How to replace a shower head without actually replacing it?
July 4, 2008 8:40 AM Subscribe
I just moved into a new apartment. The shower head looks like this. I am not used to using this kind of shower head, as I always had the kind with a long hose. I hate this shower head because it sprays water on me constantly when I shave my legs.
Anyway, I want a long hose, but the apartment has very strict rules about replacing the shower head. They even do periodic check-ins to make sure it hasn't been replaced! So, is there any sort of product that I could just fit over the current shower head without doing any actual replacing of it?
That end piece just screws off, and you should be able to attach whatever you want.
Installing a new shower head just involves unscrewing the old one, wrapping the threads with plumber's tape, and then screwing on the pieces to the new fixture. It's really easy. Note - you're just going to be unscrewing the end piece, not the pipe that comes out from the wall.
Save the one that's on there now and put it back on when you move out.
posted by Ostara at 8:50 AM on July 4, 2008
Installing a new shower head just involves unscrewing the old one, wrapping the threads with plumber's tape, and then screwing on the pieces to the new fixture. It's really easy. Note - you're just going to be unscrewing the end piece, not the pipe that comes out from the wall.
Save the one that's on there now and put it back on when you move out.
posted by Ostara at 8:50 AM on July 4, 2008
Ostara: The OP explicitly mentioned periodic checkups by management (which is insane in my book, but let's move on) to ensure that you can't just replace it and swap back upon moveout.
posted by Tomorrowful at 8:53 AM on July 4, 2008
posted by Tomorrowful at 8:53 AM on July 4, 2008
My mom used to have one of these for our kitchen sink, I don't know if it would stay on with the pressure of a shower nozzle, but for 10 bucks you could try it out.
posted by krix at 8:57 AM on July 4, 2008
posted by krix at 8:57 AM on July 4, 2008
I lived in a sublet with a shower head just like yours and I did what limeonaire explained. As long as your shower is over a tub rather than in a shower stall you should be able to escape the spray.
posted by thisjax at 9:00 AM on July 4, 2008
posted by thisjax at 9:00 AM on July 4, 2008
also, I wonder if it's some sort of pressure-regulating/water-saving shower head and that's why the landlord wants them left in.
posted by krix at 9:00 AM on July 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by krix at 9:00 AM on July 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Is this a stand-up shower or a shower / bath?
If it is a shower / bath, with a standard fill faucet coming out of the wall, and, if you don't mind using an item that is marketed as a pet washing device, you might consider this.
No permanent installation required, it just slips over the faucet.
posted by Exchequer at 9:00 AM on July 4, 2008
If it is a shower / bath, with a standard fill faucet coming out of the wall, and, if you don't mind using an item that is marketed as a pet washing device, you might consider this.
No permanent installation required, it just slips over the faucet.
posted by Exchequer at 9:00 AM on July 4, 2008
As an aside, I purchased and used that exact model of "Indoor Dog Shower" and it was pretty much useless.
You may have the best luck with limeonaire's method. I sympathize with you, it's hard to use a regular showerhead once you're accustomed to the hand-held variety.
posted by kate blank at 9:05 AM on July 4, 2008
You may have the best luck with limeonaire's method. I sympathize with you, it's hard to use a regular showerhead once you're accustomed to the hand-held variety.
posted by kate blank at 9:05 AM on July 4, 2008
Does it really look like the picture you linked? Because that shower head has a little twisty valve thing on the side of it which I would imagine is for cutting the water flow temporarily. The advantage of this is that you can open the valve up again and have hot water immediately, rather than having to dial in the right temperature all over again. Have you tried this? (I know this isn't quite answering the question of finding a replacement head, but it could be an answer to "how to shave without being constantly sprayed with water".)
posted by letourneau at 9:12 AM on July 4, 2008
posted by letourneau at 9:12 AM on July 4, 2008
Visiting my mom right now and here is what she said:
Perhaps they are so strict about the shower head because they are paying the water bill and want low-flow heads or the drainage system can't handle larger flows of water from "luxurious" heads, or they have had too many people installing new ones wrong.
She suggests researching to find a low-flow/low usage head with a long hose and approaching management with this new one asking if they want to install it to make sure it is done properly. The worst they can do is say no.
posted by silkygreenbelly at 9:12 AM on July 4, 2008 [3 favorites]
Perhaps they are so strict about the shower head because they are paying the water bill and want low-flow heads or the drainage system can't handle larger flows of water from "luxurious" heads, or they have had too many people installing new ones wrong.
She suggests researching to find a low-flow/low usage head with a long hose and approaching management with this new one asking if they want to install it to make sure it is done properly. The worst they can do is say no.
posted by silkygreenbelly at 9:12 AM on July 4, 2008 [3 favorites]
Why don't you just turn the water off when you shave? You're wasting water otherwise.
posted by radioamy at 11:05 AM on July 4, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by radioamy at 11:05 AM on July 4, 2008 [3 favorites]
Switching out a shower head is a 5 minute job. Worse comes to worse, you can replace your shower head clandestinely, and then whenever you expect them to come a knocking (since they have to, you know, give notice before they show up at your apartment) switch back to the old one.
posted by TypographicalError at 11:08 AM on July 4, 2008
posted by TypographicalError at 11:08 AM on July 4, 2008
Laws vary from place to place, but anywhere I've lived they have to give you notice before entering your apartment.
posted by neuron at 11:15 AM on July 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by neuron at 11:15 AM on July 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
I keep the old crappy shower head in a drawer in the bathroom.
I've had to swap it in twice for when management wants a looky-loo.
posted by yort at 11:20 AM on July 4, 2008
I've had to swap it in twice for when management wants a looky-loo.
posted by yort at 11:20 AM on July 4, 2008
Why don't you just turn the water off when you shave? You're wasting water otherwise.
Some bathrooms get really chilly once the water is turned off. Goosebumps and shaving don't go well together.
posted by ambrosia at 11:36 AM on July 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Some bathrooms get really chilly once the water is turned off. Goosebumps and shaving don't go well together.
posted by ambrosia at 11:36 AM on July 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
Tommorrowful - I know. Typically, landlords have to give 24 hours notice to enter an apartment unless there's a dire emergency. In that case, it's just five minutes of time to unscrew the new one and put the old one back on in preparation for the visit.
posted by Ostara at 11:45 AM on July 4, 2008
posted by Ostara at 11:45 AM on July 4, 2008
How often do you shave your legs? If it's daily or even every other day it's probably not worth the hassle, but if you're lucky and it's a weekly thing you could swap the new shower head in for just those leg shaving times. But that does seem like a lot of extra work. My vote's just for swapping the old one back in for landlord visits.
posted by cgg at 11:59 AM on July 4, 2008
posted by cgg at 11:59 AM on July 4, 2008
They even do periodic check-ins to make sure it hasn't been replaced!
I'm betting they don't actually do this, they just say they will so that you won't change out the shower head. Apartment managers don't do anything they don't absolutely have to, and checking everyone's shower heads on a regular basis is a huge hassle. But if you're worried they will, just change it back before they come in (as others have said, they are required to give 24 hours notice. If they show up unannounced, you have every right to say, "I'm sorry, this is not a good time. How about tomorrow night?")
posted by Koko at 2:05 PM on July 4, 2008
I'm betting they don't actually do this, they just say they will so that you won't change out the shower head. Apartment managers don't do anything they don't absolutely have to, and checking everyone's shower heads on a regular basis is a huge hassle. But if you're worried they will, just change it back before they come in (as others have said, they are required to give 24 hours notice. If they show up unannounced, you have every right to say, "I'm sorry, this is not a good time. How about tomorrow night?")
posted by Koko at 2:05 PM on July 4, 2008
Just tell the landlord you can't use that kind of showerhead (vaguely allude to a childhood trauma, if you must), and offer to buy one yourself if they will approve and install it. Better than getting caught (what if the landlord has to make an emergency trip into your place and notices it?), and also the threads (and ideally, an added seal) don't last forever, so replacing it over and over will probably lead to more problems down the line.
posted by troybob at 2:09 PM on July 4, 2008
posted by troybob at 2:09 PM on July 4, 2008
That style of showerhead has a knob on the side precisely for turning off the water while you shave your legs.
posted by fshgrl at 3:18 PM on July 4, 2008
posted by fshgrl at 3:18 PM on July 4, 2008
Sometimes the knob is a shutoff, sometimes it just makes the spray looser or tighter.
posted by BrotherCaine at 11:00 PM on July 4, 2008
posted by BrotherCaine at 11:00 PM on July 4, 2008
Koko, most landlords that are going to check are going to try and do it when you're NOT home.
posted by agregoli at 9:49 AM on July 5, 2008
posted by agregoli at 9:49 AM on July 5, 2008
also, I wonder if it's some sort of pressure-regulating/water-saving shower head and that's why the landlord wants them left in.
That's exactly what it is.
posted by GPF at 10:59 AM on July 5, 2008
That's exactly what it is.
posted by GPF at 10:59 AM on July 5, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
Cost: $0.
posted by limeonaire at 8:49 AM on July 4, 2008 [2 favorites]