Is It Illegal in Utah To Remove Shower flow Restrictor?

Your Shower Head Restricts How Much Water Flows Through 

In 1992 the federal government made a law restricting how much water can flow through a shower head at 2.5 gpm, or gallons per minute. To achieve these results, manufacturers put a water flow restrictor in the shower head. 

If you know what you are looking for, you can find this restrictor and remove it or modify it giving your shower more pressure. Of course, there are plenty of videos on the internet showing how to precisely accomplish this. 

Will You Get in Trouble for Removing the Flow Reducer? 

Some states like California, Colorado and Hawaii have made laws requiring an even lower flow than the 1992 law requires. In California you can get fined for removing or altering the flow restrictor.  

In Utah, no such law has been made regarding a lower flow than the 2.5 gpm required by the federal government. If you alter or remove the reducer it just means your shower is no longer up to code. This could be a problem if you want to sell your home. 

Read More: Squatters in Utah: Couple Found People Living in Their Home

There are other reasons you may not want to grab a screwdriver and remove the flow restrictor from your shower head. You may end up breaking the whole thing in the process. Some are easier to remove than others. 

It also may not work right. The manufacturer designed the head for the lower level of water and forcing more through may not be better. You might find it shoots out water like a pressure washer that you use to clean your sidewalk.