Shower Heads, Hansgrohe

[caption id="attachment_728" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Shower Head"][/caption] Nobody deserves having to suffer a wimpy shower. Last year, it felt like my shower head wasn't even trying anymore. In the morning when my eyes don't open and my throat is scratchy, I am counting on my shower to get me exhilarated and fresh to face the day. All of  these shower heads meet the 2.5 gallon per minute regulation. Extra pressure leads to a shorter shower, which is good for conserving water and saving money. [caption id="attachment_724" align="aligncenter" width="429" caption="Shower Head with Four Jets from California Faucets"][/caption] California Faucets makes the standard shower head with four jets. Less jets is often a good thing if you want high water pressure to wake you up and super soak your hair. I have long, thick hair. If a shower has inferior pressure, it takes me what feels like forever to wash it. I'm pressing my scalp against the shower face, just trying to get my hair damp. [caption id="attachment_717" align="aligncenter" width="375" caption="Six Jet Shower Head by California Faucets"][/caption] The golden six jet shower head will pour direct, high power streams. California Faucets is a very reliable provider. They use brass materials in all of their shower heads not only for high quality performance, but for the good of the planet. Brass is a recyclable and valuable material. Definitely look for fixed shower heads with brass ball joints. These will guarantee a long life for the fixture. [caption id="attachment_731" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Shower Head by Jacuzzi"][/caption]   Jacuzzi makes a formidable rival, the six jet bellavista round shower head. The lever on the side allows you to adjust the jets from strong streams to a soft mist. Jacuzzi's product is also made of solid brass.

[caption id="attachment_725" align="aligncenter" width="375" caption="Single Function Shower Head by California Faucets"][/caption] Shower heads with larger faces and more streams often result in lower pressure that feels like a gentle rain. Shower heads with wide angles of dispersion generally result in weak pressure. However with the right design that truly prevents blockage, you can find a shower head with many streams that will feel like a soaking rain. This single function shower head has thirty-six self cleaning jets that guarantee good pressure.

[caption id="attachment_718" align="aligncenter" width="375" caption="Multi Function Bell Shaped Shower Head from California Faucets"][/caption] The multi function shower head from California Faucets, as its name suggests, has a variety of functions. A lot of people like choices. I like high pressure jets soaking my hair in seconds and massaging my scalp and spine, but I can see the benefits of having different types of streams. You can choose between wider coverage, high pressure focused attention, or a gentle mist. Even with a single function fixture that does not adjust pressure, you can always add body jets or a hand shower fixture. Low flow hand showers are great for water conservation because you're applying water directly to your body and wasting very little.  If you want to see body jets in action, just watch the first ten minutes of the film Mommy Dearest. Joan Crawford takes a luxurious shower in her mansion, scrubs her face in steaming hot water and then rinses in a large bowl of ice water. [caption id="attachment_721" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Eight Jet Shower Head from Rohl"][/caption] Rohl makes shower heads too. The eight jet adjustable flow shower head is part of the Michael Berman Collection. In places with low water pressure such as high rises, yachts, and mobile homes a quality shower head like this can turn a dribbly nightmare into a more than decent shower. [caption id="attachment_722" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The Rose Shower Head from Rohl"][/caption] The Michael Berman Collection also includes the rose shower head with a wide face for streams and an adorable vintage look. Many people think they have lower water pressure than they really do because they have an inferior shower head. A wider face on a fixture doesn't always mean less water pressure as long as it is designed well.

[caption id="attachment_720" align="aligncenter" width="375" caption="The Porcelain Bell Shower Head from California Faucets"][/caption] If you want to splurge on something beautiful and unique, California Faucets makes an elegant porcelain bell shower head. Before buying, find out the company's pressure ratings on their shower heads. Most shower heads range between 50 and 70, and some are as low as 35. Anything above 70 is a very nice product. [caption id="attachment_719" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Picot Shower Head California Faucets"][/caption] California Faucets actually puts out a lot of the really creative and stylish shower fixtures, like the Picot. [caption id="attachment_716" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Contemporary Shower Head from Rohl"][/caption] Rohl is a worthy contender, however. They make the highly functional, sleek and modern single function shower head featured above. It has elastomer nozzles for easy cleaning of mineral build-up, which means a more powerful and effective shower in the home. Water conservation reduces the energy used at wastewater treatment plants and replenishes more of our planet's environment. A quality shower head makes getting clean go faster, regulates water flow while providing good pressure....

Do you have a really old, crusty, gross shower head? Or maybe just one that's jut okay, but doesn't really give you the kind of shower you enjoy? If you're putting off replacing it because you don't want the hassle of calling a plumber, you're in luck. Swapping out shower heads is one of the easiest jobs in the bathroom. Even if you've never done it before, it shouldn't take more than half an hour, start to finish, to do. How? Simple: What You Need:

• Shower Head
• Groove Joint Pliers
• Adjustable Wrench (Or strap wrench or pipe wrench if you have one)
• Teflon Tape
• 2 Soft Rags
• An Old Toothbrush

  [caption id="attachment_1460" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="California Faucets Multi Function Showerhead Traditional Style"][/caption] Whether you want a super soaker shower head or something a little gentler, like this Multi Function Head, the process is the same, though you want to make sure your shower head has the right sized fitting for your shower arm. Half inch is nearly universal, but some custom showers have 3/4 inch piping. If you aren't sure, you can hold off on getting one until Step Two so you can take the shower arm with you to check for size, but it'll stretch out the project a little longer.   Step One: Out With The Old [caption id="attachment_1462" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="If Your Old Shower Head Looks Like This Single Function Pfister, Plus A Little Lime Buildup, It Might Be Time To Make The Change"][/caption] To remove your Old Shower Head, grasp the shower arm with the pliers, fit the wrench to the end of the shower head that attaches to the arm, and loosen it counter-clockwise. It should only take about half a turn before you're able to loosen it the rest of the way by hand. Remember, though: the metal of either wrench WILL damage the finish, so if you intend to use the shower head elsewhere, or if you're keeping your old shower arm, make sure to either wrap the ends of the pliers in tape, or wrap the shower head and arm in those soft cloths before you start disassembling.   Step Three: The Shower Arm [caption id="attachment_1463" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Rohl Hook Shower Arm From The Michael Berman Collection"][/caption] Many shower come with their own arms you'll need to install, but even if you aren't replacing your old one, it's important to remove and visually inspect it before installing the new shower head. The material that keeps your pipes from leaking may have deteriorated, which could mean your shower is leaking behind your wall, just out of sight. As well, if your new shower head doesn't come with it's own shower arm, you can buy one separately - something like this Hook Shower Arm is great for adjusting the angle or height of your shower head without having to redo your plumbing. [caption id="attachment_1464" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Rohl Wall Mount Shower Arm"][/caption] To remove the arm, stick one end of your pliers into the shower arm and use it for leverage to turn the arm counterclockwise, unscrewing it from the wall. Use the toothbrush to scrub off the old teflon tape (if any), and wrap a new strip clockwise around the threads of the arm three or four times. Screw it back into the wall by hand until it feels tight, and then use the (taped or padded!) wrench to tighten it one more full rotation. If you're feeling fancy, you can caulk the edges of the flange (like the round metal that sits at the base of this basic Rohl Arm), which will make it water tight, but also a bit harder to remove later.   Step Three: Installation [caption id="attachment_1461" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Herbeau Pompadour Collection Multi-Function Shower Head with Arm and Flange"][/caption] Now it's time for the shower head itself. If you're using your old shower arm, scrub the shower-end clean with the toothbrush. Then take the clean (or new) arm and wrap the threading in teflon tape, again going clockwise three or four times around. You getting the hang of this yet? Once again, screw on your shower head by hand, until it's snug, then tighten it no more than another quarter turn with your wrenches. Remember to keep the shower head and arm covered with a soft cloth while you do this. This Pompadour Shower Assembly might have a beautiful finish, but it won't look so hot with deep scratches and grooves in the metal from a bad installation. [caption id="attachment_1465" align="aligncenter" width="287" caption="Speakman Combination Multi Function Anystream Showerhead and Personal Hand Shower from the Alexandria Collection"][/caption] If you're installing a hand shower rather than a regular shower head, the process is still the same: you want to screw the mount onto the shower arm, just like you would a shower head, but then wrap teflon around the threading on the mount and screw on the hose for the shower head, too. Same thing if you're installing a dual hand held/regular shower combo like this Speakman Anystream. Attach the shower head like normal, then teflon the diverter (which lets you switch between the head) and attach the hose for the handheld, making sure all the connections are secured tightly. The hardware will do the rest for you. It's as easy as that: once everything's screwed into place, you can simply turn on your shower and enjoy. Have you ever done a project like this? Easier than you thought? Are you a big DIYer or do you think you'll still call a plumber?...

A friend bought an oil-heated house last fall and bunkered down for winter with the somewhat dreaded knowledge that winter would be cold, dreary and expensive; she was paying about $200/month to heat a small, 3-bedroom house. When winter started to surrender to spring and it began to warm up outside, she thought that her oil expenses were temporarily going to diminish. But even into the summer months, she was still spending close to $100 on oil without heating the house at all. "What gives?" she thought. She did some research and, keeping in mind that the same oil heater warms up the water in the bathroom and kitchen, as well, decided to check out her faucets. The house is about 60 years old and she knew that the fixtures throughout the house, if they were ever changed at all, had not been replaced for some time. "The water poured out of the shower head as if from buckets," she said. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) WaterSense Program mandates that all residential bathroom fixtures like faucets and shower heads manufactured and sold in the U.S. after January 1, 1994 must have limits on the flow rate: faucets must use no more than 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm) and shower heads must use no more that 2.5 gpm. Bathroom fixtures manufactured before then used significantly more - shower heads poured out 5.5 gpm! She replaced her shower head with a newer model and her monthly expenditure for oil has dropped to about $40! She's yet to replace the bathroom faucet and kitchen faucet or to get more efficient appliances like an energy efficient laundry washer and dishwasher, but imagine the added difference that will make. The same certainly applies to saving on electricity and gas, if that's how your water is heated, and to the water bill. All faucets being sold in stores comply with these regulations, so if you live in an older house who's fixtures have not been updated since before 1994, consider replacing them. Faucets can be very cheap and they will help you save money monthly, as well. If you're on a budget, choose shower heads and compare prices on faucets at BarefootFloor.com. ...