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Whether it is a steamy face wash the first thing in a cold winter morning, or a refreshing spray after strenuous exercise, showering is one of the little pleasures in life. However, if your shower head is out of season, your daily flushing will make you feel dull. There is nothing worse than spraying water in the shower, because the nozzle is clogged with scale, so there is only a little dripping or leaking.
Fortunately, if this is the case in your home, you may not have to replace the entire shower. By changing the head, you can usually revive the entire shower experience. Say goodbye to leaks and blockages and let more water pressure power your shower. You can also get additional spray modes to change your shower feel, or get a new style that makes your bathroom subtly improved. As the upgrade progresses, this is a bargain: you can buy a great new shower head for less than £20.
When it comes to shower nozzles, your choices are not lacking, so we have compiled a list of our favorite replaceable nozzles to help you choose the nozzle that best suits your needs. Below, you will also find a handy buying guide that will tell you what to consider before you splurge.
There are two basic types of shower heads: fixed and hand-held. The fixed shower head is permanently fixed on the wall or ceiling. These can be easily replaced, but most replacement heads are suitable for the more common handheld types, which is what we will focus on here.
Although all shower heads do the same basic job, the differences between models are surprising. Some are designed to maximize water flow on low-pressure systems, while others are designed for high-pressure mixers or power showers. Except for the cheapest, all products offer multiple spray modes, which you can choose by moving the slider. Prices range from around £10 for basic shower heads to £60 or more for some premium series.
Most showers and shower heads use standard half-inch pipes and fittings, so you can mix and match hoses and heads from different manufacturers. However, if you are upgrading the head, consider whether you need to upgrade the hose at the same time: if the hose is worn or leaking, it may be part of the problem.
Even if the water pressure in your home is low, shower heads with clever nozzle designs and well-sculpted water channels can help build pressure and provide you with a powerful shower. The trade-off is usually a fairly narrow spray radius. However, since there are usually multiple spray modes to choose from, you can start the shower with a wider, gentler spray, and then switch to a more powerful mode for intensive cleaning.
Some shower heads also suck in air and use it to push water out. This can provide you with a more powerful shower, and it can also reduce the amount of water you consume while maintaining a similar overall feel.
In addition to basic functions, modern shower heads can also provide additional functions, such as built-in Bluetooth speakers or LED lighting. However, these are not always practical for hand showers, and they cannot replace effective spray patterns. At this point, if the shower offers you ten different modes, ask yourself how many modes you might actually use: most of us rarely need more than one or two modes.
However, some luxurious features are also worth the extra charge: if you want to make your bathroom look more stylish, fancy finishes are worth it, and anything that can help you keep your shower head clean and free of limescale is a good idea. The scrubbing nozzle allows you to quickly remove scale and debris with one finger, while the anti-scale finish maintains its luster longer.
Read the next article: The best electric shower that makes you feel warm, clean and refreshing
Price: £16 | Buy now from Amazon
The weight of this low-cost shower head from a Spanish manufacturer is much higher than its weight. Although the chrome finish is covered with plastic, its well-made feel is impressive. You can choose from five spray modes, from pulse massage to high-pressure jet and gentle spray. For low pressure showers, this is not a good choice-look at the Airmix ASH2249 below-but give it some suitable water pressure to play with, and you will be pleasantly surprised by the results. Silicon nozzles are also easy to clean and have a five-year warranty.
Main specifications-Type: 100 mm chrome shower; spray pattern: 5; additional function: Easyclean nozzle; warranty: 5 years
Price: £16 | Buy now from Amazon
Triton's five-position head provides you with all the modern shortcomings you would expect from a modern shower head at a low basement price. Available in white or chrome finishes, its five-speed selector can click the full color gamut from high-pressure jet to light rain, and the nozzle can be wiped clean to remove dirt and scale. It is suitable for all types of showers and is not picky about water pressure. It only comes with a one-year warranty, which may not last as long as expensive heads, but for less than £20, you can’t go wrong.
Main specifications-Type: 110 mm plastic shower nozzle; spray pattern: 5; additional function: quick cleaning spray plate; color: 2 (white, chrome plated); warranty: 1 year
Price: £19 | Buy now from Amazon
Grohe makes some great high-end showers and shower heads, but you don't have to spend a lot of money to get more luxurious showers. Tempesta 100 is an entry-level shower head from a German manufacturer. It has only two positions: a good, soft-touch nozzle and a more powerful nozzle, but if you want to mix the two, you can find the middle position. The milder spray is great for long showers — you may need to lobby roommates or teenage kids to get out — while the harder spray will blow off outdoor dirt or thick shampoo without any problems.
Another advantage of this product is its durability. It uses a sturdy chrome-plated plastic structure, a shock-proof silicone ring to protect the head, anti-scald protection, and Grohe's SpeedClean anti-scaling system. In fact, GROHE provides a five-year warranty. It is quite large and not recommended for low-pressure systems, but if you have a little charm, this is a good budget shower head.
Main specifications-Type: 100mm plastic shower head; spray pattern: 2; additional function: SpeedClean anti-scale; color: 2 (chrome-plated and white, chrome-plated and gray); warranty: 5 years
Price: £25 | Buy now from Amazon
Mira's compact and stylish small shower head can be used with any shower system, but its relatively small diameter means it is particularly suitable for low-pressure showers and electric systems. It provides a stronger flow than many larger heads, although you need to set the correct angle to get all the water exactly where you want it. The disadvantage is that you can only get one spray pattern. If you have a cheap electric shower and want a more elegant and healthier head, grab the Beat.
Main specifications-Type: 90 mm plastic shower; spray pattern: 1; additional function: scrub nozzle; color: 2 (white, chrome-plated); warranty: 1 year
Price: £32 | Buy now from John Lewis
Do you prefer a gentle and easy-going shower instead of a vibrant hose? Methven Maku Satinjet is on your street. There is only one spray mode, but it can provide an even and super smooth shower in a wide area. One of our testers found it so relaxing that they didn't want to leave the shower behind, even though it would have a regrettable side effect, namely long-term ear-piercing. Obviously, this feeling is attributed to Methven's dual jet technology, which produces more than 300,000 tiny water droplets per second. In any case, both low-pressure and high-pressure showers are good, the water flow is restricted to save you money, and the head looks and feels very luxurious.
Main specifications-Type: 90 mm chrome-plated shower; spray pattern: 1; additional functions: wipe clean nozzle, 9l water flow regulator; warranty: 5 years
Buy now from John Lewis
Price: £67 | Buy now from Amazon
The Rainshower nozzle may feel luxurious, but without a high-pressure system, it is difficult to feed. Grohe's Rainshower Icon 150 solves this problem with a clever halo design. Even with only one bar of water pressure, it can provide consistent spray through all nozzles. This means that with most mixers and power showers, you will get a luxurious shower relaxation experience. If you want to reduce water consumption, you can also choose ecological environment-Grohe claims that you can save up to 40%. Coupled with a chrome-plated finish for water-resistance, a scrubbing silicone nozzle and a five-year warranty, Grohe can provide the kind of rain you don't want to leave.
Main specifications-Type: 150 mm plastic shower nozzle; spray pattern: 2; additional function: scrub nozzle; colors: 9 types (black, white, yellow, light gray, dark gray, silver, light brown); warranty: 5 years
Price: £98 | Buy now from Amazon
If you have a large budget and sufficient water pressure, Hansgrohe Raindance Select S150 is hard to match. This large shower head provides you with three spray modes for you to choose from, namely a soft rain mode, a spray mode with five powerful rotating shoulder massage sprays, and a mixed setting that combines the two. You can switch between them with the click of a button, and each one provides an excellent shower experience, partly because the aerodynamic technology injects a small amount of air into the stream. If you don't have water pressure, the smaller Select E120 may be better, but otherwise, this is a good shower head.
Main specifications-Type: 150mm chrome-plated and plastic shower head; spray pattern: 3; additional function: QuickClean panel; warranty: 5 years
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