Handheld vs Fixed Showerhead

16 years ago

We're redoing our formerly only bathroom, now will be the kids bathroom. It is a tiny, 1930's vintage bathroom - our tub will be 60" x 30". I'd like to get a handheld unit on a bar in there instead of a fixed showerhead (this unit in particular: http://www.efaucets.com/detail.asp?Product_ID=54713), because its easier to rinse off my two girls (ages 1 and 6) that way. He'd like me to consider a handheld attached to a fixed shower head outlet so we could easily switch it out later if we wanted or if we sold the house to people who hate handhelds. Will I regret not putting in a fixed showerhead? Can DH do it later if we need to (he's reasonably handy, but we don't want to rip out the wall again later if we don't have to). Does anyone have any thoughts? I think I'm becoming obessesed and my contrator excepts me to have this ordered for delivery by next week and I'm turning this into a big decision!

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Comments (7)

dchall_san_antonio
16 years ago
I guess that one would work as a sort of fixed, but I just can't imagine needing a hand held for an infant nor one for a 6-year-old. People who hate hand helds really hate the hand helds attached to the fixed (at least I do). If you are going to sell your house, get brand new shower heads to show it off.
timpanedes
Original Author
16 years ago
It's just a lot easier to rinse them off, if that makes sense. My contractor just asked why I don't get a combo handheld/fixed, but I haven't seen those. I'll have to look I guess.
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sorry, davidro1, that's what i get for posting at 1.30 in the morning, lol. lemme try again: "but i was under the impression that some rough-in valves like the thermobalance III (and maybe an alsons one...i vaguely recall someone mentioning an alsons valve that also lets you run both heads at the same time) have an in-wall diverter that lets you use both a fixed head and handheld at the same time? if so, other than aesthetics, is there any reason to use the in-wall other than the external one? or is it personal preference, like what bh401 was saying?" that said, i was at a fixture shop today and they said 1) the little thingie IS called a diverter, more specifically, a "shower arm diverter" and 2) the hansgrohe thermobalance III does run both heads simultaneously. but i was hoping someone could tell me if there's another company that makes something similar to the thermobalance III. staceyneil, thanks, but yes, we need both heads. when i shower w/my little kids, we need the extra showerhead. the handheld on a bar would work nicely. thanks!
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Charlikin, if you have the Hansgrohe with diverter, you won't be able to use the wall mount and handheld at the same time. If you want to use both simultaneously, you will need two valves. I have the Hansgrohe Retroaktive on a slider bar for my childrens' baths. I really like it. I also like using the handheld to clean the shower itself. If you have a standard 30" shower/tub, it fits better on the wall to just use the bar. My three kids never tried to climb the bar. One advantage of the bar over the hook is that you can adjust it as the kids grow. I can't come up with any advantages that the wall mount has over the handheld on a wall bar (unless you don't like the look of the wall bar). In my master shower at my old house, I only had a Grohe thermostatic valve with a handheld on a shower bar. No wall mount shower head there either. I never missed it. I would much prefer just having a handheld on a bar to just having the wall mount.
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Moen is an affordable brand with a solid warranty. We bought these for our shower from Faucetdepot.com and are super happy with them; http://www.faucetdepot.com/prod/Moen-3838-Castleby-Four-Function-Showerhead-Chrome-17558.asp http://www.faucetdepot.com/prod/Moen-3838-Castleby-Four-Function-Showerhead-Chrome-17558.asp There are also some clips available that will secure the slide bar so it can be used as a grab bar. I bought them, but as it turned out, my contract secured it straight to a stud, so I ended up not needing them afterall but love the grab bar.
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socalgrl, Thanks for your reply. We are also the exact same heights so I would take your advice but...apparently, I have the world's dumbest plumber. He kept telling me that the shower shelf was adjustable and could go anywhere on the bar so yesterday, I pulled the whole thing out and played with it to see how to put it together (the same one you have) and the shelf HAS to be on the bottom like the picture. Now I have a problem-grrr. He mounted the elbow 4 inches below the valve and if I lower the bar, the hose will run over the shelf. As it is now, there is only one way to mount the bar and the height is going to be too tall for even dh at 6'2". I am about to cry. So the shelf will be directly below the valve/plate/handle to turn on the water and above the elbow for the hose and that puts the bottom of the bar 40 some inches from the shower floor-ack! I wanted to be able to flip the head over to be able to use the spray at least on my lower back. (I love this thing and how it flips!) I think I will try and take some pictures and see if anyone here can help me figure it out. The painter comes tomorrow so I still have a few days. Thanks again!
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terezosa / terriks
16 years ago
I have a Delta handheld on a bar similar to that one, and I like that you can actually adjust the angle of the spray. I usually hate handhelds, because in the ones of I have used in relatives' homes the angle was not adjustable. We have two shower heads in our master shower, and I thought that I would probably just use the handheld for cleaning the shower or the occasional co-ed shower, but find that I use it all the time.
oskiebabu
16 years ago
If I had to choose between a handheld and a fixed showerhead, it would be no contest. A quality handheld can be used as a fixed showerhead. Good ones have numerous spray options. And you can rinse off your hair and all other parts of your body without getting into weird positions with a handheld. In addition it can rinse out the shower.

I can't think of one thing a fixed shower can do that a quality handheld can't? And from various manufacturers you cn always add side and back jets if you so desire if you want to add the additional hardware, which doesn't require a fixed head shower, just a valve system that can control which (or all) of the jets you want on.

Greg
acomom
16 years ago
Since you're already making a long-term investment by renovating the entire bathroom, I'd put both a fixed "traditional" rainshower head in there, along with the handheld on the slide bar. I put both in my bathroom and really love the versatility. My youngest DS (4) sometimes uses just the handheld because it's at his height, and I use it alone sometimes when I want to do a quick rinse-off, but don't want to have to wash and dry my hair. And then, of course, there's the very utilitarian benefit of cleaing the shower stall with the handheld. But I don't think I'd like having it as my only option, nor do I think I'd really like a "combo" unit.

You can get a diverter valve that lets you choose to use just the overhead shower, just the handheld, or both at the same time. It's really easy to use, and it works great. Good luck.
timpanedes
Original Author
16 years ago
I think I'm going to get the diverter and get both. I think that solves the dilemma I've been having.
norcalpeetnik
16 years ago
When we remodeled our house recently, I put handhelds on fixed bars in both the kids' and guest bathrooms, and a regular showerhead in our master bath. Having the handheld on the bar is fabulous, because the person in the shower can adjust the height to his or her own needs - the kids have the handheld shower head lower for now, but when they grow up they can move it up the bar. My dad, who is tall, loves being able to take a shower in the guest bath with the adjustable bar because he can adjust it high enough so that it doesn't hit him in the face.

I wouldn't hesitate to skip the fixed showerhead in the kids bath if I were you.

Handheld vs Fixed Showerhead

Comments (7)

dchall_san_antonio

timpanedes
Original Author

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Handheld vs Fixed Showerhead

Comments (7)

dchall_san_antonio

timpanedesOriginal Author

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