"Installing a pressure-reducing valve on your main line can smooth things out nicely and even reduce overall water use, which is always a plus."
Pressure valves can help, sure, but they're not always a magic bullet. Had a client once who installed one hoping it'd fix their shower temp swings—turned out the real issue was undersized piping in an old house. Ended up having to redo some plumbing anyway. Always worth checking the basics first, but sometimes the fix isn't as straightforward as we'd like...
Pressure valves definitely have their place, but honestly, if your shower's going ice cold every time someone flushes, you're probably dealing with a mixing valve or piping issue. First thing I'd do is check the shower's mixing valve—older models often can't balance pressure well. If that's fine, then look at pipe sizing. Had something similar at my last place... turned out the plumbing was just ancient and undersized. Upgrading pipes isn't fun, but sometimes it's the only real fix.
Had the same problem in my old house—every flush turned the shower into an Arctic plunge. Thought it was just an annoying quirk until I had someone check it out. Turns out, yeah, ancient mixing valve was the culprit. Swapped it for a modern pressure-balancing one and problem solved. Honestly, upgrading pipes sounds like a nightmare I'd avoid unless absolutely necessary... plus, newer valves are pretty eco-friendly since they help cut down water waste from fiddling with temps constantly. Worth a try first imo.
Totally agree, swapping out the valve is usually the smarter move. Did the same thing myself a couple years back—honestly surprised how much water we saved just from not constantly adjusting the temp. But I'd also suggest checking your showerhead while you're at it. A low-flow model pairs nicely with a pressure-balancing valve, cuts down water use even more, and still gives you decent pressure. Small changes like these add up quicker than you'd think...
"A low-flow model pairs nicely with a pressure-balancing valve, cuts down water use even more, and still gives you decent pressure."
Good point about the low-flow showerhead, but just a heads-up—sometimes pairing it with a pressure-balancing valve can make the water feel a bit weaker than you'd expect. Had a client recently who wasn't thrilled with the pressure after making both changes at once. I'd suggest swapping the valve first, see how it feels, then maybe test out a low-flow head separately. Better safe than sorry...
