Sick of Restricted Shower Heads

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Raizinman

Raizinman

Platinum Member
Sep 7, 2007
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I am so sick of the restricted shower heads. I’ve tried so many different ones;

I’ve removed the restrictor, tried drilling out others for better water flow, but still can’t get that strong invigorating spray I so want. I have 80 lbs of water pressure which should be just fine. Does anyone know of a strong shower head, even if it requires some modifications.

Yes, I am aware of the Seinfeld shower head episode.
 
KeithP

KeithP

Diamond Member
Jun 15, 2000
5,664
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Speakman Anystream series, with restrictor or without. I have been using these for years and they have never let me down.

-KeithP
 
Raizinman

Raizinman

Platinum Member
Sep 7, 2007
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In checking Speakman Anystream Series, there are no distributors in my state. The local Home Depot or Lowes also don't carry that brand. Water pressure is 80 PSI. I can turn it up, as it is set by an adjustable regulator, but any higher pressure can be dangerous for solenoids in dishwashers and washing machines.
 
V

Vdubchaos

Lifer
Nov 11, 2009
10,408
10
0
KeithP said:
Speakman Anystream series, with restrictor or without. I have been using these for years and they have never let me down.

-KeithP
Click to expand...

Same here

Not sure why I would want to restrict the flow. Sounds like bunch of BS to me.

What's next? Not flushing the toilet?

meh
 
Eug

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
23,994
1,617
126
Vdubchaos said:
Not sure why I would want to restrict the flow. Sounds like bunch of BS to me.
Click to expand...
Actually it can make a fair difference in terms of cost if you have a lot of long hot showers in your household.

I have strong water pressure and I could actually empty my 50 gal hot water tank with a single long shower.

I'm curious what my current shower head's flow rate is. It's an 8x12 rectangular rain head so it's not as strong as a small one, but it's still a fair bit stronger than I was expecting. (I was fully expecting I'd have to return it for 7" round or something.) It's my local store's own brand so I'm wondering if they're cheating the 2.5 gallon/min regulation somewhat.

I can't use my hot water tank emptying as a gauge anymore though because I've since installed a tankless water heater (since the tank started leaking).

What's next? Not flushing the toilet?
Click to expand...
We just got rid of 13 L flush toilet because it was old. The max allowed now is 6 L in Canada. However, there are dual-flush models available that have 6 L for big poos and 3.8 L (or less) for pee.

Fortunately, if you get a good quality toilet, 6 L is fine. For some of the cheap ones though, 6 L isn't enough. OTOH, in the old days, most toilets, cheap or not, were fine flushers, because they used so much water.
 
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V

Vdubchaos

Lifer
Nov 11, 2009
10,408
10
0
Eug said:
Actually it can make a fair difference in terms of cost if you have a lot of long hot showers in your household.

I have strong water pressure and I could actually empty my 50 gal hot water tank with a single long shower.

I'm curious what my current shower head's flow rate is. It's an 8x12 rectangular rain head so it's not as strong as a small one, but it's still a fair bit stronger than I was expecting. (I was fully expecting I'd have to return it for 7" round or something.) It's my local store's own brand so I'm wondering if they're cheating the 2.5 gallon/min regulation somewhat.

I can't use my hot water tank emptying as a gauge anymore though because I've since installed a tankless water heater (since the tank started leaking).
Click to expand...

How about simply taking shorter shower vs restrict the water flow.

Eug said:
We just got rid of 13 L flush toilet because it was old. The max allowed now is 6 L in Canada. However, there are dual-flush models available that have 6 L for big poos and 3.8 L (or less) for pee.

Fortunately, if you get a good quality toilet, 6 L is fine. For some of the cheap ones though, 6 L isn't enough. OTOH, in the old days, most toilets, cheap or not, were fine flushers, because they used so much water.
Click to expand...

My water bill is 100-150 every 3 months. How much are you really saving with these "water saving devices".

If you water your loan or wash your car all that goes out the window anyways.

Water is dirt cheap and plentiful (at least where I live). There is very little savings to be head (from what I find)
 
Eug

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
23,994
1,617
126
Vdubchaos said:
How about simply taking shorter shower vs restrict the water flow.
Click to expand...
That would suck, even more than restricted flow heads IMO.

I don't do short showers, unless I'm in a big rush.

Also remember 2.5 gallons per minute is actually a fair amount of water. It makes for a pretty strong shower. Not super strong, but moderately strong. Are you sure you don't just have a flow issue?

Also, PSI alone is not enough. Are your pipes sized correctly for the length? Cuz if the pipes are undersized for the length, by the time the water reaches the shower head your flow will be much less.

My water bill is 100-150 every 3 months. How much are you really saving with these "water saving devices".

If you water your loan or wash your car all that goes out the window anyways.

Water is dirt cheap and plentiful (at least where I live). There is very little savings to be head (from what I find)
Click to expand...
Water is a bit expensive here but...

Depending on where you are and what you read, a low flow head can save roughly $20 or more per person per year. So for a family of four, that's about $80 a year.

But yeah, we have an in-ground sprinker system, on a huge lot, so my water bills are huge. Several hundred per month in the summer, so the sprinkler system expenses drown out any shower head savings.

However, like I said, I'm thinking my 8x12 rain head might be higher than 2.5 gpm because it seems stronger than I was expecting.

The other thing to remember is to buy shower heads that max out the laws. There are a lot of shower heads out there that do 2 gpm or less. Or else buy a shower head where you can remove the flow restrictor if you really want.
 
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Vdubchaos

Lifer
Nov 11, 2009
10,408
10
0
Eug said:
That would suck, even more than restricted flow heads IMO.

I don't do short showers, unless I'm in a big rush.
Click to expand...

So you are looking for SOMETHING to fix a problem FOR YOU.

YOU are the problem. Answer is, take a short shower and save the money/planet (assuming you care).

:biggrin:


Eug said:
Also remember 2.5 gallons per minute is actually a fair amount of water. It makes for a pretty strong shower. Not super strong, but moderately strong. Are you sure you don't just have a flow issue?

Also, PSI alone is not enough. Are your pipes sized correctly for the length? Cuz if the pipes are undersized for the length, by the time the water reaches the shower head your flow will be much less.


Water is a bit expensive here but...

Depending on where you are and what you read, a low flow head can save roughly $20 or more per person per year. So for a family of four, that's about $80 a year.

But yeah, we have an in-ground sprinker system, on a huge lot, so my water bills are huge. Several hundred per month in the summer, so the sprinkler system expenses drown out any shower head savings.

However, like I said, I'm thinking my 8x12 rain head might be higher than 2.5 gpm because it seems stronger than I was expecting.

The other thing to remember is to buy shower heads that max out the laws. There are a lot of shower heads out there that do 2 gpm or less. Or else buy a shower head where you can remove the flow restrictor if you really want.
Click to expand...

Again, we are talking minimal savings and worthless products that they want to push onto people.

STop using sprinkler system. DOn't wash your cars.

Don't flush the toiled when you piss..... etc etc

Hope you understand.
 
Eug

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
23,994
1,617
126
I'm not sure what you're on about. You asked some questions, and I answered them. Personally I don't care if you wash your cars at home or water the lawn. The bottom line is if you use the water, then you pay for it. Whether $20 per person per year is significant or not is something people can decide themselves, but regardless, the 2.5 gpm max for shower heads is the law whether you like it or not.

In the meantime, I'm still wondering if the OP's plumbing is partly to blame or not. Just saying a house has 80 PSI doesn't tell us enough. He can have 80 PSI supplied to the home but still have crap flow to the shower.
 
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Eug

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
23,994
1,617
126
Vdubchaos said:
Wait what?

There is laws on shower head flows rates?

:hmm:
Click to expand...
Yes. Like I said, it's 2.5 gpm in the US and Canada. Federal law I believe actually.

To get around it you can remove the flow restrictor or drill it out or whatever.
 
Raizinman

Raizinman

Platinum Member
Sep 7, 2007
2,355
75
91
meettomy.site
Not quite sure what the difference is between taking a 5 minute shower with a shower head that uses 5 gpm or a 10 minute shower using a shower head that uses 2.5 gpm. Obviously with the 2.5 gpm I get more exercise having to dance around more to rinse and get the soap off me. Either way, I pay the water bill. I'll use as much water as I want. But actually, I prefer a short strong shower. Five minutes under a strong shower is really good enough.
 
Q

quikah

Diamond Member
Apr 7, 2003
4,158
715
126
Eug said:
I'm curious what my current shower head's flow rate is. It's an 8x12 rectangular rain head so it's not as strong as a small one, but it's still a fair bit stronger than I was expecting. (I was fully expecting I'd have to return it for 7" round or something.) It's my local store's own brand so I'm wondering if they're cheating the 2.5 gallon/min regulation somewhat.

I can't use my hot water tank emptying as a gauge anymore though because I've since installed a tankless water heater (since the tank started leaking).
Click to expand...

Just get a bucket and time how long it takes to fill.

I have a rain shower head that was too strong IMO so I put a restrictor in it. Not sure why it didn't come with one already.
 
lozina

lozina

Lifer
Sep 10, 2001
11,711
8
81
Sounds like you need some good ol' redneck engineering

8623.jpg
 
Eug

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
23,994
1,617
126
readymix said:
try a dramm watering nozzle :) but, only if your faucet can deliver the volume.
Click to expand...
Bingo.

Raizinman said:
Not quite sure what the difference is between taking a 5 minute shower with a shower head that uses 5 gpm or a 10 minute shower using a shower head that uses 2.5 gpm. Obviously with the 2.5 gpm I get more exercise having to dance around more to rinse and get the soap off me. Either way, I pay the water bill. I'll use as much water as I want. But actually, I prefer a short strong shower. Five minutes under a strong shower is really good enough.
Click to expand...
I used to have an old higher flow head, and I'd take 10 minute showers.

When that broke I bought a new shower head, which had to be 2.5 gpm or less because of the current laws. I still take 10 minute showers.

Really, with a decent shower head, 2.5 is fine. I can take 3 minute showers just fine, with a 2.5 gpm head, but I just prefer longer showers whether it's a 2.5 gpm head or a 3.5 gpm head.

P.S. Ironically you can just buy multiple shower heads for whole body showers. They might be 2 gpm so if you have 3 of them you're at 6 gpm. Add that to the main 2.5 gpm head and you're at 8.5 gpm.
 
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