Showerheads eventually wear out or become clogged with lime deposits. When this happens, they generally work poorly and look worse. This is the perfect time to replace the head with a newer, low-flow model.
Low-flow showerheads can save you a tremendous abount of water if you've been using an older water-wasting head. The new heads are designed to deliver comfortable--sometimes even forceful--spray but use a maximum of 2.5 gallons of water per minute.
Installing a new showerhead is usually just a matter of unscrewing the old one from the existing shower arm and screwing on the new head. If the existing arm ends in a ball joint, you'll have to remove and replace the arm--also an easy job.
Most showerheads come with easy-to-follow instructions for installation. Some old heads will unscrew from the inlet pipe by hand, for others you might require the help of an adjustable wrench.
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Why we like it:
• Very easy to install
• Water-saving rainfall with force
• Lifetime warranty
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For a particularly balky head, you might need a large pliers or a small pipe wrench to hold the inlet pipe (put a rag between the jaws so you don't scratch the finish) while you turn the head counterclockwise. Before screwing on the new shower head, wrap the threads of the inlet pipe with pipe-wrap tape. You can usually just turn the head clockwise by hand and then finish the last quarter turn with an adjustable wrench. Again, protect the finish on the head from damage by wrapping it with a rag before using the wrench.
Note that some low-flow showerheads come with a water-restricting disc or button inside the valve. This can be removed for a more powerful spray, but doing so eliminates the water-saving benefits of the low-flow head.
