Showerhead Styles

As noted above, there are three principal options available when considering a shower fixture. We’ll begin with most common and least expensive option and move toward the rarer, more expensive possibilities:

 

·        Adjustable-spray showerheads: This type of showerhead is unquestionably the most common, and in most cases it’s also the cheapest option available for homeowners. In fact, it’s probably the showerhead you’ll end up with if you purchase a new home and don’t specify the type of showerhead you’d prefer. The defining characteristic of the adjustable-spray showerhead is its ability to provide users with several different water flow settings. Standard adjustable-spray showerheads usually offer three settings for water force, one of which is usually a massage setting. Though they’re too noisy or powerful for some users, adjustable-spray showerheads provide a consistently strong water flow, and good models are available from $50-$200. Various finishes are also available, and you can purchase either a wall-mounted or handheld model, either of which is relatively easy to install.

 

·        Rainshower showerheads: Although they still lag behind adjustable-spray showerheads in sales, rainshower showerheads continue to grow in popularity, due largely to their aesthetic appeal. Usually mounted directly overhead, rainshower showerheads generally have a much larger face than their adjustable-spray counterparts. The rainshower models also use a greater number of individual spray nozzles, but they usually only have one water flow setting. As might be guessed by its name, the standard rainshower showerhead produces a very soft, quiet water flow, so they’re excellent for users who prefer a relaxed shower. However, softer water flow also means that it takes a bit longer to get clean, and on some models installation is more difficult than with an adjustable-spray. It’s possible to purchase a rainshower showerhead for less than $100, but some of the more ornate fixtures can cost $500 or more.

 

·        Shower towers: From a technical standpoint, shower towers aren’t exactly showerheads, but instead consist of a series of shower fixtures mounted at various heights and positions within your shower. The number of water flow angles and the ability to vary water intensity can provide the atmosphere of a professional spa, but that added comfort comes at a cost. Although most shower towers don’t require additional plumbing, they’re still difficult to install in comparison to an adjustable-spray showerhead, and they use significantly more water than adjustable-spray or rainshower showerheads. You may, in fact, require an oversized water heater in order to fully enjoy your shower tower, given the volume of water pushed through the system. Shower towers are also more expensive initial purchases, ranging from $200 to more than $2,000.