By now it is clear that every bathroom has its own characteristics. Some are large, some are small. Others have a standard ceiling or a false one depending on the storage unit above. All of these greatly impact the shower head choice.
Before we look at the individual principles for different shower heads, there are a few key concepts that you need to get familiarized with.
The height of the shower head will partially determine the radius and water flow speed from the shower head. If you position it at a higher elevation, you will gain more water radius. But if you lower the shower head, you will get more pressure but then the radius gets reduced.
How To Determine Regular Shower Head Height
The basic principle mentioned above directly applies to regular shower heads. The determination of the shower head height should be based on the preference of either radius or water flow pressure.
But then again, there’s hardly a single member in a family. Each might have their own preferences which makes it a bit difficult to stick to preference.
In that case, we suggest using the average height formula. Find out the average height of the adult members of the family and set the shower head 5 to 6 inches above that.
This way it will ensure an effective showering experience.
How To Determine Handheld Shower Head Height?
Handheld shower heads are a bit trickier to deal with. But it also offers a more flexible height choice compared to regular shower heads.
The traditional 72 to 78 inches rule has been devised keeping the accessibility factor of the shower head in mind. That makes it near a tad above 6.2 feet in height.
But what if the user is above 6.2 feet in height? In that case, it is better to fix the upper position in line with the tallest member of the family and the lower position at a standard 40-inch height.
How To Determine Shower Head Control Valve Height?
The valve height isn’t really determinable by the user. Most of the shower head fixtures come with a standard height for the control valve.
For personal and customized use, the shower head control valve height can be determined by comparing the user’s height. Ideally, the shower control valve should align with the elbow joint.
This is just a general presumption to make the control valve more accessible.
The industry standards for shower head control valves are two – one for bathtub shower heads and the other for shower stalls. For bathtub shower heads, the control valve should not be anywhere above 28 inches. And for the shower stalls, the maximum height should be 48 inches.