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A beautiful new shower means nothing if the pressure is terrible. Whether your shower feels weak and dribbly or unexpectedly hot and cold, the culprit is often your water pressure. Before you choose tapware or a shower head, it’s worth understanding what pressure your home has and how it affects your options.
Jennifer Price, Strategic Brands Manager for Plumbing World, says many homeowners don’t realise their plumbing setup is limiting their choices. “The simplest way for you to know whether you’ve got mains pressure or whether you’ve got low pressure is to go and look at your hot water cylinder,” she explains. “There’ll be a label, and the label will say mains pressure or it will say low pressure.”
If your home has mains pressure, you’re in luck. Both your hot and cold water flow at similar force, giving you more consistent temperature and a wide range of fittings to choose from. Most modern homes have this system, and many tapware options are designed for it.
If you’ve got low pressure, the hot water flow is weaker than the cold. That makes it harder to get a strong, hot shower, unless you choose all-pressure or low-pressure-compatible tapware. These products are specially designed to balance the flow so you don’t lose heat or volume. They may cost a little more, but they’ll improve the experience dramatically.
Getting it wrong can lead to ongoing frustration and wasted water. A shower mixer that isn’t suited to your pressure will struggle to give you a steady temperature, and some taps simply won’t function properly if the water pressure is too low.
Before you start your renovation, check your cylinder, ask your plumber and be sure to match your tapware to your system. That way, your new shower will look good and feel even better.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a podcast featuring insights from experienced professionals and is intended for general information and inspiration only. While we aim to share valuable guidance, please seek personalised advice from qualified professionals before making decisions about your property, finances, or renovation plans.
Curious to see more practical advice from industry experts? Visit our Top Tips hub for quick, valuable insights shared by people who’ve been there, helping you plan smarter and avoid common mistakes.
Our Renovating Your Bathroom Guides take the guesswork out of your project. From plumbing and ventilation to fixtures and finishes, you’ll learn how to make confident, future-proof choices – whether you’re renovating to sell or stay. Join MyTrends for access to this and a full library of guides to support your property journey.
Curious to see more practical advice from industry experts? Visit our Top Tips hub for quick, valuable insights shared by people who’ve been there, helping you plan smarter and avoid common mistakes.
Our Renovating Your Bathroom Guides take the guesswork out of your project. From plumbing and ventilation to fixtures and finishes, you’ll learn how to make confident, future-proof choices – whether you’re renovating to sell or stay. Join MyTrends for access to this and a full library of guides to support your property journey.
Episode Overview
In this episode of the Trends Property Insight Series, we’re joined by Jennifer Price, Strategic Brands Manager at Plumbing World — New Zealand’s largest 100% locally owned plumbing merchant. With over 60 years of history and a nationwide network of 58 branches, Plumbing World is proudly built on a cooperative model, owned by the very tradespeople it serves. Jennifer unpacks what makes this model unique and how it shapes the way Plumbing World brings high-quality, regulation-compliant products to both tradies and everyday homeowners.
Search similar articles
A beautiful new shower means nothing if the pressure is terrible. Whether your shower feels weak and dribbly or unexpectedly hot and cold, the culprit is often your water pressure. Before you choose tapware or a shower head, it’s worth understanding what pressure your home has and how it affects your options.
Jennifer Price, Strategic Brands Manager for Plumbing World, says many homeowners don’t realise their plumbing setup is limiting their choices. “The simplest way for you to know whether you’ve got mains pressure or whether you’ve got low pressure is to go and look at your hot water cylinder,” she explains. “There’ll be a label, and the label will say mains pressure or it will say low pressure.”
If your home has mains pressure, you’re in luck. Both your hot and cold water flow at similar force, giving you more consistent temperature and a wide range of fittings to choose from. Most modern homes have this system, and many tapware options are designed for it.
If you’ve got low pressure, the hot water flow is weaker than the cold. That makes it harder to get a strong, hot shower, unless you choose all-pressure or low-pressure-compatible tapware. These products are specially designed to balance the flow so you don’t lose heat or volume. They may cost a little more, but they’ll improve the experience dramatically.
Getting it wrong can lead to ongoing frustration and wasted water. A shower mixer that isn’t suited to your pressure will struggle to give you a steady temperature, and some taps simply won’t function properly if the water pressure is too low.
Before you start your renovation, check your cylinder, ask your plumber and be sure to match your tapware to your system. That way, your new shower will look good and feel even better.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a podcast featuring insights from experienced professionals and is intended for general information and inspiration only. While we aim to share valuable guidance, please seek personalised advice from qualified professionals before making decisions about your property, finances, or renovation plans.
Curious to see more practical advice from industry experts? Visit our Top Tips hub for quick, valuable insights shared by people who’ve been there, helping you plan smarter and avoid common mistakes.
Our Renovating Your Bathroom Guides take the guesswork out of your project. From plumbing and ventilation to fixtures and finishes, you’ll learn how to make confident, future-proof choices – whether you’re renovating to sell or stay. Join MyTrends for access to this and a full library of guides to support your property journey.
Curious to see more practical advice from industry experts? Visit our Top Tips hub for quick, valuable insights shared by people who’ve been there, helping you plan smarter and avoid common mistakes.
Our Renovating Your Bathroom Guides take the guesswork out of your project. From plumbing and ventilation to fixtures and finishes, you’ll learn how to make confident, future-proof choices – whether you’re renovating to sell or stay. Join MyTrends for access to this and a full library of guides to support your property journey.
Episode Overview
In this episode of the Trends Property Insight Series, we’re joined by Jennifer Price, Strategic Brands Manager at Plumbing World — New Zealand’s largest 100% locally owned plumbing merchant. With over 60 years of history and a nationwide network of 58 branches, Plumbing World is proudly built on a cooperative model, owned by the very tradespeople it serves. Jennifer unpacks what makes this model unique and how it shapes the way Plumbing World brings high-quality, regulation-compliant products to both tradies and everyday homeowners.
Search similar articles
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Furniture designed for life. Ethically made dining and living furniture and accessories by international and New Zealand designers where refined elegance meets sleek, contemporary form. Explore our extensive range of designer furniture via our Christchurch showroom or browse online.
Plumbing World
Plumbing World is New Zealand’s most prominent 100% Kiwi-owned national plumbing merchant, operating over 50 branches from Kerikeri to Invercargill. Plumbing World offers a wide range of bathroom, kitchen, laundry, heating, and hot water products, catering to trade professionals and homeowners.
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Poggenpohl
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Mastercraft Kitchens
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Kitchen Studio
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Portfolios
View Industry Specialists
Askö
Furniture designed for life. Ethically made dining and living furniture and accessories by international and New Zealand designers where refined elegance meets sleek, contemporary form. Explore our extensive range of designer furniture via our Christchurch showroom or browse online.
Plumbing World
Plumbing World is New Zealand’s most prominent 100% Kiwi-owned national plumbing merchant, operating over 50 branches from Kerikeri to Invercargill. Plumbing World offers a wide range of bathroom, kitchen, laundry, heating, and hot water products, catering to trade professionals and homeowners.
Landmark Homes
Founding directors Paul and Debbie Clarke established Landmark Homes in 1977. Their vision was to offer “something more exciting” than the average home: a home that made creative use of space but was also beautiful to live in.
Poggenpohl
Poggenpohl is a premium German kitchen brand known for its innovation, timeless design, and precision craftsmanship, offering bespoke kitchen solutions that blend luxury with functionality.
Mastercraft Kitchens
Founded in 1985, we are the largest group of independently owned and operated kitchen businesses in New Zealand, operating under a national banner. Our licensees have been carefully selected and are experts in their craft. We share an absolute passion for the design, manufacture and installation of high quality, well designed kitchens and other household cabinetry provided with personalised, friendly local service. Think national - be local.
Kitchen Studio
At Kitchen Studio we are very proud of the fact that we are been voted the most trusted kitchen brand in New Zealand for the ninth year running, and there are good reasons why more Kiwis trust us to transform their kitchen than anyone else.
Unavailable
Sorry, this page is not available at this time.