multiple body sprays in the shower

[wstonehockertv]

Here's another bathroom trend that doesn't get much discussion: multiple body sprays in the shower. They were everywhere in the 90's and early-to-mid 2000's, but their existence went back decades. I never experienced it, so I don't have an opinion.

I can see why most people don't bother: it's more money to install, it uses more water, and they feel a hybrid between a wall-mounted head and a handheld attachment is good enough. Especially if they live in areas that have drought problems like California.

Even shower panels and shower towers were a thing over twenty years ago. Steam showers, same thing.

 

[human]

The only place I've experienced multiple shower heads is in a hotel. It always seemed like overkill to me. I do prefer a handhed shower head over a wall-mounted one, simply because it makes cleaning the shower easier and I can point it away from me while I'm waiting for the water to heat up.

Last fall, I did a tub-to-shower conversion in my bathroom, and the first thing I did after the contractors' work was done was to replace the wall-mounted, heavily flow-restricted shower head with my old handheld Shower Massage, to which I added a variable flow valve to make up for lack of flow control on the wall knob.

That said, about a year before my grandmother died, we went to visit her childhood home in Greenville, S.C. It was a very fancy house, built shortly after the first world war, and my great-grandfather's bathroom had four shower heads. One pointing straight down from overhead, and three just above waist level. Definitely excessive.

 

[lesinutah]

You

Can't say they use more water. The pipe feeding all the water for showers is one connection teed of 4 times. The diverter is what makes it happen.
It's not hard to do but you only see them in ritzy houses. They charge way too much for a fad.

 

[wstonehockertv]

lesinutah

I think you're onto something.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

My sister has a master bathroom like that.

It's neat, unusual, etc.


 I always call it the "Joan Crawford" shower... Mommie Dearest... look it up. lololo


 


When I did both of my bathrooms over,  I was shown them.  I passed.


 

 

[wstonehockertv]

gottahaveahoove

The reason?

 

[lesinutah]

What

Joan Crawford
Shower...look..up
Oh man.

 

[wstonehockertv]

lesinutah

What point are you trying to make?

 

[wstonehockertv]

human

I also never see the bathrooms at summer camps or gyms have multiple shower heads for the reason you say: overkill.

 

[huskyvacs]

My bathroom is from 1950 with a 1988 refresh. My shower is just a single showerhead. I have had dozens of those multi-function rotate showerheads with all the crazy settings but I only ever used the single shower setting. They also get corroded and calcified and jam up. I found a vintage single showerhead sprayer on eBay that is period correct and installed that and life is happy.

 

[wstonehockertv]

huskyvacs

Are you implying that with only one setting, there is less to go wrong?

 

[wstonehockertv]

I also wonder what panasonicvac would think of this.

 

[panasonicvac]

My basement guest bathroom has double shower heads inside the stall, in addition it also has a steamer. Rarely do one of the shower heads and the steamer ever get used to my knowledge. Personally, while I think they're cool to have, they're not worth the extra in my opinion.

 

[wstonehockertv]

panasonicvac

Why do you think they're not worth the extra? You're not wrong to say that they look nice to have.

 

[panasonicvac]

Again they rarely get used, plus not only the steamer is pricey but having to tear out the stall to fix or replace it is just ridiculous. Definitely I think one of the biggest purchase mistakes the house ever got, but thankfully the steamer hasn't failed (yet).

 

[tolivac]

Multiple sprays in a shower-sounds more like a car wash-what next the giant spinning brushes?

 

[panasonicvac]

Speaking of car washes

What really annoys me is that some car washes have colored lights. I say that because up at our last cabin we've owned, had colored lights inside one of the shower stalls. May have been cool as a kid but that's another thing I now think is a waste as well.

 

[wstonehockertv]

I'm not going to lie, colored lights sound like overkill too. And panasonicvac, consider yourself lucky the steamer is still alive even though it wasn't a good financial decision.

tolivac, I don't understand why a lot of people want multiple body sprays in their shower. That shit was poppin' on MTV Cribs back in them days.

When Mariah Carey was showing off her penthouse on MTV Cribs back in the day, she did mention how the controls in the shower to operate the jets were on the complicated side. At least she had the decency to say how nice it looked. After all, it was the early 2000's and she was trying to get her music career revived after Glitter didn't work out in her favor. Mariah, you're not a home salesperson, you're a singer-songwriter with a very beautiful voice for Pete's sake!

 

[wstonehockertv]

I also forgot to mention those shower cabins Jacuzzi sold in the 90's and early 2000's that were a whirlpool bathtub and jetted steam shower in one.

 

[wstonehockertv]

Case in point: Jacuzzi J-Dream.

Oh, and look at this: https://www.steamsaunabath.com/gallery/residential-steam-room-bathing-innovations

 

[gottahaveahoove]

WOW!

There's a lot going on there.  Some of them are beautiful. Others look like a project from NASA !


 But, wait until something goes wrong with some of that stuff.


 


 Thanks for sharing all of that!

 

[wstonehockertv]

gottahaveahoove

You're welcome.

 

[wstonehockertv]

It also begs the question: does one need the multiple shower heads to stay clean? A handheld shower attachment is good enough.

#lessismore

 

[wstonehockertv]

Also back in the 90's and early 2000's if I were to guess, Kohler had the BodySpa. It was just like a whirlpool bathtub, but one used it while standing up. I guess the concept didn't really live on, hard to say.

 

[kirbyklekter]

Size overkill

My friends just finished having a main bathroom completely remodeled, down to the 2x4's. They doubled the size of the shower and had the overhead sunburst shower head installed,over 100 water jets, and then a handheld sprayer on the wall.

I house/pet sit for them when they are away.I thought it would be fun to use that bathroom this last stay. The overhead is overkill with no restriction on water flow it literally dumps gallons in no time. Took my breath away,waterboarding anyone?

There's not a lot I like more than the previous set up, it's definitely more for show and possible up sale in the future. Here's the thing. When it was time to clean said shower for when they returned, it took way too long and too much effort! Marble walls floor pan to ceiling,(3) and 1/4"thick glass sliding door and fixed glass panel. I was ready for another shower after cleaning this one.

 

[fromadifferentplanet1996]

Size overkill

My friends just finished having a main bathroom completely remodeled, down to the 2x4's. They doubled the size of the shower and had the overhead sunburst shower head installed,over 100 water jets, and then a handheld sprayer on the wall.

I house/pet sit for them when they are away.I thought it would be fun to use that bathroom this last stay. The overhead is overkill with no restriction on water flow it literally dumps gallons in no time. Took my breath away,waterboarding anyone?

There's not a lot I like more than the previous set up, it's definitely more for show and possible up sale in the future. Here's the thing. When it was time to clean said shower for when they returned, it took way too long and too much effort! Marble walls floor pan to ceiling,(3) and 1/4"thick glass sliding door and fixed glass panel. I was ready for another shower after cleaning this one.

What is the point you're trying to make here?