How to Choose Shower Fixtures for Your Bathroom
Shower better.
We spend a lot of time in the shower, so making sure we have the best setup is crucial. Find out how to choose the perfect shower fixtures and feel squeaky clean.
Shower Fixture Configurations
Shower Faucet: These consist of a shower head and a faucet handle trim. Shower heads alone are not considered full faucets, but are used rather as replacement parts of the whole product.
Tub & Shower Faucet: Includes a shower head, faucet handle trim, and a tub spout.
Shower System: Shower systems are more complex shower faucets, meaning they include multiple water outlets. These outlets can include body sprays, multiple standard shower heads, handheld shower heads, or slide bar shower heads. Body sprays, or jets, are options to consider for a more customized shower experience. Sprays can be placed on one or multiple walls within the shower, and sometimes they are incorporated directly into a shower panel. Body sprays use high pressure with jets to accomplish a massaging shower experience.
Shower Panel: These are also referred to as shower towers. Shower panels are an all-in-one solution intended to replace an existing setup. Installing a shower panel is much easier than the other configurations, as the rough-in valve is contained within the panel itself. All a customer needs to have prior to installing a shower panel is the hot and cold water supply lines, as they will be connecting the supply lines directly to the panel.
How to Choose a Shower Head
There are several different shower head types, so choose one that is the most convenient for you and accommodates your showering habits.
Handheld Shower Head: These can be taken off the wall and used by hand. Handheld shower heads are attached to the wall with a flexible hose and also lock into an upright position to work as standard adjustable shower heads. These are also called handshowers.
Rain Shower Head: Rain shower heads are wider than other options and are typically installed directly to the ceiling or the shower arm extends straight into the shower stall so the water falls straight down. This setup imitates the feel of rainfall. Rain shower heads are often low-flow, which means they use less water and are eco-friendly.
Tip!
If you’re looking for a more intense spray pressure, consider a massage or jet spray pattern shower head. These patterns simulate a massage with jets to relieve stress. Both massage and jet sprays are focused and sometimes pulsating. These are high-pressure and concentrated spray patterns, and are common for showerheads that include multiple settings.
Fixed Shower Head: Fixed shower heads are a traditional and standard option. These heads are mounted to the wall with a shower arm and cannot be moved or pivoted.
Slide Bar Shower Head: These adjustable shower heads are mounted to a slide bar, which is mounted to the shower wall. Slide bar heads allow for ease of adjustability for users’ varying heights.
Dual Shower Head: Dual shower heads come with two shower heads attached to a single pipe or arm. These are sometimes referred to as a double shower head.
The most common shower handle type is a lever. Some of the more traditional lever handles are sometimes described as scroll, with more modern options found with straighter lines and harder edges. Lever handles can be single, double, or triple handles, depending on the fixture configuration and number of water outlets.
Cross handles are another popular style. They come in a variety of themes, from modern to traditional. Cross handles can be single, double, or triple handles, depending on the fixture configuration and number of water outlets.
A less common style is a knob handle, which can be described as a round or grip handle. Typically, this style is found more in commercial settings. Knob handles can be single, double, or triple handles, depending on the fixture configuration and number of water outlets.
Important Considerations
Installation Type
Shower heads are either wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted, depending on your existing plumbing setup. Traditional shower heads are mounted to the wall with a shower arm, though many rainfall shower heads are ceiling mounted for a realistic rain effect. Depending on a slide bar shower head's design, you may need to adjust plumbing.
Flow Rates
Flow rate is the volume of water flow through the faucet. This is measured in gallons per minute (GPM), and on average shower heads range from 1.5–2.5 GPM. Based on current US regulations, the standard maximum flow rate is 2.5 GPM, which uses 80 PSI (pounds per square inch) of water pressure.The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deems water-efficient products WaterSense certified if they use at least 20% less water or energy and perform as well as or better than regular models. Showerheads can earn the WaterSense label if they use 2.0 GPM or less.
Shop WaterSense Shower Faucets
Shop Water Efficient Shower Faucets
Adjustable Spray Patterns
These shower heads offer various spray patterns that can be changed by physically adjusting the head or toggle to change the spray pattern. Settings include:
Full/Standard: A single, non-adjustable water spray.
Rain: A steady flow of water that mimics rainfall.
Massage/Jet: A high pressure spray for relaxation.
