I switched to an aeration head a while back too, and it definitely improved the feel without wasting water. One thing I'd suggest if you're thinking about tweaking the regulator—be careful not to remove it completely. Did that once, and the pressure was great, but water usage shot up noticeably. Ended up putting it back in and just adjusting slightly... found a nice balance between comfort and conservation.
"Ended up putting it back in and just adjusting slightly... found a nice balance between comfort and conservation."
Good call on the regulator tweak—been there myself. A few quick tips from my own trial-and-error adventures:
- Definitely don't ditch the regulator entirely. Tried it once, felt like I was pressure-washing myself, and the water bill wasn't pretty.
- If your aeration head has adjustable settings, play around with those first. Sometimes a simple nozzle adjustment can make a huge difference.
- Check your home's overall water pressure too—sometimes it's set higher than necessary at the main valve.
Finding that sweet spot between "gentle rain" and "firehose" is an art form...
I hear you on the regulator, but honestly, I prefer mine a bit stronger. Nothing crazy, but enough to wake me up in the morning. Tried the gentle rain thing once...felt like I was showering forever just to rinse shampoo out.
Yeah, same here. I tried one of those rainfall heads at a hotel once—it felt nice at first, but it took forever to get soap off. Maybe it's just me, but I like feeling the water pressure actually hitting my skin...makes me feel cleaner somehow. Wonder if there's a sweet spot between gentle rain and firehose mode?
"Wonder if there's a sweet spot between gentle rain and firehose mode?"
Definitely doable. If you're looking for that middle ground, consider a showerhead with adjustable spray settings—something labeled "massage" or "pulse" usually hits the mark. Also, check the flow rate (measured in gallons per minute, or GPM). Around 1.8 to 2.0 GPM tends to balance comfort and efficiency nicely. Installed one recently during a remodel, and the homeowner loved it—said it felt strong enough without wasting water or feeling harsh. Might be worth a shot.
