Coming home to a nice, long shower after a stressful day at work is everything. So, imagine the disappointment when a busted showerhead that barely drizzles water out greets you instead.
There’s always the bathtub, right? Well, not everyone has those. Plus, they can be costly and time-consuming to have on a daily basis. It’s the showers that are affordable and accessible.
Since the showerhead greatly impacts shower quality, it’s essential to choose one that’s ideal for the kind of shower you want to experience.
Showerhead Buying Guide
Repairs and replacements may improve your showerhead, but not always to the degree that you want. Sometimes, you’re better off buying a new one.
In that case, here are a few things to keep an eye out for when on the market for a brand-new showerhead.
Filter
The complete privacy that allows us to reflect, recharge, and recuperate will mean nothing when the actual shower experience is below par. This is what can happen when you have a poor-quality showerhead.
There are lots of things that can make a showerhead subpar, and one of those is the lack of or a busted filter.
In lots of places, incoming water can be heavy on chlorine, minerals, and other contaminants that can cause your skin and hair to dry out.
Ideally, you’ll want to filter out contaminants or soften the water right after it enters your home, but not everyone has this option. If you own a condo or an apartment, you may not have access to the main water line.
In cases like these, the relatively easier route would be to choose a quality showerhead that comes with a built-in filter. That way, you can enjoy your showers without the threat of skin or hair damage over time.
Mount
Another important consideration when buying a showerhead is the mount. The case with most showers is that there’s an angled shower arm protruding from the wall you’re facing, which allows the water to spray down your entire body.
There’s a variety of shower arms options in the market, from handheld and dual to fixed and even rainfall-effect showerheads that can either be affixed to the side of the wall, angled down over your head, or both.
In most cases, though, users opt for either the horizontal arm or ceiling-mounted showerhead. The latter is known for delivering that rainfall effect we all love. However, if you don’t already have the existing plumbing installed for this alternative, it can prove to be a costly endeavor.
Spray Pattern
Contributing to the quality of our shower experience is the shower head’s spray pattern. Most of the time, this boils down to personal preference since not everybody cares about the pattern in which water is sprayed onto their bodies.
For those who do care, however, there’s a vast assortment of shower heads to choose from. The massage, rainfall effect, and jet spray are a few of the many sought-after spray patterns.
Full-panel models that can spray your entire body at once are also available—and amazing, we might add. Nothing like coming home to one of these options after a long, hard day at the office.
In some of the higher-end shower heads, you get the full shower experience, from the calm and quiet rainfall setting of the ceiling-mounted model to the mild hydrotherapy of the jet spray and massage shower heads.
Types of Showerheads
In case it’s time to retire that old bathroom fixture that’s no longer working miracles on your tired and sore body, there are numerous options available in the market.
Here are some of the most common:
Fixed Showerhead
This is what you will probably find in most public and private shower rooms. They also tend to be the easiest to install and the most cost-effective.
In most cases, they should provide a satisfying-enough shower experience, though the spraying range may be limited. As for patterns, there’s usually a number to choose from, including jet, rainfall, and mist.
Handheld Showerhead
Fixed showerheads may be the most popular traditional showerhead, but the most popular modern one is the handheld option.
These models tend to look and feel like their conventional fixed counterparts, but you can actually remove them from their mounts to provide a different, more controllable shower experience.
Dual Showerhead
Dual showerheads can either be handheld or fixed. They’re great for a quick and efficient shower session before you go off to work or get ready for bed. Some models even come with the rainfall option for longer, more calming showers.
Conclusion
There you have it—a quick and easy guide to choosing the ideal showerhead for your home.
More often than not, a good quality showerhead can provide you with the bathing experience you deserve, whether it’s a quick, efficient shower or a long, drawn-out one meant for peace and reflection.
