4 Rain Shower Head Problems With EASY DIY Fixes (Plus Pros & Cons)

We all want a showerhead that saves on water but still guarantees the best flow rate, and that’s where a rain showerhead comes in. However, with a few rain shower head problems likely to occur at some point, knowing how to address them is critical.

Common rain showerhead problems include leakage, slow drainage, dry shower (no water flowing), and high pressurized water. Interestingly, most of these issues are related to either a clogged or faulty rain showerhead, things you can fix. 

So, I’ll explain all these reasons, the possible risks, and their respective fixes. My goal is to help you become your own handyman, and from experience, this is easily doable.

We’ll also discuss the pros and cons of fitting rain showerheads.

So, let’s get into it!

Troubleshooting common rain shower head problems

Here’s a quick guide on troubleshooting common problems that affect rain showerheads:

1. Leaking rain shower head

A leaking showerhead leads to water wastage by collecting a pool of water on your bathroom floor. But worse than that, the water causes dampness and could attract mold. So, this is something you should address immediately.

Overall, a leaky shower head could be because of:

• A piping issue – there could be a loose connection on the showerhead’s pipe
• Clogging due to hard water minerals like magnesium and calcium or just grime
• Faulty rain showerhead

Easy handyman Fixes

It’s crucial that you ascertain the reason behind your leaky showerhead. If it’s a piping issue, spot the source of the leak and tighten the pipe joint.

If it’s a faulty rain showerhead, which could happen if the showerhead is five years old or so, you should replace it.

Check out the best rain showerhead replacements on Amazon.

The most typical cause of these rain shower head issues, however, is clogging, which you can fix by cleaning the showerhead using any of these four approaches:

Option 1 – baking soda

You can get rid of limescale and grime build-up by soaking your rain showerhead in baking soda.

Here are the steps to take:

• Turn off the shower water supply
• Prepare ½ cup of white vinegar and mix it with a cup full of warm water to make a paste
• If the showerhead is detachable, you can smear it with paste and allow it to sit on the bathroom floor or tub
• Use a plastic bag to hold the paste onto the showerhead if the showerhead isn’t detachable
• Give it 30 minutes for the paste to act before wiping it off
• Rinse the showerhead with clean water before turning the shower on

Option 2 – white vinegar

In the absence of baking soda, you can use white vinegar to get rid of the clogging. But unlike the first case, you don’t need to dilute vinegar. You can use it in its purest form.

However, this approach mainly works on removable rain showerheads as they are easy to soak. If you choose to use it on an irremovable showerhead, you’ll need to put white vinegar in a plastic bag and tie it around the showerhead.

Here’s how to go about it:

• Turn off the shower water
• Detach the showerhead and soak it in vinegar solutions for 30 minutes
• Use an old toothbrush to brush off the stubborn dirt, grime, calcium, and limescale.
• Rinse the showerhead thoroughly before drying it
• Check for the rubber washer and O-ring and see if they are old and replace them if they are
• Once you are done, connect the showerhead to the hosepipe
• Turn the shower water on and examine it for leakage

If you want to replace worn-out O-rings, consider getting the 826pc Universal O-Ring. The set comes with at least 419 heat and corrosion-resistant O-rings of different sizes.

Option 3 – soda soak

Your favorite soda, such as Coca-Cola, can come to your rescue when dealing with a clogged rain showerhead. It’s a very effective anti-clogging agent that works the same way as white vinegar.

Here’s how to go about it:

• Put the soda in a plastic bag and soak the clogged showerhead in it
• Tie the plastic bag around the showerhead if the showerhead is irremovable
• Allow the soda to soak for 25-30 minutes
• Rinse off the showerhead
• Turn the shower on to test for the leakage

Option 4 – Dr. Bronner’s

Dr. Bronner’s is a popular multi-use household cleaner made of natural ingredients that are effective against stubborn deposits and clogs.

It looks like liquid soap and even works the same way. The difference is that it’s more effective, especially when de-clogging the showerhead.

Here’s how to clean your showerhead with Dr. Bronner’s:

• Put a small amount of Dr. Bronner’s (about ¼ cup) in a plastic bag
• Add 1-2 cups of hot water into the plastic bag or according to the manufacturer’s recommendations
• Soak the showerhead in the mixture for about 30 minutes
• Rinse off the showerhead
• Turn the shower on to check for leakage

2. Slow drainage

Sometimes, the rain shower head may not leak, but it drains slowly, which can be frustrating when showering. Often, the reason behind this issue, like most rainfall shower head problems, is clogging.

Easy handyman Fix

Check for clogging, and if found, de-clog the showerhead using baking soda, white vinegar, D. Bronner’s, or soda.

If that doesn’t work, you should get shower tray waste like the Grohe 49534000 to hold the deposits and prevent clogging.

3. Dry shower (water not flowing at all)

While slow drainage is frustrating, dealing with a dry shower is more frustrating. Just imagine turning the shower on, but to your shock, no water is coming out when the taps are running!

In most cases, this is an issue of low water pressure, a significant clogging within the pipe, or a weak shower pump.

Handyman or pro plumber Fix

Check to see if there is clogging within the pipe. You can even try removing the showerhead before trying to unclog the pipe. If you cannot do it, call a plumber.

But if the issue is low pressure, consider getting a new shower pump. A new shower pump will improve the water flow to the showerhead.

4. High-pressurized water

We conclude our list with a situation where your shower water runs abnormally high pressure, about 80psi and above. This can happen if the water pressure regulator breaks, the restrictor is misaligned, or the water supply is high.

Easy handyman Fix

If the water pressure regulator is broken, you will need a replacement. One good choice is the APLusee Water Flow Restrictor (View on Amazon). It will regulate your showerhead’s water pressure and prevent leakage. This can also resolve high water supply pressure.

A misaligned water pressure restrictor should be realigned. This is found in the neck of the shower head. Simply unscrew the head and adjust the restrictor. If it is damaged, you will need to find a replacement.

If the regulator is simply set incorrectly, you can quickly adjust the shower water pressure regulator to normalize the water pressure.

Not enough pressure from the rain shower head? Here’s what’s wrong!

If your showerhead doesn’t have enough pressure, the chances are that it is clogged. So, you need to check for clogging, and if that’s the case, then unclog it using white vinegar, baking soda paste, coke soda, or a commercial cleaner.

That said, don’t forget to check the pump, which could be weak or faulty. And lastly, consider replacing the showerhead if the problem persists even after trying the above tips.

Rain shower head bottom line

When it comes down to it, rainfall showers can be finicky. Whether they’re leaking, draining slowly, not working at all, or have water pressure that isn’t just right, they will need some DIY love.

Not to mention that installing a rain shower head in a shower with a standard set-up often involves a lot of plumbing work and redesigning. Between pipe diameter and shower arm position, standard set-ups make rainfall showers tricky.

However, once you get any issues sorted, the luxury of the rain-like shower will make you forget all your worries. They truly enhance the aesthetic of any bathroom.

As long as you have a plan before going ahead with a rain shower head, you will be relaxing under your own natural feeling shower in no time.

Rain Shower Head Pros and Cons

Below are the pros and cons of a rain shower head:

Rain shower head pros

Here are reasons rain showerheads are worth fitting:

• Good flow rate – Rain showerheads promise consistent and lush water flow when taking a shower. The best part is that you can adjust the flow.
• Easy installation – Unless you make shower pipe adjustments, rain showerheads are easy to install. They mostly come with threading which you only need to screw to the hose pipe.  
• Luxurious design – Modern rain showerheads have an elegant look, allowing you to give your shower room a spa-like look. You can use them to give your bathroom an over-the-top vibe.
• Easy cleaning – Given that rain showerheads are larger, there are fewer small nooks and crannies. You can easily clean them using household agents like white vinegar, baking soda, or soda.
• Water conservation – Not only do rain showerheads promise good water flow, but they also save on wastage. Most of them come with regulators for preventing excessive flow, which saves you expensive water bills.

Rain shower head cons (including some nobody mentions)

Now, here are the drawbacks of rain showerheads:

• They are expensive – Rain showerheads cost more than regular showerheads. You may spend up to $500 or more on some high-end options. Essentially, that’s due to their elegant appeal and water-saving properties.
• Needs more space – Rain showerheads are larger than others, which means they require extra space. As a result, they are only best for spacious bathrooms.
• Often require plumbing work – Standard shower setups do not include the ceiling plumbing that allows rain shower heads to act like rain. Additionally, standard shower piping can be too small to provide adequate water pressure for a rain shower head.
• They don’t come with handheld attachments – Handheld shower heads are great for cleaning the shower and adjusting where the water is spraying. In most cases, you will have to add one yourself.
• They can have low pressure – Without changing the connected shower pipes, many rainfall shower heads have low water pressure due to the greater nozzle quantity. This can make washing long hair more difficult.

People Also Ask (About Rain Shower Head Problems)

1. Why does my rain shower head drip water when off?

Your rain showerhead drips because of a possible clog: calcium, lime deposition, or even grime. In other circumstances, the shower drips because of water tension and air pressure around the showerhead.

In the first case, you should clean the showerhead using vinegar, baking soda, coke, or chemical cleaner. And in the second case, you should disturb the water tension by passing your hand over the bottom of the head.

2. How Do You Clean a Clogged Rain Shower Head?

Cleaning a clogged rain shower head is easy. You only need to detach the shower head from the hose pipe and soak it in white vinegar for 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can soak it in soda or baking soda paste.

After 30 minutes, rinse off the showerhead and dry it before turning it on.

3. Why Is My Rain Shower Head Not Working?

If your rain shower head is not working correctly, it could be clogged by dirt, grime, calcium, or limescale. If that’s not the case, it could be a loose connection on the showerhead’s piping or shower arm or just an incompatible valve.

Summary of Rain Shower Head Problems

Now you know how to troubleshoot common rain showerhead problems. So, don’t let these problems make you say “I hate rain shower heads”. With these tips, you don’t have to pay a plumber unless it’s vital and beyond your DIY expertise.