction in flow rate. They also trap tiny debris. They save water, energy and also money. You can save on your utility bills.
Can you remove flow restrictors from shower heads?
Now, it is necessary as per regulations in the United States to have showers with flow restrictors. This is because as per the regulations, the water flow rate from showerheads should not exceed 2.5 gallons of water per minute. As per these regulations, flow restrictors are designed to be an integral part of shower heads and hence shower head manufacturers include flow restrictors by default. It is such that shower heads operate most efficiently with the flow restrictor being installed. So removing flow restrictors from shower heads is actually not a recommended course of action. However, you can still get them removed at the expense of your utility bills. The removal procedure is also pretty straightforward and simple.
So what makes you think of getting the flow restrictor removed? Flow restrictors can save water and energy, yes it’s true. However, at times it can be a nightmare to have one installed in your shower head. The problem is severely faced by those in low water pressure areas, where the flow restrictors can make the water to trickle through the shower. This makes it impossible to properly rinse and clean the body. This can force people to think of removing the flow restrictor from shower heads. Though removing the flow restrictor is not recommended, you can have them removed for sure.
Another scenario is when the flow restrictor gets clogged with mineral deposits which reduces the flow of water through them. This can also force you to get the flow restrictor removed from the shower head. In such cases, what you can do is to clean the flow restrictor and get it reinstalled back into the shower head.
Removing Flow Restrictor from Akdy Shower Panel
The Akdy Cupc certified shower panel is a durable, easy to install, easy to clean and easy to maintain shower panel model. Made of stainless steel, the Akdy Shower Panel includes a flow restrictor which restricts the water flow rate to 2.5 gallons per minute. The flow restrictor is actually housed within the shower head. You can get the flow restrictor removed in simple steps. Before proceeding with the removal, you need to collect the right tools and take the necessary precautions as mentioned below.
Tools Required
With the right tools, you can ease up the flow restrictor removal process. Collecting these tools beforehand and placing them in easily accessible location will save time and effort. Let us see the tools that may come to your aid in the removal of Akdy shower panel flow restrictor removal.
- An adjustable wrench
- A cloth or towel
- Needle nose pliers
- A screw
- A Teflon tape/ plumbers tape
Precautions
- Collect the right tools and ensure that they are placed in an easily accessible location.
- You need to turn off the water supply through the shower. The best method is to turn off the main supply which will ensure that you do not end up with a mess later on.
- You need to handle the parts of the shower with care. Damaging the parts of the shower can make the reinstallation procedure difficult.
- You can ask for help from someone if you need it. This lets you have easy access to the tools. Also, there will be someone to check on your safety and also to safe hand the parts that you end up removing.
Steps Involved in Removing Flow Restrictor from Akdy Shower Panel
As you have gathered the right tools and taken the necessary precautions, you can follow the procedure mentioned below to remove the flow restrictor from the shower head of your Akdy shower panel in no time.
Removing Shower Head
As said earlier, the flow restrictor is actually housed within the shower head. So in order to have access to the flow restrictor, you need to have access to the shower head ad get it removed from the shower arm. Cover the connection with a cloth or towel so as to ensure that you do not end up damaging the parts. Now you can loosen the connection using pliers. After reaching an easy point, you can also try loosening and removing the shower head using your hands by rotating in the counterclockwise direction.
Removing the Flow Restrictor
After removing the shower head, you can proceed on to locating and removing the flow restrictor from the shower head. You can start off by unscrewing the ball joint from the shower head using your hands by rotating in the counterclockwise direction. From the fitting that gets removed, you need to remove the rubber gasket from the inside. You can make use of needle nose pliers to achieve the same. Once the rubber gasket gets removed, this will reveal the flow restrictor. Now you need to insert a screw from the bottom end upwards and pop off the flow restrictor which is a tiny plastic disk-shaped structure.
Reassembling the Shower Head
After removing the flow restrictor, you can proceed on to reassembling the shower head. For this, insert the rubber gasket back to its original position. Screw in the ball joint back to the shower head by rotating in the clockwise direction. Before you reattach the shower head onto the shower arm, you need to remove the old plumber’s tape from the shower arm threads and replace it with new plumber’s tape. This will ensure a leak free connection. Now you can reattach the shower head back to the shower arm. Use your hand to tighten the connection gently. Now you can cover the connection with a towel and tighten it further using a plier.
You can turn on the water supply and enjoy an improved water flow from the Akdy shower panel.
Cleaning the flow restrictor to remove buildup
Suppose the flow restrictor is clogged and you need to clean it and replace it back, then before you reassemble the parts, you can follow the below mentioned steps:
- Clean the flow restrictor by placing it in a gentle stream of water. Remove the dirt using your fingers. For thorough cleaning, you can also soak the flow restrictor in diluted vinegar and keep it overnight.
- Now you need to reinstall the parts. Place the flow restrictor back into its original position, followed by the rubber gasket. Screw in the ball joint back to the shower head by rotating in the clockwise direction.
- Before you reattach the shower head onto the shower arm, you need to remove the old plumber’s tape from the shower arm threads and replace it with a new plumber’s tape. This will ensure a leak-free connection. Now you can reattach the shower head back to the shower arm. Use your hand to tighten the connection gently. Now you can cover the connection with a towel and tighten it further using a plier.
- Now turn on the water supply and check the flow of the water through the shower head. If you achieve the flow rate that you have been looking for, then your work is done. Or else, you replace the flan try replacing the flow restrictor with a new one.
Conclusion
The article explains the procedure involved in the removal of the flow restrictor from Akdy shower panel. Though it is not a recommended course of action, getting the flow restrictor removed is a matter of personal choice. You can get the flow restrictor removed at the expense of your utility bills. As seen, the procedure is simple and straightforward. You need minimal tools to achieve the process. With the right tools and by following the necessary safety instructions, your work gets easy. Proceed gently and take good care of the parts involved. After removing the flow restrictor, you can reassemble the parts and see the improved water flow through the shower head. If it seems it is the build-up that has resulted in reduced flow rate, you can also try cleaning the flow restrictor and reinstalling it back to see an improvement in water flow rate.