Sloan Ac-11 Showerhead

[washman]

My 14 year old plastic fantastic unit from lowes (sans water restrictor) finally got too glopped up with lime, and a bit of mold that I could no longer clean it completely.  I liked it as it really blasted out the water and felt rather good doing it.

 

Thus, I had to search for a new showerhead.  I was not impressed with the offerings at both my local BIG BOX stores.  100% made in China plastic, for the most part.

Thanks to the internet, I researched several and came down to 2 USA made units.

 

One, was Speakman. I was familiar with this unit from my motel/hotel stays back when I traveled for my job.  I recall there were nice enough, but lacking a bit in water pressure and ability to really rinse soap from one's body.

 

Second, the Sloan AC11.  I THINK I might have experienced one or two in motels but memory is faded a bit, nevertheless I was impressed with the reviews and the fact it was made in USA.  It was not cheap, $65 (free shipping) on Amazon.   I got the solid metal one that has a chrome finish. Pictures attached

 

Unlike my rebellion against the eco-mooks, tree huggers, eco-nazis, where I cranked up the water on the Speed Queen, I will leave this one well enough alone.  In fact, I don't think there is a way to defeat the 2.5GPM flow rate.  No matter.  I could not wait to jump in the shower after replacing the spare Waterpik (junk) that came with the house.  Thanks to some plumbing aka teflon tape, no leaks and I must admit, pretty decent pressure.

 

So, I'll cut down on the water bill a tad not that it was outrageous to begin with and I'll probably begin to make points with those who love Mother Earth.  My goal for 2017 besides a concrete driveway it to become more mellow, get in touch with my inner self, try some bean sprouts and tofu and get some Birkenstocks to go with my gray socks. 

 

On second thought...................NAH! 

[this post was last edited: 12/29/2016-20:06]

 

[rp2813]

Anything still pitched as "O-Matic" in this day and age meets with my approval!

 

[warmsecondrinse]

My first inclination would be to give the old showerhead a good long soak or three in CLR. Use a toothpick to poke through the deposits in between each soak. For the mold, alternate baths of 91% isopropyl alcohol, bleach, and H2O2, rinsing very, very well between solutions.

I have an old showerhead I inherited 20+ years ago. My brother-in-law called it "Niagara", lol. I have it on my shower now. Let me tell you, it's great.

Jim

 

[mattl]

I really liked my Speakman solid metal shower head, the one with the lever on the side.  It puts out a forceful spray, I would guess they are still available. 

 

[gusherb]

I have about 3 of those in my showerhead collection, if I stay somewhere with one it kinda tends to follow me home hahahaha. But one of them is also a new one. I love the solid brass construction but am not a huge fan of the narrow spray pattern, as I like a larger more enveloping spray. Those Sloans are supposed to have a self adjusting flow restrictor that keeps it at 2.5 GPM regardless of water pressure, but I haven't confirmed if that functions as advertised.

Another really good shower head is the all brass one made by Chicago Faucets, these do have a pretty nice spray pattern and I used one for quite some time before going back to my favorite cheap plastic Siroflex showerhead which has the best spray pattern of any showerhead I've used by far.

 

[warmsecondrinse]

AFAIK, the flow restrictors are screw-in. At least all that I've seen are. I always take them out.

 

[vacerator]

Kohler

offers 1.5 g.p.m. shower heads, 2.0 g.p.m. and 2.5 g.p.m. Some are now imported, but not all of them.
I recently got a new trim out set, and the shower arm is heavy solid brass n.p.t threaded.
I chose a 2.0 g.p.m. model. You need some force to rinse off good shower gel.
The pressure balance rough in valve is solid brass n.p.t. threaded.
The knob is heavy brushed nickel.
I save water where I can. It's not in short supply around here. A few houses not 15 minutes form here are sinking in it as we speak. A small conservative suburb yet. An 11 ft. sewer line failed. It was worked on 2 years ago. Ten year old homes.
Last time I drove by there, the sidewalk was still dipping.
An 11 ft. sewer line should not be that close to a house.
Those poor folks. One older couple just moved into that sub division.
In 2004, another bad sink hole happened a quarter mile away on the same road.
Now Sink Julio sell you houses there cheap. Looks like this decade is starting out like the former for those folks.

 

[joelippard]

High pressure Head

I recently went through this with a bathroom remodel. I hated the new one that went with the install kit. It had a permanent flow restrictor in it. I bought this and it's just as good as the old one from 1963! I removed the screw in restrictor from it and the water just gushes! It's not one bit efficient and I don't care, it brings the desired results.

The website specializes in high pressure heads and they have a large variety to choose from.

http://https//www.highpressureshowerheads.com/shower-heads-55-RAIN-CHR.html

 

[tomturbomatic]

No good art film or washer video is complete without the splash shots. Couldn't you at least have taken a picture of the spray?

 

[tolivac]

I have a Speakman showerhead-all metal.When it gets clogged-just soak it in vinegar-problem solved.Its been thru several "soaks" and works fine.I did have to bore out the "restrictor" with a drill press.

 

[sudsmaster]

All my showers get equipped with hand held units... I just don't feel clean unless I can direct the spray where it's most needed.

In the past I've used Australian made units from OSH, but have found that eventually they tighten up and can't be adjusted while the water is on. But they did have good pressure, at least with the flow restrictor removed.

Currently on a Waterpik model. Pressure, even with restrictor removed, is nothing to write about, but it remains easily adjustable and seems to be relatively high quality.

Found an interesting web site that claims it has round high pressure shower heads, both fixed and hand-held.

http://https//www.highpressureshowerheads.com/high-pressure-shower-head-hand-held.html

 

[washman]

2 showers with this unit

and I will admit the spray pattern is kinda narrow. Nevertheless, it carries the freight (but not in the same league as a Speed Queen) and does what I need it to do.  The turn off valve is nice. I can stop the water and scrub what little hair I have left, all in the interest of saving our rapidly disappearing water resources!

 

The waterpik that came with the house is relegated to the second bathroom shower which I have never used and since dad is no longer around, unless I have an overnight guest, it probably never will get used.