Good points about pressure issues. Had something similar happen a while back, thought it was buildup too... turned out the rubber washer inside the showerhead had deteriorated and bits of it were clogging the holes. Quick washer replacement and good as new. Might be worth taking a closer look inside before you start messing around with your plumbing or soaking stuff overnight.
Had a similar showerhead rebellion myself last year—thought it was buildup too, but nope. Turns out my showerhead had decided to become a sprinkler system overnight. Took it apart expecting mineral deposits, and instead found tiny bits of plastic lodged in there. Apparently, the internal plastic lining had started breaking down (cheap showerhead, lesson learned). Ended up replacing the whole thing with one of those rainfall heads—best accidental upgrade ever, honestly.
But yeah, definitely worth checking inside first before you go full plumber mode. Sometimes it's just the simplest thing causing chaos... showers have a weird sense of humor like that.
Had a similar issue myself, but honestly, rainfall heads aren't always the best fix. Installed one at my place thinking it'd be luxurious, but turns out my water pressure wasn't strong enough to make it worthwhile—felt more like standing under a drizzle than a relaxing shower. Ended up switching back to a simpler, mid-range handheld model. Sometimes the fancy upgrades aren't as practical as they seem... depends a lot on your home's plumbing setup and water pressure.
- Rainfall heads definitely need solid water pressure—usually around 40-60 psi—to function properly.
- If your shower's spraying everywhere, have you checked the nozzle for mineral buildup or debris?
- Could also be a worn-out washer or seal causing uneven spray patterns... have you looked into that yet?
- Good points above, especially about buildup in the nozzles—had a similar issue myself. Vinegar soak overnight totally saved mine from spraying sideways...
- Also, is your showerhead adjustable or fixed? I noticed once after cleaning mine, I accidentally misaligned the adjustable joint, and it sprayed everywhere except where I wanted it. Took me embarrassingly long to figure out what I'd done wrong.
- Another thought: have you recently replaced or adjusted anything plumbing-wise elsewhere in the house? Sometimes changes elsewhere can mess with pressure and cause weird spray patterns.
- If none of these fix things, it might be worth checking if your home's overall water pressure has changed recently. Maybe neighbors are experiencing something similar?