How to Choose the Right Shower Head
Sunday, March 15th, 2009The most popular type of shower heads are those with spray settings that can be adjusted. Adjustable shower head settings can be any where from a pulsating massage to a soft mist to needle-like jets. Make sure that you select a model that can be adjusted with slippery soapy fingers.
Some adjustable shower heads are also of the handheld variety, allowing you to leave the head mounted on the wall like or to move around your body. The versatility provided by adjustable shower heads make them great using a shower chair (e.g., for the elderly or disabled) and for bathing children.
Consider Your Water Pressure & Temperature
Buying an adjustable shower head that let’s you modify spray settings for higher strength flow is one of the easiest ways to overcome the drag of low water pressure. To find out what your water pressure is (measured in psi), you can use a device called a pressure gauge, available online or at your local hardware store. A quick way to get an approximate pressure level is to call your local water supplier and ask for the static water pressure for the neighborhood in which you live. The average water pressure in the U.S. Is 45 psi, even though the Uniform Plumbing Code calls for residential pressure levels to be 50 to 80 psi. If your water pressure is below 40 psi then you should strongly consider an adjustable shower head.
Some newer shower heads mix air with the water to make the water pressure feel more substantial, sometimes powerful enough to get the ultra high-pressure needle-like water spray. But if you like the water hot you may want to avoid aerating shower heads since they can cause the water temperature to drop by as much as 15 degrees before it reaches your body. If you like a very hot shower, and can’t safely increase your water heater’s temperature setting, then you’ll want to look at product descriptions and reviews to identify shower heads that do well with keeping the temperature high.
Hard Water Considerations
White chalky residue on faucets, shower doors, and tiles is a sign of hard water. (If you aren’t sure if you have hard water, the local water company can tell you.) Hard water leaves mineral deposits that, over time, can clog your shower head and divert spray from its intended direction. Some shower heads are engineered with hard-water in mind and advertise anti-hard water features in their product descriptions. If you have hard water, one of the most important things to look for in a shower head is rubbery nozzles that make it easy to whisk away weeks worth of buildup with the tip of your finger. All-metal shower heads don’t usually stand up so well to hard water deposits, and may require disassembly to clean or the use of a straight pin to scrape buildup out of the nozzles.
Rain Shower Luxury
Rain showers mimic natural rainfall with over-sized heads and gentle raindrops falling directly downward. Rain shower heads also tend to come in more luxurious and stylish designs and finishes. Some people report that the rain showers don’t provide enough power with the flow spread out over such a wide head. Because the water falls from directly above, it can be difficult to target the flow where you need it, for example when you need to wash your body while keeping your hair dry. The lack of power and precision placement mean it takes more effort to wash off soap and shampoo. Rain shower heads also sometimes require special parts and are usually more difficult to install.
