So, you're standing in the shower, looking up at the showerhead,
watching sporadic shower spray come out. Instead of the firm shower
you're looking forward to, you get a tickle that takes twice as
much time to flow than it should. You've got a clogged showerhead.
Before you think about replacing the entire unit, try cleaning the
showerhead first.
A showerhead contains several components,
and if you know what you're looking at, it will be easier to maintain.
Start with the setup. A pipe coming from the wall holds the showerhead
attachment. This attachment contains a lug-type screw. Inside the
screw assembly sits a rubber gasket, ring or washer. The wide part
of the showerhead, the part you grasp to rotate or adjust angles,
is called the collar. Inside that is usually a swivel ball, a flow
restrictor and attachment that contains the spray outlets. They
look sort of like an old-fashioned watering can spout. Some showerheads
are different, and parts and design will depend on age.
Showerheads become clogged with hard
water and mineral buildup over time. Once a year, take the showerhead
down, take it apart and soak the pieces in a solution of white vinegar
and a lime-dissolving product. You can use a wire brush or even
a safety pin or paper clip or other device to unclog the
holes in the shower spray outlet piece.
To do an extra thorough job, grease
the components as you reassemble them, especially the shower arm
threads. Make sure that before you replace the showerhead that you
have applied plumber's tape or putty to the threaded end of the
showerhead attachment where it fits onto the pipe that extends from
the wall.
After reattaching everything, turn
on the water and watch for leaks. If you find an erratic spray of
water, try poking the spray hole with a toothpick or safety pin
to redirect the spray. If the spray nozzle of your showerhead is
especially old, you may be stuck with an erratic spray, but
in most cases, a toothpick will do the trick.
If you can't clean the showerhead
adequately enough, you can purchase a new showerhead from your local
hardware store and replace the old one. Don't forget to always apply
plumber's tape or putty to threads to prevent leaks and wasted
water.
