A satisfying shower is very important

For some of us, showering is connected only with our desire for cleanliness while for others of us, showering is connected to soothing our tired bodies and washing away stressors of the day. Whether you imagine yourself as the utilitarian type or the pleasure seeker, chances are that when you select the appropriate shower head to meet your needs, you’ll wish you had considered treating yourself better sooner.

Pressure

The type of shower head you pick influences the water pressure output. So you should really consider what type of water pressure suits you. Other factors that influence pressure are federal guidelines that say that a showerhead cannot exceed 80 lbs per square inch (psi). As a result, shower heads contain flow restrictors. Other factors that influence pressure include gravity and elevation. It’s the reason why many reservoirs are found at higher elevations than homes. Leaks in your pipes can also negatively impact pressure. As a final point, an entire neighborhood can affect your water pressure especially if shower use is concentrated in a short window of time.

Type of Showerhead

There are about eight types of showerhead designs. The top mount can be installed directly onto the ceiling or from an extension arm. The sliding bar type moves up and down on a wall base so that it can meet the demands of a household with different height and preference demands.  The handheld type is removable from its base. A shower panel system is like a stand up Jacuzzi that delivers water pressure where you want it. An aerating type mixes air and water to create the feel of improved water pressure. A lighted type contains some mood lighting. The standard wall mount has several types of designs to choose from and are the most common. Finally, the high pressure rain showerheads are about twice as wide as regular showerheads measuring around 9” wide and are similar to aerating showerheads.

Environmental considerations

Flow rates from shower heads are limited by federal regulation to a rate of 2.5 gallons per minute to conserve water and heater fuel. Although we want to take care of the environment, we also don’t want a dissatisfying shower. Low flow showerheads used to irritate those who wanted a satisfying experience in the shower, and would lead to folks compensating by taking longer showers. The EPA realized this was a gloomy predicament and included standard qualities that lead to a satisfactory shower. Make sure you check for these performance criteria when you install your showerhead. They include: the ability to maintain flow at different pressures; how the showerhead distributes water; and effective spray intensity that rinses out soap and shampoo.