Selecting the Shower Head & Extension Arm That Benefits Your Bathroom the Most

Nothing is better than enjoying a refreshing shower first thing in the morning, or last thing in the evening if you’re like me. But to really have the perfect shower experience, you need a good showerhead. But as there are plenty of showerhead options to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide which one is the right for your preferance and bathroom design. And then there’s also the shower arm to consider. To help you pick the best shower head for your needs and a shower arm that goes with it, I’ve outlined some of the most common types along with their benefits and cons.

But first of all, since many homeowners aren’t quite aware of the importance of the shower arm or the fact that it even exists, let’s discuss this element. A shower head extension arm is a pipe fitting that connects the shower head with the plumbing outlets on the wall. It’s only used with only certain types of shower heads, such as rain and wall-mounted showerheads. As a result, the shower head extension arm can affect the water flow as well as the height and angle of the showerhead.

Shower head extension arms come in a range of designs and styles. There are the standard shower arms which only include a small extension at a slight angle. Straight shower arms attach to the showerhead at a 90o angle. As such, they are ideal for mounting rainfall showerheads. There’s also the option to get an S-shaped shower head extension arm which allows you to raise the showerhead’s height if the plumbing outlet is installed too low. Now that we have this cleared up, let’s move on to the types of showerheads available.

Wall Mount

Wall-mounted showerheads are the most common type of showerheads available. They are usually the most affordable of all options and are a good choice if you’re looking for an easy-to-use, low-maintenance showerhead. Keep in mind that these showerheads need to be fixed to the wall. So, if your water outlet is to low it may be inconvenient for people to use the shower. To solve this problem, you can install a shower head extension arm that raises the showerhead to the height that’s most suitable.

Rainfall

The most recent trend in bathroom remodeling is the rainfall showerhead. As the name suggests, this showerhead produces a flow that imitates rainfall. As this type of showerhead is flat and large, it can spread the same amount of water as a typical showerhead over a larger surface area. As a result, the amount of water pressure hitting your body is reduced which helps create a more relaxing experience. When installing this kind of showerhead, a straight showerhead extension arm is almost always needed to position it at the most convenient distance from the wall.

Hand-Held

Hand-held shower heads are attached to a hose that’s installed directly over the water outlet, which means there’s no need for an extension arm. Because of this, handheld showerheads can be moved around freely. This makes them useful for rinsing hard to reach places, as well as giving the shower enclosure and other parts of the bathroom a good cleaning. People who don’t like to get their hair wet every time they’re taking a shower tend to prefer this type of showerhead.

Body Spray

If you don’t like the idea of having to hold the showerhead to get yourself clean, you may want to try body spray showerheads. These are several small showerheads which are mounted on the wall and work at the same time. As a result, they create a spa-like experience similar to using a shower cabin by spraying at different body levels at the same time.

How to Choose the Right Shower Arm

If your bathroom setup requires you to install a shower head extension arm, there’s plenty to choose from. First of all, choose a type that allows you to use the shower efficiently. Do you need an “S” shape to raise the showerhead higher, or do you need a height-adjustable arm that different users can tweak for their convenience?

Also, ensure that the size of the extension arm fits the showerhead perfectly. You can tell this just by looking at product pictures and measurements. For instance, you can’t purchase a small “S” extension arm for a large rainfall showerhead? It won’t be able to support it’s weight properly. So, take the time to review the measurements.

In addition, to ensure your bathroom has a uniform look, choose an extension arm that complements the colour and finish of the rest of your bathroom hardware. Match modern with modern and traditional with traditional, silver with silver and gold with gold – after all, you don’t want any strange crashes. Don’t pick a vintage Victorian style arm with a modern showerhead, it’s just won’t look right.