Are 'Smart' Showerheads Worth The Hype?

Smart showerheads have gained popularity in recent years due to their advanced features and the convenience they offer. Whether they are worth the hype depends on your preferences and needs. If you value customization and water conservation and are willing to invest in the technology, then a smart version could be for you. If these aren't essential to you or if the cost is prohibitive, however, then a traditional showerhead may be more practical.

Offerings from companies like Hai and Sprig are gaining traction as self-care tools as they are giving consumers what they need to create a spa experience right from their homes. People now have a fairly easy way to upgrade their shower experience because they can simply switch out their normal showerhead for a smart one and feel an immediate difference instead of committing to a whole new smart shower. Still, smart options tend to be more expensive and required a lot of adjustment. It helps to consider your budget and evaluate whether the features offered by smart showerheads align with your priorities before getting one.

Smart showerheads usually come with various settings and controls for things like water flow, pressure, and temperature, which allows you to customize your shower experience. Their sensors detect how you move in the shower and can reduce the water flow to conserve water and reduce your environmental impact. This can also save energy and lower your energy bills. Traditional showerheads use around 2.5 gallons or more per minute, while super low-flow smart showerheads use only half a gallon per minute.

If you're all about making your home as smart as possible, this showerhead will be great for you. Many smart showerheads can be connected to your phone or smart home systems, allowing you to manage your shower remotely and personalize it as much as you want. Some of the things you can look forward to with a smart showerhead are being able to set a time for the water to run and saving your shower preferences to use next time.

Due to their added perks and advanced technology, smart showerheads are generally more expensive than traditional ones. With costs of around $200 to $800 for one, it's important to assess whether the additional features and benefits they provide justify the higher cost. They might cut down on your water and energy costs down the line, but if you can't swing the initial investment, it might not be a good fit.

They are also heavily reliant on technology. While this is what makes the shower experience effective, it can take some time to learn how to operate the systems. Any technical issues or connectivity problems with your internet can also pose a big problem for your shower experience, which should be relaxing and uncomplicated. The maintenance needs and their effects on your overall home system are some other things to consider. For example, those who like strong water flow and high pressure in the shower might get a high-pressure shower head. However, these types break down faster and can affect the plumbing system due to how hard they work.