WaterPik Shower Massager: It Aims to Please
Written: Jan 01 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Invigorating shower massage, Easy to install and use
Cons: I wish it was infinitely variable within the 6 settings
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| netKat's Full Review: Waterpik Original Shower Massage Shower Head Sm 65... |
Ladies, you know what I'm talking about. Men, stand back. This showerhead doesn't just get you clean, it massages, soothes, and satisfies.
WaterPik has been in business for over 40 years, but only recently spun off from its parent company Allegheny Teledyne. In addition to the personal care appliances commonly associated with the WaterPik name, they also make devices specifically for dental care professionals as well as pool equipment and even boilers!
The WaterPik Original Shower Massage Shower Head SM-650 & SM-651
This shower massager is a handheld model, which can also be used as a stationary showerhead. A special bracket assembly mounts where your old showerhead used to reside, and serves to hold the massager in position for hands free showering. The showerhead slips easily in and out of the bracket.
The head itself contains 124 different spray channels, which are used in various combinations to render everything from a rain-like shower to hard pulsating jets of high velocity water.
The showerhead is a creamy white color with pale gray accents. It's clean looking and relatively unobtrusive. Model number 651 is the creamy white version, model number 650 is the same unit, but in chrome.
Installation
The installation process is very simple assuming you have a standard 1/2" shower arm pipe. Just remove the existing showerhead and screw on the bracket assembly. The use of Teflon tape for pipe threads is recommended to cut down on the possibility of leaks. This is not included with the unit. You can purchase this tape at any hardware store, and you might as well keep some around the house anyway.
Features
The WaterPik Shower Massager provides for a variable showering experience by way of simple adjustments of the 6 available settings on the showerhead. Here is a rundown of the settings:
* Pause
The water does not really pause, it just dribbles out in slow moving, slightly pulsating, stream. Presumably, this setting can be used when you want a break in the shower action and will save some water.
* Outside Spray
This setting causes the water to come out of the outside shower channels, allowing for the maximum spray trajectory. There is no pulsation effect, just a nice overall shower.
* Inside Spray
This setting allows the water to come out of only the center spray channels, causing a more concentrated, higher velocity spray. This setting does not pulsate.
* Pulse
This setting is what made the WaterPik shower massager famous. It is independently pulsating jets of water from three main spray clusters. The effect is concentrated bursts of water. This is not a spray setting.
* Spray-Pulse
This is a combined setting of the outside spray with the pulsating clusters. This setting is great for rinsing your hair while still getting the overall rain-like coverage of the spray channels.
* Turbo Pulse
Call the police! This is a pulsating shower to be reckoned with! This is the pulsating jet setting on speed. If you have a problematic, aching body part, aim this baby at it and enjoy a powerful, hot message. The unit provides for up to 2800 pulses per minute. If you hear screams of joy from the bathroom, it's probably on this setting.
The Handle
The handle of the shower massager head is slightly contoured on one side to aid in slippage prevention. The other edge is smooth. The showerhead is well balanced and does not cause fatigue when in use.
The Cord
The showerhead is attached to the water source by a 5-foot long fiberglass reinforced hose. The hose is a matching creamy white color. It's a generous length, yet does not look cumbersome when hanging in the shower.
The Bracket
The bracket is very maneuverable due to a ball and socket joint. When the showerhead is in the bracket, it can be aimed as reliably and easily as a normal showerhead. The showerhead slides easily out of the bracket when hand held use is desired.
The Warranty
This appliance has a 5 year limited warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. My husband (the engineer) recommends holding onto the receipt. His feeling is that the ball and socket joint that allows maneuvarability in the bracket may not be structurally sufficient to withstand years of use.
The Website
WaterPik maintains a well laid out, easy to use website. There is an online store for parts, product news and descriptions, and even a Waterpik newsletter to which you can subscribe.
A Hint
If you have lower than average water pressure in your home, you may want to remove the flow restrictor that comes in the unit. You do need an adequate amount of water flow for this unit to function with any kind of success.
A Bit of History
Way back in 1970, the first ever pulsating showerhead was developed when a researcher at Waterpik thought of banding together 10 Waterpik oral appliances to form a showerhead.
What Would Make This Showerhead Better?
I remember way back in dawn of the WaterPik shower massagers, I had one that was 100% variable from spray to pulse. I would prefer that over the discrete settings of this unit. Additionally, I've noticed that this showerhead does not provide as much total area coverage on the spray setting as my standard old showerhead. However, compared to other showers I've used, it is adequate and well within the range of normalcy.
In Conclusion
The WaterPik Shower Massager is a great addition to any bathroom. The installation is easy, the cost is reasonable, and the benefits are, well, nice. You too may find yourself saying: Not tonight, dear, I have to take a shower. :)
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
netKat
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Member: Kat
Location: Maryland
Reviews written: 166
Trusted by: 885 members
About Me:
Analytically inclined mom, bank officer, freelance writer, and internet addict.
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