Not Quite Optimized

by Jim
(Milwaukee, WI)

I bought Delta 75152's sister, the RP46384 all chrome shower head. It replaces another product rated at 2.5 GPM but delivering 4.0 GPM. With the plastic strainer/restrictor in the inlet the RP46384 delivers 1.15 GPM and my wife does not like it. With the filter out it puts out 1.6 GPM, which my wife agrees is "adequate."

Too bad that the four fluidic nozzles all point straight ahead. Their flows converge just a few inches from the head outlet. This results in a spray distribution pattern that is heavy in the center, light on the outside, and generally too narrow. In a bath tub it is possible to aim the head high and stand farther away to get a better spray pattern.

If Delta would only turn each nozzle 30-60 degrees and angle it outward slightly they would have a product that no one could tell was low flow. As it is the large droplets fool you into thinking that it flows more than it does. It will only rate a "4" instead of "5" for that reason. So close...