I have spent the last several weeks testing the HighSierra FCS-200 water saving shower head; it costs about $25, provides a great shower experience, uses only 1.5 gallons per minute (GPM) and I highly recommend it.
I have now done five low flow shower head reviews so far (sorry, no nude shower scenes in this one) and the HighSierra wins hands down on price and is a strong contender for the best feeling shower of those we have tried.
A water saving shower head can help you conserve water, and in particular hot water which means you’re also save energy.
The other very good water saving shower heads I tested are larger, and considerably more expensive. Don’t be deceived — the HighSierra model might look like those really cheapo, painful shower heads that they put in locker room showers. But HighSierra’s clever low flow design makes it really a totally different beast. Simple is good; the manufacturer claims that it is less likely to become clogged with mineral deposits, it’s very small, and solidly built.
Here are some criteria I use for water saving shower head reviews:
- Comfortable: is the spray pleasant overall and does not sting … nor is wimpy
- Droplet size: very small droplets cool down and can be chilly around the edges
- Effective: forceful enough to remove shampoo and rinse soap off easily and quickly
- Spray pattern: wide enough that your whole body is covered
- Adjustable: are there options to adjust flow rate, e.g. a shut-off valve
- Construction: does it seem solid and durable, prone to clogging or other failure?
- Water usage: regular shower heads use 2.5 GPM, a low flow head should use less
- Price: some of these puppies can be expensive
And here’s my review of the HighSierra FCS-200 low flow shower head:
- Comfortable: very comfortable and pleasant overall, compares favorably to normal 2.5GPM showerheads
- Droplet size: large droplets retain warmth and feeling of power and do not sting
- Effective: Very good, if a little less forceful than the Oxygenics model
- Spray pattern: wide spray is smart; more water reaches the edges and the spray is horizontally oriented
- Adjustable: The FCS-200 model has a flow-control button valve; good for reducing flow when shaving or soaping up
- Construction: all-metal, chrome, very well made, unlikely to clog
- Water usage: at 1.5 GPM, this one is a little better than other low flow heads
- Price: $22.90 for the FCS-100 (no shut-off), $25.45 for the FCS-200 as of 2/10/2009
Some comments from the family… my son greatly prefers this shower head over the Oxygenics shower head I reviewed and that we normally use. I think this is because the other head is optimized for adults (taller, and therefore closer to the spray). With the HighSierra head, the larger droplets stay warm longer so reach down the extra couple of feet to his 4-1/2 foot body. The shower head is very small and great for tight spaces. My wife and I are both very happy with it, with only one minor quibble — tiny drops of water tend to escape around the top, and can get into your eyes.
A heads-up for buyers: the unique design confused me at first (I didn’t read the instructions) — you have to rotate the head until the visible eye-shaped orifice is oriented horizontally (like the CBS logo). From experience, I can attest that it’s a rather unusual shower experience if you don’t do that step! But that’s a one-time thing. Otherwise, installation is a simple matter of unscrewing the old head and screwing on the new one (a wrench or pair of pliers might help).
Bottom line: this is a great shower head for about one half the price of other great ones I have used. (And the real bottom line is that my wife hasn’t asked me to re-install our old one). I think you’ll be very happy.
Tom,
Happy that you got to review this thing! We enjoyed it very much. Go over to green gear and check out the review we did of the .55GPM Bricor. Now that is water savings!
Later
Comment by MrGreenGear — February 18, 2009 @ 12:52 pm
Hello. On the youtube video “three shower heads”, you have attached the oxygenics showerhead to a section of pipe which attached to the original water inlet pipe. This section of pipe had a control knob on it for turning the water off and on. You referred to this as a “flow knob”. What company makes this item and where can I get one? Please give me details about this product.
Thanks.
Comment by Mario — March 24, 2009 @ 10:49 pm
Mario –
There are several different possible answers. The first two devices screw onto the shower outlet pipe where the shower head normally would, then the shower head screws on to that. One is sometimes called a “navy button”, and is just a shutoff valve you control by pressing the button on its side. Another is very similar but has a twist-knob. Both are available at a good hardware store, plumbing supply, or Home Depot/Lowes — they are commodity plumbing items, so there’s no real brand.
(The shower head I reviewed in this post, the High Sierra FCS-200 is different from it’s slightly less expensive alternative only in that it comes with a navy-button type shutoff)
The Oxygenics shower heads also have a similar knob, but it is part of the shower head itself and cannot be removed. In this case, the actual spray pattern is changed a bit, as well as reducing the flow rate by a modest amount. This is only available, as far as I know, if you get an Oxygenics head.
Hope this is helpful. If not, send another comment with clarification.
Comment by Tom Harrison — March 24, 2009 @ 11:06 pm
Good review. I would recommend people get a 1.5gpm shower. I ‘green’ every morning when I shower. Easy way to start saving money.
Comment by Shower head — June 23, 2009 @ 8:40 am
I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to do your reviews. We bought a new house and with it, two new low flow shower heads that you reviewed, as well as the Shower Professor. I love them both and so does my husband. Thank you!
Comment by Anissa — September 15, 2009 @ 8:52 am
Anissa –
Thanks for writing! Little things make a big difference.
This weekend, I did several weather-sealing projects based on the results of an energy audit we had last Spring. As I walked around the basement with a tube of caulking, I realized that the few dollars I spent on materials would more than likely pay for themselves in our first, cold, north-eastern winter months.
And, mostly, I just hate to waste things :-)
Keep up the little changes. They work.
Comment by Tom Harrison — September 15, 2009 @ 3:14 pm
Great post! It got me thinking about the options of low flow shower heads for my home as well as shower heads that can conserve some energy/water. I’ve looked all over the internet and finally decided on my perfect shower head (I got it yesterday :) )!
It’s called the Fire Hydrant Spa shower head from TAKEASHOWER.COM and I am absolutely in love. I had the shower of my life this morning and found it hard to get out!
Comment by Tony — October 14, 2009 @ 11:22 am
Very much liked this showerhead, but did notice the extra droplets that occasionally strayed. Found an Adjustable “swing arm” shower arm in chrome for about $25 that really makes a wonderful improvement in versatility for any fixed mount type showerhead. Now i shower closer to the middle of the tub with the head facing almost straight down. Does all i hoped for and more. Also found a no-drip tub spout at the same sight.
Comment by Kim — January 7, 2010 @ 12:48 am
[...] http://fivepercent.us/2009/02/12/low-flow-shower-head-review-highsierra-fcs-works-great/ [...]
Pingback by Energy Tough Love Blog » Saving Water And Saving Energy – I know it is hard for some to imagine — February 25, 2010 @ 12:35 pm
Almost 1 week into using the High Sierra unit and the savings can be seen immediately. I have a secondary screen on my drain to filter hair and am use to a slow draining of the water. Normally with my Low Flow showerhead I am in ankle deep water by the end of my shower. Now the slow draining keeps up with the shower. There is no pooling or puddle. This is an immediate difference, easy to see and easy to quantify.
Comment by John — May 16, 2011 @ 4:12 pm
I bought 2 fire hydrant shower heads from water management. Despite all the naysayers and how most of their reviews are staged. Anyway, I installed one, and had all the intention of returning the other one in its unopened package, including the one I just opened. I installed it (with my hands only) as instructed. Jumped in took a shower. The water pressure coming out of this was amazing! I just went right ahead and changed the shower head in my other bath as well. You have to try to believe it, if you don’t then you are really missing out. Whatever.
Comment by Rachel — December 6, 2011 @ 7:35 pm