How to Know If It's Time to Replace Your Shower Head
There have been a number of innovations in Shower Heads in the last few years, so if your Shower Head is so old that you don't know the last time it was changed out, you may be in for a surprise when you replace it. How do you know it's time to make a change? If your Shower Head is more than seven years old, is discolored or brittle, or has leaks and unreliable flow despite regular maintenance, it's time to invest in a new one.
Low flow alone, however, may be the result of a restriction in the line or a problem with your home's pressure regulator. The best way to tell is to determine if the low flow is limited to the Shower Head, or involves water flow in other areas of your home.
The water quality in your area may also be having an impact on your Shower Head. Hard water leaves deposits that become harder and harder to remove over time. Delicate parts like screens and threads can wear out or be accidentally torn or scored as a result of repeated cleaning and washer replacement.
A seriously discolored Shower Head that is rusted or has a flaking finish has moved from the realm of old, to something more sinister. Older Shower Heads can be breeding grounds for germs; they are also notorious resource wasters. You may like the fact that the absence of a flow restrictor ensures that you have a satisfying full bodied shower, but old Shower Heads can also be unsightly, dirty, leaky, and sputtering.
New Shower Head technology has been able to strike a good balance between conservation and good water flow. You should be able to find an excellent, reasonably priced Shower Head that will measure up to your high expectations while still saving the environment. You'll notice the difference in your next water bill, too. All that it takes is a little research and a half-hour plumbing job that doesn't even require turning off the water to your home.
When appearance, cleanliness, leaking, or water flow problems become more than occasional inconveniences, accept it as a sign that it's time for you to lead a greener life. Protect the planet while still getting a great shower by exploring some of the new low flow but high satisfaction Shower Heads on the market.