I hear you on the plastic heads—mine lasted about six months before it started spraying sideways like a busted fire hydrant. I’m with you, metal’s the way to go. I actually use plumber’s putty instead of Teflon tape sometimes, just feels more foolproof. But yeah, running the water and checking for leaks is a must... learned that lesson after a surprise drip soaked my bath mat overnight.
Metal heads are the MVP, no contest. Those plastic ones just give up on life way too soon. I’ve tried plumber’s putty before, but honestly, Teflon tape’s been my go-to—less mess and I don’t end up with sticky fingers for days. Learned the hard way about leaks too... nothing like stepping onto a soggy bath mat at 6am. Always double-check those connections, even if you think you nailed it.
Metal heads last, no argument there, but if your shower’s spraying all over the place, it’s usually either clogged holes or a busted gasket inside the head. I’ve seen cheap plastic ones warp from hot water and then you get water shooting sideways, up, whatever—not ideal first thing in the morning. Teflon tape’s solid for sealing the threads, but if the spray is wild, you’re probably looking at cleaning out mineral buildup or just swapping the head.
Quick fix: unscrew it, soak it in vinegar for a bit, scrub out the gunk, and put it back with fresh tape. If that doesn’t work, just replace it. Skip the plumber’s putty for this—never had much luck with it on shower heads anyway. And yeah, always check for leaks before you call it done... learned that one after too many early morning surprises myself.
Never thought I’d spend so much time thinking about shower heads until I moved in here. I tried the vinegar soak trick last month and it did help, but my water pressure’s still all over the place—sometimes it’s like a firehose, sometimes barely a drizzle. Is that just a shower head thing, or could it be something weird with the pipes? I’m half convinced my house just likes to keep me guessing...
I’m half convinced my house just likes to keep me guessing...
Honestly, houses do have a way of keeping us on our toes. If you’re getting wild swings in pressure—like firehose one day, trickle the next—it’s probably not just the shower head. Could be a pressure regulator issue, or even sediment messing with your pipes or valves. Had a place once where the pressure would drop every time the washing machine ran, drove me nuts until I found a half-clogged valve in the basement. Might be worth checking if it happens at other faucets too, just to rule out a bigger plumbing gremlin.
