Had a similar issue when I moved into my place last year—showerhead spraying everywhere except where I wanted it. Couple things I noticed:
- Definitely agree on the washers; mine were completely worn out and brittle.
- The internal screen filter was a mess of mineral deposits and tiny bits of debris, probably from old plumbing. Cleaned it thoroughly with vinegar soak and an old toothbrush.
- Also found that the little rubber nozzles had hardened mineral buildup. Gently rubbing them helped restore a more even spray.
After doing all that, the spray improved significantly, but still wasn't perfect. Ended up replacing the showerhead entirely for peace of mind, and now it's spot-on. Might just be worth checking all these small details first before going for a full replacement though...
You're definitely on the right track with those steps—especially soaking the filter in vinegar. Mineral buildup is usually the main culprit in these cases. One thing I'd add (from experience) is to double-check the ball joint where the showerhead attaches. Sometimes, even after cleaning everything else, a worn or cracked seal there can cause erratic spraying.
Another small tip: when you're cleaning those rubber nozzles, gently squeezing them between your fingers often helps loosen stubborn deposits more effectively than just rubbing. Learned that trick after a frustrating afternoon wrestling with a particularly ornery showerhead...
But honestly, sometimes no matter how thorough you are, replacement ends up being the best solution. Showerheads aren't too pricey, and if your current one is older or heavily corroded inside, a fresh start could save you time and headaches down the line. Sounds like you did a solid job troubleshooting though—nice work.
Good call on the ball joint—I’ve seen a few showers spraying wildly just because of a tiny crack there. Another sneaky issue I've noticed is the threading tape getting worn or loose, causing weird spray patterns. Replacing that tape can sometimes fix things right up. But yeah, when corrosion sets in deep, sometimes it’s less hassle to just swap it out entirely... learned that the hard way after wasting a whole weekend trying to revive an ancient showerhead.
Had a similar issue once, thought it was the tape too, but turned out the showerhead itself had some sneaky mineral buildup inside. Took it apart expecting a quick fix, ended up spending hours poking at tiny holes with a toothpick—felt like dental work for plumbing, lol. Eventually gave up and replaced it. Sometimes it's just not worth the battle, ya know? Curious though, anyone tried soaking theirs in vinegar overnight? Heard mixed results on that one...
Vinegar soak can work, but honestly, it's hit or miss. Had a customer once who swore by it, so I gave it a shot on my own showerhead—left it overnight in vinegar, woke up expecting miracles... nope. Still spraying sideways like a busted sprinkler. Ended up just swapping it out. Sometimes the buildup's just too stubborn, especially if your water's hard. Replacement's usually quicker and less headache in the long run.
