Selecting the right shower head is the easiest and most effective way to enhance your showering experience. Modern showerhead designs are highly water-efficient without sacrificing the satisfaction of the full feel of water.
With the numerous options in the market, it can be challenging to determine the best showerhead for your home. Learn how to choose a showerhead below, to ensure relaxing, rejuvenating showers when you need them most.
Types of Shower Heads
There are various types of showerheads, each boasting a different design style. The most common types include:
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Regular Fixed Showerheads
Regular fixed showerheads are the most popular. They have a simple design with the shower arm and showerhead combined into one unit.
Regular fixed showerheads are easy to replace or install and the most affordable.
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Rain Showerheads
Rain shower heads require ceiling-mounting to ensure the water drips straight downwards like rainfall. They are wider to provide full-body coverage, although the water pressure is lower.
Rain shower heads require particular plumbing so ensure you consult a licensed plumber before buying.
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Handheld Showerheads
Handheld showerheads have a detachable flexible arm that directs the water direction. This versatility makes them ideal for shared bathrooms, especially with children or a loved one with limited mobility.
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Dual Showerheads
Dual showerheads combine regular fixed and handheld showerheads. One unit has a fixed overhead showerhead and a flexible handheld showerhead. The handheld part often has a rain-style sprayer with multiple spray options to enhance the shower experience. You can use both sections separately or simultaneously when multitasking.
Plumbing Considerations
Plumbing is an essential factor to consider when choosing a new showerhead. Some showerheads work with overhead plumbing, but others need wall plumbing.
It’s best to choose a design compatible with standard wall plumbing because it eliminates the need for a plumber. It also gives you more options, and the installation takes less than an hour.
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Installation
The installation will be more direct if your plumbing configuration works with your desired showerhead. Ensure there’s space for the new showerhead since the spray patterns vary.
For instance, rain showerheads have a wider diameter, so the spray covers a larger area. You can choose a small showerhead if your bathroom is small or open.
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Water Pressure
Your water pressure also determines your showerhead options. Larger or more robust showerheads require more water pressure, and your system may be unable to keep up.
If your water pressure is low, but the showerhead requires high pressure, the stream will be weak and possibly inconsistent.
Pricing
The showerhead quality and features available vary by brand. Generally, more features come at an additional cost, so complex showerheads are more expensive.
However, not all expensive showerheads are high-quality. It’s best to compare a few brands, features, and prices to get the best deal.
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Sustainable Showerheads
You can save a lot of water and money by checking the water rating on your showerhead. Every product should have a label indicating the water-efficiency rating between 1-6 or 0-4 stars.
Most showerheads have a 3-star rating which equals 9 litres per minute. A 4-star rating is better, as it equals 6 litres per minute.
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Smart Showerheads
Smart shower heads are standard shower fixtures with other smart technology. They have innovative features such as in-built BlueTooth speakers and the ability to control the water pressure, timing and temperature.
Smart shower heads are especially helpful if you or your loved one is living with a disability or has limited mobility.
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Rebates
Various state governments and water companies have initiatives to encourage water efficiency. For instance, you can exchange your old shower for a new three-star water-efficient model for free in various locations across the country.
Conclusion
Choosing the right showerhead for your home seems easy, but it requires careful consideration. A new showerhead will enhance your showering experience while saving water and costs. It doesn’t matter if you are updating your bathroom or building a new one; a new showerhead will revitalise your showers, no doubt.
