Regular showers are about much more than personal hygiene. They’re an opportunity to relax or get your day off to a great start, and the showerhead you choose impacts the quality of your shower. Today, explore everything you should know before making this critical choice for your bathroom.
Set a Budget and Prioritize Features
Showerheads can range from a few dollars to a few hundred. Decide upfront how much you’re willing to spend. As we explore this buying decision, list the features and characteristics that interest you, prioritizing them as you go. Doing so will make choosing a showerhead that meets your needs easier while suiting your preferences.
Showerhead Type
There are many different styles to choose from. Fixed showerheads are the traditional choice and often have a pivotable head to adjust direction. Handheld showerheads are flexible and make cleaning oneself, children, and pets easier. Rain showerheads have a large surface and release water from above. Dual showerheads are also popular. They give you the best of both worlds between fixed and handheld showerheads.
Installation Requirements
Most showerheads are relatively easy to install, but you should consider a professional installation for the precision and polish. The standard showerhead thread size in the U.S. is 0.5 inches NPT. Measure the length of the shower arm and the distance between it and the ceiling. Measure the length, width, and height of the shower stall. This information will help you to choose a showerhead that accommodates your shower easily. A plumber can also perform conversions and add attachments to help with more challenging installations.
Material and Finish
Most brands make their showerheads from either plastic or metal. Plastic showerheads are usually cheaper but are often less durable and aesthetically pleasing. Metal showerheads last longer, which makes a more considerable investment worthwhile. They also provide you with more design options. A stainless-steel fixture is a traditional choice. There are also metal showerheads with a wide range of finishes, including matte and polished. Some of the popular options include:
- Gold
- Black
- White
- Nickel
- Bronze
Spray Pattern
Spray patterns can make a big difference in how a shower feels, and many heads offer multiple patterns. Wide and narrow sprays, high-powered jets, pulsating massage streams, champagne flows, rainfall, and various combinations exist. Many people enjoy a mix, and you should choose a pattern for targeted cleaning, rinsing, and relaxation.
Water Pressure
You’ll also need to consider water pressure. Consider a system-wide fix if you experience low water pressure in your home. That may involve adding a pump, adjusting the pressure-reducing valve, or flushing your water heater. In the meantime, you can opt for a showerhead designed explicitly for low water pressure. These often have high-pressure nozzles and channel the water specifically to improve pressure.
With optimal water pressure, you can consider a broader range of products. Some showerheads provide a powerful spray, while others curb the pressure for a gentler feel. Many showerheads also offer adjustment, which lets you alter the pressure as needed.
Water Efficiency
If you’re concerned about your household’s water usage, your showerhead choices can make a difference. The amount of water that passes through a showerhead is its flow rate, which we measure in gallons per minute. A standard showerhead can use about 2.5 GPM, which is 25 gallons during a 10-minute shower.
Many brands design showerheads to conserve water. The industry often refers to these as low-flow or high-efficiency showerheads. The Environmental Protection Agency has a WaterSense program through which it establishes water consumption standards and certifies products that meet those standards. You can look for the WaterSense label, which guarantees that a showerhead uses no more than 2.0 GPM. The most efficient showerheads available use about 1.5 GPM.
Water Hardness
Water hardness refers to the amount of calcium and magnesium in your water. The industry often measures it in parts per million. If your water has 60 ppm or less, it’s soft. Above 60 ppm, it ranges from scarcely to very hard. If your water hardness exceeds 180 ppm, consider a softener to provide softer water throughout your home.
Even if your water isn’t that hard, it can still affect your showers. The minerals in your water make it more difficult to work soap into a lather. They’ll coat your skin, often making people feel less clean than they would. The minerals can even get into your pores and clog them. That can result in dry, itchy skin and cause and exacerbate eczema and other skin issues. Hard water can also affect your hair, making it more brittle and less vibrant.
The solution is a water softener showerhead. These showerheads generally work through a cartridge that attracts minerals from the water. Over time, that cartridge will become saturated, at which point you’ll need to replace the filter to restore the softening.
Water Filtration
Showerheads with activated carbon and other filter media can absorb or trap impurities in your water. Some people are sensitive to the chlorine and chloramine used for drinking water. Most showerhead filters can remove those chemicals and improve the smell of the water. Some filters can trap sediment, heavy metals, and even bacteria. If you want advanced filtration, look for the National Sanitation Foundation label. It will list what the filter removes. Also, consider a whole-house water treatment system if you have serious water quality concerns. It will eliminate the need for a showerhead filter.
Maintenance
Showerheads require regular maintenance, as buildup can lead to decreased performance and unsightliness. Before buying, consider that water softening and filtration will add to the necessary maintenance. You should also consider how easy it’ll be to remove and disassemble the showerhead. The easier it is, the simpler it will be to soak the parts in baking soda and vinegar.
Warranty
Most showerheads come with a manufacturer’s warranty. That coverage may not matter much if you purchase a relatively inexpensive product. If, on the other hand, you’re buying a fixture that costs hundreds or more, it can give you peace of mind. Read the fine print to determine the robustness and length of the coverage. Also, consider professional installation. The warranty may require it, giving you the added protection of the plumber’s service guarantee.
Do You Need Help Selecting and Installing a New Showerhead?
In & Out Plumbing & Construction is a residential plumbing contractor in South San Francisco, CA, with years of experience serving the entire Bay Area. We offer a wide selection of top-rated showerheads, or we can install a product you’ve acquired on your own. You can count on us for all your other plumbing needs as well. Our plumbers perform camera inspections, clean drains, repiping, sewer inspections and repairs, and hydrojetting. We remodel kitchens and bathrooms. Our plumbers also install and repair kitchen and bathroom fixtures, water heaters, water treatment systems, sump pumps, and leak detection systems. Contact us today to learn more about these services or to schedule an appointment.
