HELP - new shower head not working

SaltyNuts

Platinum Member
May 1, 2001
2,398
277
126
So I got a new shower head. I installed it. Now, installing a shower head is like the easiest thing on the planet to do. Everything fits together, just put stuff together and screw it in. Even Capitante could probably figure it out. Well, maybe I guess.

Anyways, so I put it together, very easy. I turned the water on, and I heard it run for a split second, then it stopped. So the water was getting stuck. I traced it all the way down to the piece right before the shower head. Its not getting through that piece.

Below are two pictures, of the bottom of the shower head and the part that screws into it. The first one, with the part with the gray/black washer inside, is the side that screws into that showerhead with the green right there. When I blow into THAT side of it, I can get air to come out the other side. So if water was coming in from the showerhead (reverse flow) it might work.

But the second picture is the side where the water is supposed to flow into. No water flows into it, it is definitely where the stoppage is. When I blow into it no air comes out the other side of course.

All the parts are very good fits, and only fit that way. I cannot turn that part around, it will not fit.

Might anyone have any suggestions? My first inclination is to drill a hole in that white piece right in the middle but I worry that might ruin it (if its not already a flawed product).

Thanks for any help!



20211211_215400.jpg



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Thump553

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
12,839
2,625
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Pop out the washer, see if there is some kind of blockage. Modern shower heads have a washer with a smaller hole in it to restrict the water flowing through, but it still should flow through. If I'm understanding what you wrote correctly, you blew in pipe end and no air came out the nozzle end. If there isn't an easy fix (like some kind of debris under the washer obstructing the flow) I'd bring it back and get a replacement. Test the replacement (blow in it) before you leave for home.
 

SaltyNuts

Platinum Member
May 1, 2001
2,398
277
126
Thank you Thump553! I think it is a sealed part, I don't think I can pull that piece out. But I will try. I got it from Amazon, if I cannot get it to work tomorrow morn back it goes. Thanks!!!
 

woodman1999

Golden Member
Sep 19, 2003
1,712
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106
That green piece would be damn hard to get out, but the little black ring in there should come out with some ease. That will at least give you better water pressure once it's installed.

Is the white piece an adapter of some sort? I've never seen a two part showerhead like that.
 

SaltyNuts

Platinum Member
May 1, 2001
2,398
277
126
That green piece would be damn hard to get out, but the little black ring in there should come out with some ease. That will at least give you better water pressure once it's installed.

Is the white piece an adapter of some sort? I've never seen a two part showerhead like that.


Oh, the black ring on the green piece, yes that should come out, let me try.

I have no idea what the white piece is, its definitely inside that thing, not meant to come out. Its inside the metal. Not an adapter, the part would fit exactly the same if you were able to take the white piece out. But the metal in which the white piece is located is where you screw they flexible water hose into on one end and the shower head into on the other end.
 

SaltyNuts

Platinum Member
May 1, 2001
2,398
277
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So Woodman1999, that black washer looking thing in the green piece is actually really hard to take out of there, its hard to tell from that picture but it is really embedded down into the green thing. Not meant to come out I think. But in any event, I don't think that is the problem. I can blow into the showerhead from that side and air comes out the showerhead no problem. But its the other piece, when I try and blow into the side where the white thing is (i.e. the way water is supposed to flow through it), that I cannot get air to flow through it. So that is where the stoppage is. Another picture of it is below. I got out my knife and moved the white piece around a bit, there are like two separate rotor looking things that you can see. I have no idea what their purpose is.


20211212_104429.jpg
 

SaltyNuts

Platinum Member
May 1, 2001
2,398
277
126
Wholly crap, I just figured it out. I had the part that attached to the wall on backwards. It had two identical fittings. Flipped it around and that piece above not attaches to that, in reverse of the way I had it attached to the shower head. Working like a charm now.

Thanks everyone!!!
 

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,353
10,876
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Why? Plenty of water-saving shower heads are not pieces of shit with the restrictor in place.


Depends on the water pressure where you live.... if its on the low side even a good one can reduce flow to a trickle.

They have gotten better though.... the first ones were ridiculous!
 

MrSquished

Lifer
Jan 14, 2013
26,067
24,396
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Like this
05baaba44b4f34cc811ad1c089a8fd09.gif
 
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SaltyNuts

Platinum Member
May 1, 2001
2,398
277
126
LOL, I will have to find that Seinfeld episode. I'm actually watching them now, so many I missed back in the day.
 

Spacehead

Lifer
Jun 2, 2002
13,067
9,858
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So I got a new shower head. I installed it. Now, installing a shower head is like the easiest thing on the planet to do. Everything fits together, just put stuff together and screw it in. Even Capitante could probably figure it out. Well, maybe I guess.
Um, maybe you need to hire him to be your "shower guy" "plumber". Oops, that sounds bad, fixed.

TBH, i was expecting some sort of "smart" shower head with an internet connection.
 
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Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,353
10,876
136
Well shit Captante, the one they say to buy is no longer being sold - the link to it in the article does not work. Got any suggested alternatives?


The linked article was dated 2017 .... try going directly to Home Depot/Lowes website?

Could always go into the store and take a look at the location of the flow-restrictors ... you can usually tell how hard they'll be to bypass. (you may need a drill or a rotary-tool for some)
 
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SaltyNuts

Platinum Member
May 1, 2001
2,398
277
126
Captante, thanks, I actually found it on their site! Its now $5.98 LOL.

The problem, however, is that my significant other LOVES the new shower head, even though it is totally lame and was waaaaay overpriced at $89. Oh well, I guess I'm out the $89. :(
 
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