Plumber: Rain-style shower heads should be centered, higher to create desired effect

Dear Ed: I plan on buying my first house in the near future and want to have a rain-style shower head in the bathroom. Depending on what I buy, I'm not sure if I'll have to build my shower stall from scratch, or adapt a rain head to an existing shower. What's the difference between installing new or adapting to old when it comes to rain-style shower heads? Steve, Utah

A: Not surprisingly, rain-style shower heads are designed to rain down on the user. So, basically you need to move the head higher and more to the middle of the shower stall to create a raining effect.

For new stalls, you can install a short shower arm pipe that sticks out vertically through the ceiling; then you can attach your rain shower head to that threaded pipe. But make sure you have enough ceiling height for this type of installation. If ceiling height is a concern, you can upgrade to a flush-mount rain head. While pricey, flush-mount ceiling heads have no exposed pipes and are easy to clean.

For existing shower stalls, to keep the costs down you can simply install a longer shower arm extension pipe onto the existing water connection. Then, mount your shower head to that pipe. However, height and shower arm stability can be an issue. In that case, you may also want to upgrade and install a rain shower water column system. This unit still attaches to the existing water connection, but the pipe column is secured to the wall with special anchors. The arched shower arm can extend up and over to the middle of the stall with more height and security. Bottom line: New or old, when installing a rain-style shower head, upgrading can avoid a flood of problems!

Master contractor/plumber Ed Del Grande is known internationally as the author of the book "Ed Del Grande's House Call," the host of TV and Internet shows, and a LEED green associate. Visit eddelgrande.com or write eadelg@cs.com. Always consult local contractors and codes.

See the original post:
Plumber: Rain-style shower heads should be centered, higher to create desired effect