David Okada, a MetaEfficient reader, wrote to us to say that he’s compared the Oxygenics shower head, with another low-flow shower head from Bricor. David says Bricor had better spray at lower flow rates and was quieter than the Oxygenics (recently featured on MetaEfficient here).
Bricor offers a range of low-flow shower heads, including one rated at 1.0 GPM.
9 responses so far ↓
1 James McGee // May 31, 2005 at 6:17 pm
Where can you buy the Bricor showerheads? The Oxygenics showerheads seeem to be available everywhere, even from Bed, Bath and Beyond.
2 Justin // Jun 4, 2005 at 2:17 am
You can only buy them directly from Bricor.
3 patsy // Jun 10, 2005 at 5:12 pm
Does anyone know the price range of these shower heads ?
4 Justin // Jun 10, 2005 at 5:40 pm
I received this from the company:
The B100MAX is $37.95 for one unit (100+= $34.95).
The B150CH-E Elite is $44.95 for one unit ($39.95= 100+).
Hand Held units are $49.95
5 patsy // Jun 11, 2005 at 12:44 pm
Got response to my e mail to Bricor (bricor101@aol.com) the next day. Said to e mail models I’m interested in and they’ll send price list. They said they accept personal chks & ship right away. I asked about accepting credit cards also. I was impressed with service !
6 Lindy Cheng // Apr 25, 2008 at 3:24 am
I read this blog (along with a few others) and made my decision to purchase the Bricor for the following reasons.
1) The comparison with Oxgenics at this blog site
2) Bricor offered a wide range of showerheads with different flow rates including some as low as 0.5 gpm
3) They match their showerhead to the water pressure in your shower.
That third point is the reason why I speculate that some low-flow showerheads produce an “annoying mist” as I read on other blogs.
I contacted the company. Response was prompt and efficient. They only sell directly to the public.
I received instructions on how to measure the water pressure in my shower. It seemed to be a step that no other showerhead manufacturer required but I went ahead. I was quite glad I did despite the extra investment in purchasing a water pressure meter (about $16). Turns out the pressure was 30 psi. Apparently, 45 psi is considered low and performance is heavily affected. Since, I am trying to conserve water, I’d enquired about the 0.5 gpm model but the Bricor engineering department advised firmly against this. I was quoted a price of $69.95 for the Bricor 100 SuperMax with a 1.25 gpm. Other Bricor showerheads were similarly priced but not recommended for me.
Given my abnormally low water pressure, I decided to go ahead with the Bricor in spite of the high price. The other showerheads may not have been engineered to perform at pressure so far from normal. There is no obvious indication on the packaging or the websites from other manufacturers that water pressure should be matched to showerheads.
The Bricor 100 SuperMax arrived right on time and was trivially easy to install. There is no on/off soap up button but there is a lever used to control the spray pattern and force. I chose the chrome version. There is a brass colored version as well.
My old showerhead is the Water Pik. From the looks of it, it may be an original Water Pik. Because of the low water pressure, this Water Pik was operating at 2.5 gpm.
By comparison, the Bricor has the same shower “feel’ as the Water Pik. The spray pattern covers similar area and seems to hit with similar force. My shoulder-length hair wets down and rinses off in the same amount of time. Since, I’m already taking 6 minute showers, I think that’s pretty efficient rinsing.
Please note the Bricor and the Water Pik both have a very “soft” spray because of the low water pressure at my place. I’ve used water piks with higher pressures and they are much more vigorous. Apparently, no amount of engineering can convert wimpy water pressure into something a little peppier.
This is an aerating showerhead and I did notice the lower water temperature. I had to increase the hot water just a tad to compensate.
The noise level is about the same as the Water Pik.
The price is high. I don’t think I would have gone ahead if I hadn’t already been suspicious about the abnormally low water pressure.
7 Mark // Apr 30, 2008 at 8:57 am
Here’s an easy water conservation tip. Install a Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve in addition to a low flow showerhead! It’s a hot water recirculation system that will save water, time, and energy! In many homes it takes a long time for hot water to circulate to the faucet or shower. Waiting for the water “to heat up” wastes valuable water down the drain. The Hot Water Lobster is an electricity free solution. Installation is quick! Anyone can install it in 15 minute or less and it costs only $179.95.
The Hot Water Lobster was developed and is manufactured in the United States. The Lobster is designed according to strict manufacturing standards to ensure easy installation and long maintenance free operation.
Check it out at:
http://www.hotwaterlobster.com
8 Mark // Apr 30, 2008 at 8:57 am
Here’s an easy water conservation tip. Install a Hot Water Lobster Instant Hot Water Valve in addition to a low flow showerhead! It’s a hot water recirculation system that will save water, time, and energy! In many homes it takes a long time for hot water to circulate to the faucet or shower. Waiting for the water “to heat up” wastes valuable water down the drain. The Hot Water Lobster is an electricity free solution. Installation is quick! Anyone can install it in 15 minute or less and it costs only $179.95.
The Hot Water Lobster was developed and is manufactured in the United States. The Lobster is designed according to strict manufacturing standards to ensure easy installation and long maintenance free operation.
Check it out at:
http://www.hotwaterlobster.com
9 darcy // Jul 8, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Here is another place to get Bricor shower heads, but they do not help you with advising you about measuring the water pressure ahead of time the way the Bricor site does.
http://www.water-energy-savings.com/shower-heads.html
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