How to increase water pressure in an apartment

I recently purchased a coop apartment in NYC and live on the top floor
(17th). The water pressure in the apartment is low . I asked the super
to look into it and he said that because we are on the 17th floor the
water pressure is low and there is nothing that can be done about it.

The only way you can increase the water pressure is to install a pump
and tank. Perhaps put water tank on the roof. :-)

Install a "water saving" shower head and you'll get better perceived
pressure. It'll result in a higher velocity stream.

I would really appreciate if anyone can give any suggestions as to how
to increase the water pressure in the apartment or atleast for the
showers . I have even removed the blocking from behind the showers but
still its low.

I'd check with the Board of Directors at the coop and see if they
support the super's comments.

In these buildings the hot and cold run on completely different systems
throughout the building. The hot is recirculated continuously from the
boilers and storage tanks which are normally in the penthouse
mechanical rooms. The hot water pressure should be adequate no matter
where you are in the building.

With respect to the cold water I would be surprised if the building
wasn't supplied with pumps to pressurize the system. In my neck of the
woods you can't rely on the city pressure to supply water to the 17th
floor and I don't think that you'd get a building permit without a
pumping setup in the drawings. That being said these pumps take a lot
of hydro and if the coop thought that they could run without the pumps
they may try it to save the money.

There also may be other ways to improve the pressure. I know that my
super has access to bleeder valves on the various floors where he is
able to remove air from the lines and control the pressure to a large
degree.

You could also consider making a complaint to the city about their
water pressure. That might spur them to send an inspector out to look
at the problem. The Board of Health may also want to get involved.

Good luck with it.

Peter H

Don't know if you can accomplish this due to codes, property
restrictions, etc, but look into a boost pump. Ideally, the building
should install a commercial sized unit on an upper floor to serve all
the units affected, but you could put a smaller one on the line feeding
your apt. - again, technically, its possible. Politically and within
the rules and regulations, that's left up to you to research.

An example (yours would have to be sized for your situation, of course)