ethernal

You're right, it's completely unreasonable to expect that Marriott would have followed basic design specs for shower installation.

I'm pretty easy going. Put me in a low floor room, put me next to the elevator, oops, no kings available despite the fact I booked a king? Two queens is fine.

But waking up and having a terrible shower - because of absolute design incompetence - is something I'm not going to just gloss over. I realize that not everyone cares about a good shower as much as I do, but I don't feel like it is unreasonable to have a shower installed to standard design spec. If they can't install it right, put in a regular (non-rain shower) showerhead instead.

I shouldn't have to be disassembling the shower head in order to take a shower.

I've gotten used to mediocre hotel showers. ,8 GPM Alofts are pretty bad, for example. But these are just next-level awful. As another poster said, it feels more like someone is drooling over you than an actual shower. And it's not because of the flow rate - it is because of the design.

JBord

I can't recall if I've experienced one of the "new, renovated" showers yet. But there's one thing that's important, water pressure. If the shower head (of any type) doesn't deliver it, then get one that does. As someone who has very thick hair, low water pressure doesn't work for me. It takes me a LONG time to rinse shampoo if the water pressure isn't at least average. To that end, I'd trade a desk or most other room amenities to switch out a bad shower.

gengar

With a lot of these "eco" showerheads, I wonder if they wind up saving much water at all when it takes so much longer to shower.

rustykettel

And are getting ripped out in favor of these walk in shower only units in any renovations. I just wish hotels' websites were clear when they don't have tubs in the bath.

dayone

Showerhead cancer is as serious as a heart attack.

Temedar

Tyrion?

ethernal

These showerheads are intentionally designed not to have significant water pressure. They essentially come out of the showerhead at close to 0 pressure (maybe a few PSI). They set the flow rate such that the water will coalesce into water droplets. These water droplets (because of surface tension) have a higher weight to surface ratio and, so as they fall, they pick up speed. When they finally hit you, the combined mass of the larger droplet with the speed from gravity (F=MA) creates a sensation of pressure with each droplet. At higher velocities (in a typical showerhead), the water does not form droplets as effectively because they get mixed in with air.

This only works, however, if there is enough space between the shower head and the person showering. A rain shower shower head - unlike a traditional shower head which focuses pressure at the source - does not functionally work if it is below your head. You can't just "bend over" right under the showerhead to wash your hair and face like you can with a regular showerhead. The water just sort of drools over you as another poster pointed out.

TravelinSperry

Agreed, terrible analogy. Mods, please change

slpybear

Cancer? Poor choice of words, Amigo.

RCyyz

The thread title perhaps leans towards sensationalist, but I find the argument to be well-made. In general I think this is a case where so-called "designers" are attempting to create a certain look without taking into account functionality.

I find it personally annoying that many hotel bathrooms don't have enough towel racks. I also find Marriott's insistence on removing desks troublesome but I still try to stick to traditional SPG properties as much as I can.

On the whole though, I think hotel managers should be more careful when renovating properties and take functionality into account. The average person won't know about the subtleties of shower heads that were laid out in the OP's post, but building experts should be consulted before designers are given carte blanche and I would go so far as to say that usability experts should also be consulted before builders do their thing.

STS-134

In traffic engineering, the 85th percentile speed is used to set speed limits.

That said, can't you solve this problem by just squatting down when you wash your hair? Or is there not even enough room in the shower for that?

Jimmie Jet

I have solved the problem by taking the “office desk” chair into the shower

i am 6 foot tall so it I sit on the chair to wash my hair the water droplets reach close to terminal velocity in the free fall

the chair is useless with the 14” workspace so if you combine 2 bad ideas you get a super comfortable shower

if staying longer than one night you will need to request a dry chair each day

��

david55

You lost me in the title.

Anyone that uses the word "cancer" to describe an inadequate shower in a hotel in what might occupy 10 minutes of your time in a overnight stay..... does not merit a read of your rant. Shame on you.

JBord

I assume it varies by person. For me, a low pressure shower head means my shower will likely last twice as long. I can see how for others it wouldn't matter as much.

TGLoyalty

Shower wands >>> those crap little fixed over head showerheads.