Which shower head

Fixed shower heads are attached permanently to the wall or ceiling. Some are designed specifically to maximise water flow on low-pressure systems, while are designed for a high-pressure mixer or power shower. All but the cheapest offer multiple spray patterns, which you can select by moving a slider.

Most showers and shower heads use a standard half-inch pipe and fittings, so you can mix and match hoses and heads from different manufacturers. Even if your home has low water pressure, a shower head with a clever nozzle design and carefully sculpted water channels can help build the pressure and give you a powerful shower.

The trade-off is usually quite a narrow spray radius. However, since there are generally multiple spray patterns to choose from, you can start your shower with a wider, gentler spray, then switch to a more forceful pattern for intensive cleaning. Some shower heads also suck in air and use this to propel the water out. This can either give you a more powerful shower or it can reduce the amount of water you consume while maintaining a similar overall sensation.

In addition to the basics, modern shower heads may offer extra features such as a built-in Bluetooth speaker or LED lighting. Rub-clean nozzles let you remove scale and debris with a quick pass with one finger, while scale-resistant finishes stay shinier for longer.

This cut-price shower head from a Spanish manufacturer punches well above its weight. While the chrome finish covers plastic, it feels impressively well made, and you get a choice of five spray patterns ranging from a pulsing massage to a high-pressure jet and a gentle spray. Key specs — Type: mm chrome finish shower head; Spray patterns: 5; Extras: Easyclean nozzles; Warranty: 5yr. Available in white or with a chrome-look finish, its five-position selector clicks through a full gamut of patterns from a high-pressure jet to a gentle rain, with nozzles that rub clean to get rid of grime and limescale.

Key specs — Type: mm plastic shower head; Spray patterns: 5; Extras: Quick-clean spray plate; Colours: 2 white, chrome ; Warranty: 1yr. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Tip To keep water flowing steadily, remove the aerator and blow out any sediment that may have built up inside the showerhead semi-regularly. Featured Video. Related Topics. Read More. Your Privacy Rights.

Here you'll learn what the different types of shower heads are, their pros and cons and hopefully be able to gauge which shower head is best for you. To be even more clear, I'll be highlighting only the main shower head types, specifically covering replacement shower heads that you can literally upgrade on your own in a matter of minutes.

Let's Go! A fixed shower head, aka wall mount shower head, is what most people have in their home. It's no-frills and is typically smaller in size, with diameters from 5 inches or less.

For those of you who just want a shower head that doesn't have a ton of bells and whistles, and just gives you solid pressure, this is the way to go. If you want to get a little bit fancier, you can look for a multi-function fixed shower head.

The multi-function option allows you to change the spray patterns, usually ranging from a very concentrated massage setting to a more gentle wide spray setting. While rain shower heads are essentially fixed shower heads, they are much larger in size.

Ranging from 6 inches and up, you can really increase the coverage in your shower. Coverage refers to how wide the water spray is, leaving you with a warmer feeling in the shower. Rain shower heads can be mounted from the wall or from the ceiling. For wall mounts, you can easily install this in minutes like most shower heads. That is, if you haven't already had the work done.

Don't worry though, if you really want that rainfall shower head experience coming from your ceiling but don't have the time or money to have the plumbing done - there is still a solid compromise.

That of course, is by using an overhead shower arm. These shower arms extend between 12 and 16 Inches from your wall and sometimes even raise the height of the actual shower head. That makes it possible for you to stand underneath the rainfall shower as if it were coming from the ceiling. This is the standard! As long as you have the shower arm plumbing coming from your ceiling or your wall, you can choose whichever shower head you want and mount your shower head wherever you want.

One thing to keep in mind is whether you should go with a single function or multi-function. Very easily put, if you are going to mount your rainshower from your ceiling, go for a single function. That's because it will likely be hard to change the settings if your shower head is mounted feet above your head.

If, on the other hand, you are mounting your rain shower head from your wall or have a fairly low ceiling, the choice is yours. Do you just want one full flow, or prefer to adjust to a more concentrated spray? At The Shower Head Store, we're all about the single function spray, focusing in on the one spray that's actually giving you the most satisfaction - the rainfall spray! With new water flow regulations, manufacturers restrict the output of water to a maximum of 2.

That means whether you choose an 8-inch rain shower head or a inch rain shower head, you'll get the same amount of water output. Not saying that larger rain showers aren't great, but it's something you need to keep in mind if you are more into strong pressure.

The rainfall is all about relaxing under large water droplets, not getting blasted by a concentrated spray. You can always consult with a plumber or contractor to see if your house pressure can be adjusted. These flow rates are typically based off 60 PSI, meaning if your pressure is less in your house, you aren't even getting the full flow rate which is already being restricted.

No doubt, hand held shower heads are the most popular shower head type on the market. Whether you are building out a new shower or just need to replace your existing shower head, this is such a versatile option. Hand held shower heads are usually sold in packages which include a detachable hose and holder to mount the showerhead.