5 Good Reasons to Replace Your Shower Head

When was the last time you took a shower? If you’re anything like the majority of people in the UK, jumping in the shower before work each morning is something you do without really thinking about it. Most of us have a daily shower, and we don’t spend much time thinking about how efficiently it’s working. If your shower has slowed to a trickle or is temperamental in other ways, it’s easy to think that the only option is to rip out the whole unit and replace it. Often though, issues with the shower can be resolved by changing just the shower head, and there are lots of benefits to be gained from making the switch.

1. Save Water

Yes, showers are more economical than baths, but modern power showers can used just as much water as the average bath, especially if you’re one of those people who likes to shower for 10 minutes or more. Water saving shower heads work by mixing the flow of water with air, giving the feeling of a power shower but using a lot less water. Eco shower heads can cost you as little as £25, and although savings will depend on how often you shower, it’s an investment worth making.

2. Tackle Limescale

If you live in an area with hard water, limescale can build up over time and can clog up the nozzles of your shower head. If the damage is not too severe, you could tackle the limescale by unscrewing the shower head and soaking it in white vinegar overnight. If the shower head is too far gone for that, replacing it can hugely improve the performance of your shower. Look for special “limescale resistant” shower heads which have plastic or rubber rather than metal nozzles. Clean them regularly to stop limescale from building up again.

3. Quick and Simple Job

Modern showers may differ in appearance, but most are made to conform to the same sizes and standards. That means that in most cases, when you want to replace a shower head all you have to do is unscrew the old one and screw the new one into its place. An older or more usual shower might prove more complicated, but replacing a shower head is never going to be a major plumbing job. With plenty of guide videos on sites like YouTube and “how to” factsheets on manufacturer and retailer websites, there is lots of assistance out there to help you complete the job with the minimum of fuss. 

4. Improve the flow

A sudden deterioration in the performance of a shower is something you will notice, but usually the shower head starts to get blocked or clogged over time and it’s only when we’ve stayed in a hotel or at a friend’s with a particularly efficient shower that we realise just how poor our shower has become. Swapping over your shower head for a new one can dramatically improve the feeling of power from your shower. Shop carefully to make sure you get a shower head which is appropriate for the rate of flow from your hot water tap; there is lots of information online to help you work out which product is most appropriate for your needs.

5. Improve the Prospects of Selling Your Home

Most buyers look for a shower when they are buying a new home and replacing the shower head and putting up a new shower screen rather than a tired curtain is going to make your bathroom look far more appealing. This is considerably cheaper than investing in a whole new shower, but should have the same effect. It also gives a prospective buyer an indication that you have taken care of your home and undertaken maintenance, rather than neglecting the bathroom and not doing basic DIY jobs. Make sure that buyers know that a shower head is new when you’re showing them around too.

Since writing this article we have been fortunate enough to be able to test a few shower heads on the market and there are two which we can recommend. First up is the Mira Eco Three Spray Showerhead - Chrome 2.1605.112available from Amazon . Your plumbing system will need to be a minimum of 0.5 bar pressure but if you can tick that box then this could be the perfect shower head for your home. It's incredibly easy to fit and Mira report that you can save up to 75% water. All you need to do is choose your ideal spray from the 3 available options and away you go.

The second is a lot more expensive that the Mira one we mentioned but it seriously provides an intense showering experience as well as saving you water. The Hansgrohe Raindance Select E hand shower with push button selector 26520000. A minimum operating pressure of 1 bar is required to get the optimum performance from this shower head, so would only be suitable for a high pressure system.

Our personal choice would be the Mira