- Been called out to fix more “sideways sprayers” than I can count. Hard water’s a real shower head killer, especially with those bargain-bin plastic ones.
- Had one job where the seam split so bad, water was shooting straight at the ceiling fan. Not great for safety—slippery floors, possible electrical issues if it gets wild.
- I always recommend checking the threads and seals before putting a new head on. Even a tiny crack can turn into a full-on leak under pressure.
- Metal with silicone nozzles is my go-to too. You don’t need top-of-the-line, but anything that feels flimsy in your hand probably won’t last long.
- If you’re dealing with mineral buildup, regular cleaning helps, but once the plastic starts to degrade, it’s just not worth the risk. Better safe than sorry.
Metal with silicone nozzles really do hold up better, especially if you’re on city water with a lot of minerals. I’ve tried a few of those “eco” plastic heads, but they just don’t last—cracks, leaks, or the spray goes wild after a year or two. For cleaning, I stick to vinegar soaks every couple months. It’s not perfect, but it slows the buildup. If the head’s already spraying sideways and cleaning doesn’t help, it’s probably time to swap it out. I’d rather spend a little more upfront than deal with water damage later... learned that one the hard way.
That’s spot on about mineral buildup—city water can be brutal on fixtures. I’ve seen plenty of those plastic heads split at the seams, especially when folks try to crank them tight to stop leaks. Vinegar soaks help, but once the nozzles get too clogged or warped, it’s usually a lost cause. Out of curiosity, have you checked if the pipe threads themselves are corroded? Sometimes it’s not just the head, but the connection that gets gunked up and causes weird sprays.
Sometimes it’s not just the head, but the connection that gets gunked up and causes weird sprays.
That’s a good point. I actually ran into something similar when I moved in last year. The shower head was spraying sideways, and I figured it was just clogged nozzles. Tried the vinegar trick—helped a little, but not much. Ended up taking the whole thing off and noticed the threads had this crusty buildup, almost like cement. Cleaned that out with an old toothbrush and some CLR, and it made a bigger difference than I expected.
I do think those plastic heads are kind of flimsy though. Mine cracked when I tried to tighten it back on, so I switched to a metal one. Haven’t had issues since, but now I check the threads every few months just in case. City water really does a number on everything...
You’re not alone with the plastic shower head cracking—had that happen in my last place, too. I thought I was being gentle, but apparently not gentle enough. Swapped to metal and haven’t looked back. It’s a little more upfront cost, but honestly, the peace of mind is worth it.
That crusty buildup on the threads is wild, right? I remember thinking it was just some dust or grime, but it was practically fused on there. City water seems to chew through everything over time… faucets, hoses, you name it. I’ve started keeping an old toothbrush under the sink just for this kind of thing. Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth getting one of those cheap inline filters for the shower, but then again, I’m always weighing if it’s actually going to save me money or just add another thing to maintain.
Anyway, nice job catching the thread issue early. Feels good when a little DIY actually fixes something instead of making it worse.
