Rain Showerheads - Enough Pressure?

i was advised to replace an expensive rain shower head that never delivered with one of these. I was very skeptical at first but then have never bought anything but these since.

http://www.speakmancompany.com/products/list/Shower/6-Jet+Anystream+=26reg=3B+Showerheads

Thanks, CC. Appreciate it. Funny that you mention Speakman because someone else recently recommended it to me recently. It doesn't really fit in with the look that I'm trying to achieve in the bathroom, but function might win out over form, especially if other folks here give a thumbs down to rain showerheads.

careful formerrenter, columbiacounty has a history with showers. http://streeteasy.com/nyc/talk/discussion/14059-98-riverside-drive

Women also hate these as they can't shower without getting hair wet.

How many women have you talked to about their showering?

Actually it's not the hardware that makew the difference but the water pressure witrhin your apartment. If you don't have great water pressure don;t do the rain shower head - will be pathetic.

All good points. Thanks. Can anyone recommend a non-rain showerhead that is a little more stylish than the Speakman - that would look good in a nicely done renovation?

FormerRenter

I know speakmans are not the best looking and I am all about aesthetics but in this case I would buy the speakman. By far the best.

I've tried Speakman and a rain-head style from Duravit, in the same bathroom.

http://www.faucetdirect.com/hansgrohe-27486-raindance-s-rain-shower-head-only-single-function-with-6-spray-face/p53360

I even removed the Speakman restrictor to increase water flow. There is a small difference between a Speakman shower head and a rainshower type head. What makes a bigger difference is water pressure, and the shower valve. Many pressure-balancing shower valves act to reduce water pressure coming out of the outlet. I have
an older (6 year +) thermostatic valve from Duravit and a new Duravit thermostatic (1 year+). The newer ones seem to do a better job maintaining water pressure.

One significant factor that hasn't been mentioned is the piping size available. We were able to run 3/4" copper from the risers. Do the math and you'll see that 3/4" pipe carries more than double the amount of water as 1/2" pipe. Makes a big difference when rinsing shampoo out of your hair.

We had the same concern -- top couple floors of a building that relied exclusively on water main pressure with no pumps, no roof tanks. Water pressure on the top floor was measured at only 20 psi.

We ended up with an 8" square shower head, two body sprays, and one handheld. They're all controlled independently. Even with only 20 psi, the shower head dumps water and the body sprays shoot water straight across the ~5 ft shower.

It's all Grohe equipment except for the showerhead itself -- not sure what brand that is (it's definitely not a Speakman), but everything came from Smolka Plumbing. Highly recommend Suzette over there.

THis Kohler one is what I have and is quite nice:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/KOHLER-Purist-Single-Function-Katalyst-Showerhead-in-Polished-Chrome-K-965-AK-CP/202388626?cm_mmc=shopping-_-googleads-_-pla-_-202388626&skwcid&kwd=&ci_sku=202388626&ci_kw=&ci_gpa=pla&ci_src=17588969#.Um_KSBZvaoM

Thanks, Primer, NYC10023 and Ottawanyc. Your responses have helped me to decide to do a rain shower with a handheld shower head that will serve as the primary shower head. Now it's just a matter of selecting which ones - something reasonably stylish but not ridiculously expensive.

We also ran the 3/4" pipes from the riser to maximize pressure. It made a huge difference. Also love the hand held we installed. Worth the money.

Primer and I are fans of Smolka, very good people working there.
flarf has resigned from "ab&flarf" and now joins the Smolka club.

But nobody is a fan of trUth.

alan, you are nobody?

We have a Kalista rain shower head (6" +/- round) and it's fantastic. I was really worried about the pressure at first but it's incredible...feel like I'm at the Four Seasons every time I shower...though not sure how the pressure comes into play, 10 year old building with a sizeable tank on the roof...

Field hamster. How much pressure does your cat like when he's being fked?

Oh, good question, w67thstreet.

I think you heard right about the pressure and it's really depends on brands. I can't express the reviews of the best models and brands but I can suggest you an article with full of great reviews of rain shower heads. Check it out at: http://simpletoilet.com/best-rain-shower-heads-reviews/