Comforting Showerheads

Q. "Do all of your heads deliver 2.5gpm?"
A. Yes, at 80 psi all do (unless it specifically states otherwise). If your house has less pressure than 80psi (while the head is operating) then you might get less volume than 2.5gpm.

Q. "My shower head is off-center when it is tightened. How can I center it without leaks?"
A. Back it off until it is centered; then count the number of turns it takes to remove it. Reapply lots of PTFE thread sealing tape (clockwise), then thread the shower head onto the arm the same number of turns that it took to remove it.

Q. "Do you sell any showerheads that completely shut off water flow?"
A. No, and we are not aware of any showerheads that have the ability to completely stop water flow. With your shower valve still open and the showerhead completely closed, it is possible for hot water to force itself into the cold water line. Once the showerhead is opened again, only hot water flows for a moment, creating a risk of scalding. Showerheads are normally manufactured to dribble a small amount and prevent this from occurring.

Q. "Why can't I buy shower heads that deliver more water than 2 1/2 gallons per minute?"
A. It is now a federal law that all showerheads sold in the United States must be low-flow.

Q. "Do you sell a shower head with an easily removable flow reducer?"
A. Due to Federal energy savings laws we may not sell a shower head where the water restrictor is "easily removable.

Q. "Does the showerhead I ordered swivel, or do I need an additional part for it to do so?"
A. It is rare for a showerhead not to have a swivel feature unless its position adjustment is in the shower arm or it is a "flat" model that is meant to be installed parallel to the floor. With the exception of those mentioned, some industrial models and most handshowers, standard-style showerheads generally come with a built-in swivel feature.

Q. "My shower arm is broken off in the wall. What can I do?"
A. This is a common problem with brass shower arms. Nipples are fairly thick where there are threads. Brass or plastic shower arms can easily break in the wall due to stress from weight, movement, length of arm, etc. It's usually fairly easy to take the broken nipple out if you have the right tool called an "easy out" (pipe nipple extractors). Be careful to not damage the female threads on the 90 degree elbow inside the wall. If you have a leak in this area, you probably wouldn't be aware of it until the leak has done damage. Look with a flashlight to make sure the threads are still good on the fitting inside the wall, and be sure to use lots of PTFE thread sealing tape on your new shower arm. Sometimes using a pipe tap can fix internal female threads on fittings.

Q. "What does nebulizing mean?"
A. neb•u•lize - To convert (a liquid) to a fine spray; atomize. For the shower heads with this unique spray pattern, it is an extra fine spray that many find soothing.