Choosing a New Shower Head
Depending on the features you want, shower heads come in a variety of price ranges. You can get a good, basic shower head for as little as ten dollars. Or, if you go all out, you can find models that cost hundreds of dollars.
Still, whether your going for a basic model, or a fancier one with lots of gadgets, there are some basic things to keep in mind when buying a new shower head.
Fixed or Hand-Held Shower Heads
When buying a shower head, your biggest decision will be choosing between a fixed shower head, and a hand-held shower head.
Fixed shower heads are permanently mounted to the wall. If you get a model with an adjustable arm, you can change the height and direction of the water flow to suit your needs.
Hand-held shower heads are more flexible. You can use it as if it were a fixed model, leaving it in the cradle that’s mounted on the wall. Or, you can remove it, and direct the spray of water exactly where you want it. Hand-held shower heads also come in handy when your bathing the kids or washing the dog. They can even help make cleaning the shower and tub easier.
Low-Flow Shower Heads
Saving water and energy should always be a concern, and buying a low-flow shower head will do both. Most shower heads flow at a rate of two and a half gallons per minute. You can find low-flow models that flow at a rate of two gallons a minute. If you estimate that the average shower lasts for about ten minutes, that’s a savings of five gallons of water.
Shower Heads for Low Water Pressure
Sometimes, there’s nothing more frustrating then showering in a house with low water pressure. Not only can it take forever to rinse off, a slow trickle of water just isn’t as satisfying as having a strong, steady stream of water pounding against your skin, relaxing your muscles. Luckily, you can buy a shower head especially designed for use in homes with low water pressure. This will make the water flow more powerful.
A Cut-Off Valve
A lot of water can be wasted while we’re soaping up, or lathering our hair. But a shower head with a cut-off valve allows you to temporarily interrupt the flow of water. So you can do what you need to do without gallons of precious water swirling uselessly down the drain.
Installing a new shower head isn’t only fast and easy, but taking a shower with the right shower head can be an affordable, and relaxing luxury.
