"Sometimes the cheap washers they include are flimsy or already warped, causing leaks or spraying issues right off the bat."
This is spot-on advice. I learned this the hard way after installing a new showerhead and getting sprayed in the eye every morning for a week. Turns out the washer was paper-thin and already cracked. Swapped it for a thicker rubber one, tightened it just a bit more with cloth-covered pliers, and problem solved. Definitely worth checking before you end up with an unexpected morning wake-up call...
Honestly, washers aren't always the culprit. I swapped mine out twice and still had water spraying all over the place—turned out it was actually a hairline crack in the plastic thread of the showerhead itself. Took me forever to notice it. Just saying, before blaming washers for everything, double-check the actual head for tiny cracks or imperfections... might save you some frustration (and a few bucks).
"Honestly, washers aren't always the culprit."
Haha, ain't that the truth. Last year, one of my tenants called me panicking because her shower was "possessed"—her words, not mine. After swapping washers and tightening everything in sight, I finally noticed the tiniest crack along the shower arm. Couldn't see it unless the water was running. Sneaky little devil...
So yeah, before you go washer-crazy, give the whole setup a good once-over. Plastic parts especially love to quietly betray you when you're least expecting it. Good luck taming your rogue shower!
Good point about plastic parts—I've had my share of sneaky leaks too. But what about the showerhead itself? Mine started spraying sideways once, and after a lot of head-scratching, I realized it was just mineral buildup clogging some of the holes. A quick soak in vinegar sorted it right out. Maybe worth checking before diving into bigger repairs?
