Had a similar issue in my old place—water pressure was barely enough to rinse shampoo out of my hair. Thought about replacing pipes too, but the quotes I got made my wallet cry a bit. Ended up just replacing a small section that was really corroded, and it made a noticeable difference. Not perfect, but good enough to stop me from daydreaming about showering at the neighbor's place, haha.
Totally agree though, once you start opening walls in older homes, it's like playing renovation roulette. You never know what's lurking back there... mold, ancient wiring, or maybe even some hidden treasure (still waiting on that one). If you're budget-conscious like me, I'd say start small and targeted first. You might get lucky and save yourself a headache or two.
"Totally agree though, once you start opening walls in older homes, it's like playing renovation roulette."
Haha, renovation roulette—perfect description. I just moved into my first home (built sometime around when dinosaurs roamed, apparently), and the water pressure was basically a gentle drizzle. I was convinced we'd have to redo everything, but before panicking too much, a buddy suggested checking the fixtures themselves. Turns out the showerhead was ancient and clogged with mineral buildup. Swapped it out for a decent mid-range model, and boom... instant upgrade. Still not spa-level luxury or anything, but at least I'm not spending half an hour rinsing shampoo anymore.
Definitely second the idea of starting small first—sometimes the simplest fixes make the biggest difference. And yeah, still waiting on that hidden treasure myself... though so far I've only found questionable 1970s wallpaper choices behind cabinets.
Sounds like you got pretty lucky with the showerhead fix. Older homes definitely have their quirks, and water pressure issues can be surprisingly tricky. Did you happen to check if your pipes are galvanized steel? Those older galvanized pipes tend to corrode from the inside over time, narrowing the passageway and seriously affecting water flow. I've seen this a lot in properties built pre-1970s, and sometimes it's not obvious until you start noticing rust-colored water or inconsistent pressure across different fixtures.
If you're still having lower-than-ideal pressure elsewhere in the house, it might be worth checking out your main shut-off valve too. Sometimes these valves aren't fully open or get partially stuck—especially if they haven't been touched in years. A quick adjustment there can make a noticeable difference without much effort or cost.
Also, have you considered installing aerators on faucets? They're inexpensive and easy to put on, but they can really improve the feel of water flow at sinks without actually increasing usage. It's one of those small upgrades that renters in my units often appreciate.
As for hidden treasures behind walls... well, I've found more than my share of weirdness over the years—everything from ancient newspapers to random soda cans stuffed into wall cavities (seriously, who does that?). Still waiting on something valuable though. Good luck with your ongoing renovations—hopefully no major surprises lurking behind that wallpaper!
Galvanized pipes are definitely a headache waiting to happen, but before diving into a full replacement, I'd also recommend checking your pressure regulator (if you have one). Had a client recently who thought their pipes were shot, turned out the regulator was just old and faulty. Saved them a ton of hassle. Speaking of weird wall finds—anyone ever stumble across old plumbing fixtures hidden away? Found an ancient brass faucet once... still scratching my head over that one.
Good call on the regulator—seen plenty of folks jump straight into big replacements when it was just a simple fix like that. But honestly, if you're dealing with galvanized pipes, it's not just about pressure issues. Those old pipes can corrode from the inside out, and you might not even notice until there's a leak or worse, a burst pipe. Had a client once who ignored the signs, and trust me, the cleanup wasn't pretty. Better safe than sorry with plumbing... As for weird finds, nothing beats the time I uncovered an old cast-iron tub hidden behind drywall. Still baffled by that one.
