You nailed it with the vinegar soak—honestly, I swear by that trick. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been called out for a “broken” showerhead, only to find it’s just gunked up with mineral deposits. A little vinegar, a toothbrush, and it’s like magic.
Totally agree about the washers, too. I once had a guy convinced his pipes were haunted because of this high-pitched whine every time he showered. Turned out, the washer was half-melted and flapping around like a kazoo. Swapped it out, and suddenly his bathroom wasn’t a haunted house anymore.
One thing I’d add—if you’re dealing with older plumbing, sometimes those flow restrictors just don’t play nice. I’ve seen them clog up and actually make the water pressure worse, which defeats the whole point. Sometimes it’s worth just popping it out if you’re not in a drought-prone area.
And yeah, hand-tighten first. I’ve seen more cracked fittings from folks going full Hulk with the pliers than I care to admit. Less is more, especially before your morning coffee...
