I recently wasted an entire weekend trying to replace a handheld shower head and I'd like your help picking a better brand of handheld shower head.
A Little Background
The output of the $30 Delta Faucet 75701 7-Setting Hand Shower has felt weak since I first installed it and recently I decided I wanted to replace it with something better. It just doesn't give me good pressure compared to what I experience in some friends' homes or when I stay in hotels.
I bought a Delta 75589 from Lowes and installed it without even inspecting it. Once I had it hooked up I found that it leaked from the housing. On inspection I found two gaps in the housing caused by warping of the plastic.
I returned the 75589 in exchange for the 75588 the same day.
When I opened the package I found that there was a similar kind of warping of the plastic housing.
I didn't even install it. I took it back.
I then spent way too much time trying to find a package that allowed me to see inside it enough to spot the problems. Long story short, it's impossible to fully inspect the shower heads without opening the packages and the Lowes agent wasn't willing to allow me to break open any more blister packs.
So I gave up.
Since then I've contacted Delta and Moen directly but neither maker was able (willing?) to help me by finding a known working unit and letting me buy it directly from them. (no surprise, really)
My Questions For You Fine Folks
A Little Background
The output of the $30 Delta Faucet 75701 7-Setting Hand Shower has felt weak since I first installed it and recently I decided I wanted to replace it with something better. It just doesn't give me good pressure compared to what I experience in some friends' homes or when I stay in hotels.
- I measured the "raw" output of the pipe to be roughly 2.5 GPM by filling a 5 gallon bucket just under half-way in 60 seconds.
- I did remove the water restricter during the Delta installation.
- I also checked to be sure there are no particulates or blockages on the filter screen (both then and now).
I bought a Delta 75589 from Lowes and installed it without even inspecting it. Once I had it hooked up I found that it leaked from the housing. On inspection I found two gaps in the housing caused by warping of the plastic.
I returned the 75589 in exchange for the 75588 the same day.
When I opened the package I found that there was a similar kind of warping of the plastic housing.
I didn't even install it. I took it back.
I then spent way too much time trying to find a package that allowed me to see inside it enough to spot the problems. Long story short, it's impossible to fully inspect the shower heads without opening the packages and the Lowes agent wasn't willing to allow me to break open any more blister packs.
So I gave up.
Since then I've contacted Delta and Moen directly but neither maker was able (willing?) to help me by finding a known working unit and letting me buy it directly from them. (no surprise, really)
My Questions For You Fine Folks
- Is there a manufacturer who isn't relying on cheap plastic parts for handheld shower heads?
- If they are all using this, is there a maker who's products are more reliably not warped in storage?
- To ensure that I get what feels like a higher-pressure shower, what should I look for amongst all the marketing gobbledy gook?