Installing a High-efficiency Showerhead

What is the simplest way to reduce water usage in your house? Installing a high-efficiency showerhead, of course.

Many people have the misconception that today’s ultra low flow showerheads won’t rinse the soap off like the old models. How far from the truth! The EPA’s standard for showerheads is 2 gallons per minute. Combined with the variety of jetstreams available to choose from, this is more than enough to have you feeling clean and refreshed while lowering your water consumption.

Showerheads come in many shapes and sizes and can be found in any department store, hardware store, or plumbing supply store. Before installing your new showerhead, thoroughly read the included instructions for your specific model.

You’ll need a ladder or stepstool to comfortably reach the shower. Be sure to turn off the water valves before beginning. To remove the old showerhead, place a washcloth or old cleaning rag where you intend to unscrew with a wrench. This will prevent scratching if you intend to reuse your old showerhead in the future or sell it at your next yard sale.

When the old showerhead is removed, use a damp cloth to clean the threads of any dirty buildup before installing the new showerhead. At this point, wrap the threads with Teflon tape. This will prevent any leakage. Wrap clockwise so the tape will not come off during the installation of the new showerhead. Use your washcloth or old cleaning rag along with your wrench to attach the new showerhead and then turn the water on to ensure that it works properly.

Most showhead replacements can be done by a handy homeowner, but in some cases the showerhead is stuck to the water supply pipe. Also, the water supply pipe can break, especially if it is old or corroded.  Your local  plumber is an expert in bathroom plumbing repairs and can handle any problems you may encounter.

Posted on behalf of Seagraves Plumbing

Selecting The Right Showerhead

As important to an individual’s restorative sleep is the optimal mattress; so, too, is the function of the showerhead to an individual’s satisfaction and comfort. A shower should also be restorative, leaving one feeling refreshed and energized. How disappointing and unsatisfactory, even downright irritating, is a showerhead that doesn’t function correctly.

Of course, it all boils down to personal preferences and, in today’s market, you have plenty to choose from. First, decide on your priorities. For instance, would you need the flexibility of a handheld shower or would a fixed-mount showerhead suffice? Is water conservation one of your priorities? Today you have the option of low water flow showerheads or ones that will automatically stop the flow of water while you scrub. If you are not concerned about the gallons of water used per minute in your shower, you can indulge in rain or downpour showerhead, whose name is self-defining.

If you suffer from dry or damaged skin, some showerheads today have filters that remove those discomfort causing contaminants. In addition to adjustable spray patterns, showerheads can also be purchased to be easily adjustable for height and position. Your local plumbing professional can help you easily wade through all of these options to find just the right showerhead to meet all of your needs and preferences.

Now that you know what kind of showerhead you’d prefer, all you have to do is to decide on the style and finish that would compliment your current bathroom fixtures. While polished chrome seems to currently be the most popular because of its low cost and versatility in matching existing fixtures, there are a variety of materials from which to choose including bronze or nickel. Your bathroom repair plumber can assist you in selecting a showerhead that fits with your both your needs and wants.

Top Options for Showerheads

This is one area in which everyone is pretty much aware of their own preferences. For instance, ever stay in a motel and remark that everything was fine “except that showerhead,” or feel dissatisfied with a shower’s water pressure? It is easier to narrow down your top options for a showerhead if you are first able to decide what features are most important to you personally.  Do you prefer a handheld shower for ease of flexibility; or, do you prefer a fixed, mounted head? Do you prefer several water flow options for massage? Would you prefer to conserve water with a low-flow showerhead or would you like to have a rain showerhead or even a downpour showerhead?

Showerheads with adjustable arms for height or positioning and adjustable spray patterns seem to be the ideal. Some companies are now offering a “volume control” for their showerheads, which actually stops the flow of water while you scrub, without requiring you to turn it off. Many showerheads now contain filters to remove contaminants that can cause dry or damaged skin. You may simply shop the options of your favorite brand manufacturer or you may focus on the gallons of water per minute in making your choice.

Once you’ve decided your most preferred features, you’ll need to decide on finish and style that would best fit with your current bathroom decor. Should you go with chrome, bronze, nickel, brass, polished, brushed or oil-rubbed? Polished chrome seems to be the most popular, since it is affordable and will match most bathroom decors. Regardless of your personal preferences, your local plumbing professional can help you narrow down all of these options to find the best fit for your needs.  Professional showerhead installation will help optimize the performance and reliability of your new showerhead.