A good hand shower - how to choose it?
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Advices
Although small and inconspicuous, a hand shower is a very important piece of bathroom equipment. You will use it very often so it is worth taking a closer look at it, especially that not always the one bought with the shower set meets your needs. Fortunately, a hand shower is a relatively inexpensive bathroom fitting and you can easily afford to replace the model that does not suit you entirely. Despite appearances, a hand shower has a lot to offer
Availability
As mentioned in the introduction, a hand shower can be easily replaced in any shower set or column. For instance, you may like a certain bathroom fittings collection but would gladly replace some of its elements with more functional ones. The task is relatively easiest in the case of hand showers as the majority of models available in the market have a standard thread size and thus can be connected to almost any hose.If you do not like the shape or the available stream types of a hand shower, you can decide on a colour-matched model from a completely different series. It is not imperative to stick to a specific shape - whether you connect a rounded hand shower to a square column is entirely up to you.
So what should you pay attention to?
Multifunctionality
Hand showers can have more than one stream type. The most popular versions are 3- and 5-function hand showers, although some products may offer even more options. In our experience, however, customers for the most part use a maximum of two stream modes regardless of the number of options provided by their hand showers.
Focusing again on multifunctionality, the most common stream types in shower heads include:
- Rain stream (Pola series). A standard stream that ensures optimum use of the shower for everyday showering.
- Water mist (in Pretto series hand showers). The most gentle of all streams. Ideal for spraying the face and sensitive or irritated areas.
- Mixed stream (Fino series). Combination of two water flow intensities. Two stream types can be used at the same time when the switch is in the intermediate position.
- Hydromassage (e.g. Zorita hand showers). An intensive water jet to relax tense muscles effectively. It also helps to firm the body - a feature particularly appreciated by ladies.
- Soft stream (Cers hand showers). Created by aerating the water. It will be suitable for those who like to relax spending long moments in the shower.
- Cascade (Tivano series). A wide, steady stream often used in spa pools.
Apart from the possibility to change stream intensity, it is worth looking for the anti-limescale system in hand showers. Special silicone nozzles enable you to quickly and comfortably remove limescale sediment left by too hard water that is the bane of Polish households. All you need to do is run your hand over the shower head surface several times to crush such deposits. Cleaning should be done regularly even if you do not notice any visible signs of dirt as the sediment can clog up the nozzles making your hand shower lose patency and become less effective
In terms of cleaning, the Cers hand shower is a very special model where the system to remove limescale deposits is basically self-cleaning. It comprises special needles, activated by a button, that push the dirt outwards
What is this hand shower for ?
Although a hand shower is usually associated with a shower, it is worth connecting it also in bathrooms equipped with bathtubs. Almost every bath mixer model comes with the possibility of connecting a shower set. A shower hose is screwed at the bottom of a mixer and then a hand shower is attached to its other end. In the case of such a combination with a bath mixer you have a few options to choose from. Depending on available space and your individual habits, you can decide on a single-point shower set, a shower riser rail set or even a shower column.
The last solution, although not obvious, turns out to be by far the most functional. It is popular to combine bath mixers with shower columns in bathrooms where special screens are installed on the bathtubs to prevent water from splashing on the floor. This combination allows you to take quick showers in comfort and enjoy a relaxing bath if necessary.
Smaller sets - single-point and riser rail ones - may prove useful in almost every bathroom. With them, you can conveniently rinse your hair, fill a bucket with water or rinse the washed bathtub, washbasin or even the toilet.
Furthermore, a new hand shower gives you additional design possibilities. You can match it with the fittings installed in your bathroom or opt for a contrasting combination in terms of both shape and colour. For example, a golden hand shower with a black column can make a very visible difference in the bathroom.
Whichever combination you choose for your bathroom, the hand shower will play a key role. So it is worth paying some extra attention to it.
