My first hand shower was a prize I won in a Hansgrohe contest. It offered exceptional functionality, but mostly it sat hanging on my shower arm unused. Then I had back surgery and it became a critical item during my recovery.
I could sit on my shower bench, and my wife could easily help me shower with the hand shower hose’s reach. For me, it is an important reason to have a hand shower. If you have back, knee, or hip surgery, or whatever it may be where your mobility is seriously hampered, it is a big help.
Benefits of a Hand Shower
Today the popularity of hand showers has grown significantly. At the heart of every hand shower are several advantages. The flexible length is one of the most important. It gives an extra 60” – 84” of reach for the hand shower. It works well for assisting with medical situations and for recovery as mentioned above. When my dad became mobility challenged it helped me give him a good cleaning. It also makes cleaning your shower easier. Instead of splashing water on your shower wall, you can use a hand shower to reach everywhere with effective spraying power.
Another advantage is the multiple spray selections. Most hand showers offer 5-8 different spray patters. They will typically include spray, massage, spray/massage combo, soft spray and maybe pause. Some have unique spray selections like Delta’s new ProClean spray designed specifically for cleaning a shower.
Hand Shower Mounting
Each hand shower offers multiple ways to be mounted. The most common method is a single wall mount. The hand shower hose plugs into a supply elbow and the hand unit fits in a single pivot mount. Flexibility for mounting leaves most of the shower available based on its overall layout. Simple but effective.
The next method is a slide bar. This involves a 20”-30” long vertical bar with a mount on it for the hand shower. The mount is adjustable up and down for most of the length of the slide bar. It allows options for people who may not want to get their hair wet while showering, or for somebody who may be wheelchair bound in the shower. It also mounts with a supply elbow and mounting can be made at most places in the shower based on the overall layout.
Next may be the oldest and most simple installation of all. It is a shower arm mount hand shower. It comes as a kit – a mount that fits on the end of your shower arm, and a fitting for the hose to tie on as well. It effectively gives you a normal shower head that can be taken down and then used as a hand shower.
The most important feature is to find a hand shower that has a satisfactory spray selection that works for day-to-day shower use. Hand showers are often looked at as accessories in a shower. They do work great in the primary head role with the appropriate spray selection. This is also a nice scenario for a remodeling. It does not require any access to in-wall plumbing and is a simple installation.
The last option is something new to the hand shower market. The design improves upon the remodel-friendly shower arm mount installation. It is called the 2-in-1 shower head. These units offer a normal, generously sized shower head that has a hand shower nested in the middle. It allows the shower head and hand shower to be used together or to be used separately.
A possible application would be having the shower head on but removing the hand shower and using it for more direct cleansing. A small diverter on the side of the shower head controls the options: head only, shower head only, or both on at the same time.
The hand shower stays securely in place with a strong magnetic seating. It is easy to remove and replace without trying to figure out the “sweet spot” to fit it in. For an existing shower it allows you to add a more dynamic showering option without having to access plumbing behind the walls. It also is an excellent DIY product because it is a fast and easy installation. As always, if in doubt, call a professional.
In the military when a particular tactic or weapon exponentially increases the ability to fight an enemy it is called a “force multiplier.” In the shower, the good old reliable hand shower, in all its varieties, is a force multiplier for your home spa experience.
Written by: Alan Donahue, Showroom Manager