Side by Side Comparison of: Waterpik vs Dixon Valve & Coupling

I had one of the originals produced by Water Pik many years ago. It lasted for decades. The tooling survives apparently. This does everything I want and the price can't be beat. I gave these away for Christmas last year.

The hose was pretty stiff at first, but after a few days it relaxed. It took me about 5 minutes to install. Love the spray from this thing.

I got this shower head because I needed one that was flexible during my recovery. I have to say that now that I am back good to go I STILL use it. I love the pressure settings and also the fact that it sits so high up it makes it a breeze to rinse the shampoo out of my hair. The tubing is long enough to reach the entire distance of my large tub as well. Don't forget to use the plumbing tape because it is absolutely necessary.

Preface: I switched over from a wall-mounted 2" Moen with no model number, inconsistent water streams, but had good surface area and decent water pressure.This handheld showerhead comes with 5 different modes. The first and second modes force water out of the three jets closest to the center. Apparently one is a powerspray, and the other one is a pulsating massage, but I couldn't tell a difference; they both just forced water out. The third mode is a general spray combined with the second mode forcing water through the center jets. The fourth mode is a general spray (what I use). The fifth mode sends out mists everywhere. The water pressure in general spray mode is good. I've used stronger showerheads before, but this will do the trick. Just leaving my hand in the spray gets it a bit numb. Some people might complain that it's not strong enough, while some people might complain that it's too strong.My 2" Moen sent out water streams that were fanning out, so it covered maybe 12" of surface area. This Waterpik is about 3" in diameter, but in general spray mode, the water stream comes straight out instead of fanning out. So the surface area is only about 3". I tried leaving it between modes 4 and 5 so it gets some general spray, and some misting to cover more surface area. This does the trick, but the water pressure obviously drops. Compared to my Moen, there isn't a single area under the stream where I don't feel water hitting.Also it may not be a coincidence, but I noticed that I had to turn the water temperature to a bit hotter than normal. I installed the Waterpik filter as well, and with it being a handheld showerhead, I think a noticeable amount of heat does escape the tubing, relative to the wall-mounted Moen I had before.The packaging was hard to open, but the Installation was easy.Overall: would buy again, but I wish the spray fanned out more to cover more surface area.

I initially purchased this showerhead because in the latex free world (latex allergy), waterpik is supposed to be the best option.The price was right. The install was rumored to be easy but reviews were back and forth on that. My husband just screwed this showerhead on and turn on the water, NO LEAKS. It was *THAT* simple! No messing with Teflon tape, or adjusting, readjusting. Installation on this was worth the price alone.The showerhead had several options to choose from. The height can be adjusted, which is important to us. My husband is 6'1" and I am 5'1" so having a showerhead that is easily adjustable is vital. In fact that is how I broke the last one, trying to get it to point down far enough for me! Shorties, this showerhead will work for you!I love that you can take it out of the holder and use it as needed. This will come in so handy when I need to wash just my hair, or the kids hair, and when I shave my legs! I just wish the hose was 4-6" longer. It juuuust barely reaches my kiddos when they're in the bath.

Coming from the point-of-view of low expectations, this product over-delivers. Just got the unit a couple of days ago and installation is extremely easy -- in fact, and be careful here -- YOU DON'T NEED ANY TOOLS! This is plastic device and hand tightening (believe it or not) is all you need. I would recommend PLUMBERS TAPE though -- I used it in 3 location, main stem connection (connecting to your pipe), then on both ends of where the cord connects. Not a lot of tape, just a 3/4 to full wrap, no more.Even though I gave this thing 5 stars, one thing to note is that the product details show the unit has "Water Pause" -- that's the letter "I" on the chart. I would think that water pause, is duh, water paused and none coming out, correct? Nope, that is not a feature on this unit. I'm chalking that up to either my stupidity (my daughter said I wasn't stupid, after I said it aloud to myself -- but she's of course, extremely biased). This thing was less than $20 and I am using it at a vacation spot for my mom, so not a big deal -- but that was a feature I liked given the fact that it allows you to put on shaving cream, etc. while water (and specifically hot) is not wasted/spent.On thing to also note is that the filter screws out -- don't pry it or pull it out, it's not clear from the instructions but it's really easy (again, no tool needed) -- but you'll look at it and probably think, "yeah, just pull this gizmo out..." -- no good. Next, to remove the water regulator (if desired and not looking to get arrested) you will need a needle-nose to yank that sucker out. I would never remove it, but I still have the tags on my mattresses and pillows. God forbid.Hope this was helpful.

I needed and used this for a shower head I purchased,The price was great, cost less here than in the store.Wrapped it around the threads and no more leaks.

I bought this tape to repair the power cord for my macbook air, and so far it's worked perfectly. The tape has been on for over a week so far and the end hasn't started unpeeling in the slightest. I think it will last for a long time, and it's saved me from buying a new cord. I also liked that the tape came in a nice round plastic case, which among other things prevents the edges from getting stuff stuck to them and getting dirty.

I had the thinner size before...and I bought this wider size by accident.It turns out, it was a great accident. It reduced the amount of times I had to wind the tape around by half, since I no longer had to wind diagonally to cover the entire surface of the thread.(Not for a very small surface)Maybe everyone else already knew that there is more than one size of plumbers tape, but it was news to me.Worked great on our shower head.

Well, it's sealant tape. You can't really go wrong with it. It worked as it was intended. Bought it to wrap around the thread of a hand held shower head that needed replacing. I should have prob went with a different size tape, because this was a tad too wide, but that's not an issue since you can either have a bit of tape showing, or push the tape down.I wrapped the threading about 4-5 times, and it sealed it perfectly. Not one drop leaking, and there's plenty of tape left over for the tool box!

If you're looking at this tape to use for stretching a piercing, you have found the perfect tape for a really small price. a few wraps of this a day and before you know it you're at the next size. the only bad thing about this tape is that it does not slide well in oral piercings, and its so incredibly thin it can be kind of frustrating to wrap around a piece of jewelry, but that can be a positive too because you're able to fine tune the size increase to an incredible degree.

Does what it's meant to do!It's not too thick that you won't be able to screw the pieces together, and not too thin that it rips while using.

I like it, but the spray pattern needs to be a bit broader and fuller (particularly in the center of the nozzle).

Good, strong jets when using the regular shower setting. The massage jets for some reason aren't as powerful. Still a great value for a strong showerhead.

Very pleased with this product. At first the hose was so stiff it was hard to control. It gradually becoming more flexible with use.

This was purchased to replace a Waterpik shower head that came with the house. The old shower head would fall if the shower was turned off due to the holder losing it's grip. It was easy to install and worked right out of the box only needing to be hand tightened. There is no leaking (unlike the old one that leaked from the pipe) and the spray is almost as powerful as the spray from the old one after we removed the regulator. I'm on the fence about removing the regulator from this one as it really is not necessary but I do love a strong shower spray. I would recommend this shower head.

Installation was a breeze and plumbing usually gives me fits. The sprayer was exactly what I was looking to gain-wide spray with power. I mean power that doesn't make you feel like you're getting pelted. This one was just right even though that may have more to do with how much pressure you have in your bathroom. I will be purchasing another for my granddaughters room.

I like the 5 different settings on the shower head. The water does come out pretty strong, but I guess it depends on your water pressure. My previous shower head (the cheap one that comes in normal rental studios) was pretty weak. I changed it to this one and the water pressure is much stronger and I didn't make any changes to water pressure... I'm a girl and live alone and don't know how to do that, anyway! My maintenance guy installed it for me since the other showerhead was practically glued on, not just screwed on like normal shower heads.The hose part is not that great. I have a shower caddy that hangs from the shower head and this hose is kind of in the way, so I have the hose and showerhead tilted sideways so it doesn't get in the way of the shower cady. Also, the hose is really lightweight. When I opened the package, the hose was wrapped and bound to fit in the packaging so whatever bends it had from that... well,the bends are still there. I thought that over time it would straighten out, but I think the hose is made of cheap plastic, it's really light weight. It's not a huge deal for me, but I'm sure it would bug some other people.It's one of the cheaper priced shower heads out there, and it's a good shower head.Overall, it's a decent product. The hose doesn't leak. The shower head part doesn't leak. There are no problems or issues that I've had with this other than the hose that has the bends in it and won't go away.

been using this stuff like crazy working on the pool this summer. I wish it was easier to tear however and did not shred and wrinkle up as soon as you tried to cut or tear it. Otherwise it works great, stopped my leaky air compressor fittings and sealed my pool fittings quite well.

I have used this tape on a few plumbing projects ranging from two shower head replacements and a couple of water supply line hook ups. I am very pleased with the results. My only complaint is the tape will fold over onto itself very easily when trying to wrap onto the threads, so just take your time. Other than that, this is a great addition to your plumbing tool kit.

Not a whole lot to say. If you need pipe tape to seal things like your shower head, this is that. It seems to work well. With the semi-flimsy reel it's on and the natural properties of sealant tape, I found it easy to get it tangled up, but that's the only real nit-pick. This isn't some big purchase, it's just the tape you need and it does its job.

Works well. The first time I only wrapped it around the threads 3 times and there was a single drop leaking from it every 5-7 seconds. The next time I wrapped it 6 times around and got a perfect seal with not a single drop leaking. The tape can be ripped with hands. Be sure to push the tape down around the threads with your thumb before attempting to connect the shower head. Also, clean the threads on the pipe of any previous residue before applying tape for the best results.Only gripe is that I bought this because it was the recommended one. Not knowing anything about sealant tape at the time, I ordered it. When I received the item I did some reading saying 1/2 inch tape is the best size. After using it I discovered this to be true. Half inch tape would have been more than enough. The 3/4 inch tape works the same, but leaves a lot of unused white tape visible on the pipe.

It's okay. It does the job. It IS very thin, so cutting each piece you'll use with a small pair of scissors is highly recommended. Having worked as a plumber for some years back in the late 1970's the tape we used was a bit thicker and never once did we cut it. it did have stretch to it, but all you had to do with that pretty much was pull it tight and yank it. Try that stunt with this gauge of tape and I think you'll find that you're going to need the more than ample supply provided. the description DOES read "Industrial," so having not worked in the trade for so long I won't attempt to call this one. It IS also on the thick side measuring side to side. For shower head installation let's say, it might be a bit much. I don't know. Improvise. It does the job won't break the bank you MIGHT find Sealant Tape at the 99 Cents Only Store, but I needed it TODAY. So...

Yep… there’s a difference in tape but I had to be convinced. I thought no matter what brand or thickness I purchased it was just wrapping more around the threads would do it. I’m not a plumber but I do buy homes, live in them for 2-years, make all required repairs/improvements and then see it. Seems every house needed major plumbing work so I just purchased the cheapest 10-packs of Teflon tape I could find and kept wrapping tape until the leak stopped… or changed out the fittings. The added thickness to this tape makes for a better seal but it does not tear off easily. I’m happy with it but had to go with 4-stars because of the difficulty in tearing it off and the ragged end that is left. If you’re prone to cutting it with scissors then it’s a 5-star item. I think it is much better for metal threads because they tend to cut away the tape more when threading fittings together.

It doesn't do much for increasing pressure but it gets the job done.

The spray is good pressure but is not wide enough. Spray area barely expands beyond the radius of the shower head. May return.

Very easy to install and you do not need plumbers tape. A bit disappointed in this. There's 4 modes, not 5. I have low water pressure and bought this specifically to increase flow, as advertised. It's a modicum more but even in massage mode, feels too soft. You get what u pay for, but I'll keep it now that it's installed. Nicely designed and sturdy, no leaks at all. Hose is 5 feet long. I'm tall and could use another foot.

I don't know why these companies insist on putting the other silly modes on these things. The various massage modes are just combinations of the main sprayer and are largely ineffective at anything. The mist mode actually produces mist but the mist cools off very quick and is not all that pleasant. The hose it comes with is plastic, smells funny and likes to stick out at odd angles. I never installed it, I'm using my older metal hose instead.The primary shower function however is pretty decent. I didn't expect great things from this shower head so I was neither impressed nor disappointed. I recommend it.

Overall is ok, The Massage setting are ok, but not that great because of the lack of enough water pressure. the picture is deceiving because is not angled at 90 degrees and the rubber part is not blue but grey. The stream of water is plenty but the pressure itself is not weak but is not strong either like the old one I had. Although there is plenty of water flowing out, the reason it comes out with little pressure is because it has too many holes. The manufacturer should make the holes smaller so the water comes out stronger. I did not use the enclosed hose because I bought a longer one that matches the color of the shower head, so no issues of water restrictions as others pointed out.

My review compares this hand held shower to two previously owned Waterpik hand held showers that lasted over ten years apiece.Pros: (1) According to the instructions, no pipe tape (teflon or otherwise) is required. I installed unit without tape using my hands only. No connection leaks. (2) This hand held shower head situates itself higher than previous units because the part that inserts into the holder is at the base/bottom rather than the neck of the hand held unit. If you're over 6' tall, the extra few inches of height helps a lot. (3) The main shower setting, "full body spray," provides a great shower. (4) The "misting spray" setting is good for humidifying your apartment.Cons: (1) Previous chords were six feet, not five. The shorter chord makes this unit less effective for foot and toe scrubbing. (2) Basically there is no message flow. Water flow is weaker than previous models, with or without the flow regulator. (3) Because the holder and the base are both circular rather than oval, the hand held shower head twists in the holder. Seems like a serious design error to me. (4) The entire unit is plastic and feels light. Previous units had some metal parts, felt heavier, and engendered more confidence as to durability. But time will tell.Sorry I couldn't give a higher rating to a previously superior USA product.

ues it to fix my faucet

What a pain in the ass this was to use. I've used pipe tape before, but this had no tackiness to it that I expected, and was always a struggle getting a tight wrap going. Next time I will get off my chair and go to Home Depot to be sure of what I'm buying.

Teflon tape. It is what it is :)

It works.

nothing to say.

not what I expected from plumbers tape

The hand held feature of this shower head is great but I definitely would not call it a massager. By any stretch.

I purchased this 4 1/2 years ago and needed an additional one so purchased it again. The quality has sure gone downhill since the first purchase it shouldn't even be called by the same name. Very disappointed.

When you turn off the shower, water backs up through the fittings (no matter how tight) and sprays on the wall. I bought two of these, and both of them to it. Save your money.

so I just got this product today install is pretty easy however I have to say I'm a little disappointed in the sprayer functions leaving on the jet setting there's hardly any power behind it it's almost as if you stick your thumb over the garden hose there seems to really only be one good setting on the shower head and that's the regular shower

The suction holder doesn't work of course,(no one expects it to), but the problem I had was the misleading "chrome" terminology in the description as it implies metal. Plastic head makes sense but very thin plastic fittings? If you tighten them by hand, they drip, use pliers, they crack. Both holders fit the hose, not the head so the thing wobbles all over and no matter how you place it, no firm control of blast.

When I installed this the flow regulator was so aggressive that the trickle of water was unacceptable. After removing the flow regulator I was back to the good water pressure I expected. However, the first time I tried to adjust the spray with the water running the head came apart. Apparently the shower head is constructed so poorly that it can only handle about half the pressure my shower puts out. This is the first time I've ever had a problem with a shower head or any other plumbing fixture so my water pressure, while good, is not beyond normal ranges. Also the hose is just barely long enough for my shower where the head is mounted about six feet from the shower floor.

For my uses the tape was not too helpful. In order to keep the pivot on my folding knives from coming loose I tried using some of the tape to help tighten up the threading between the screw and female pivot end. Since the tape is so wide compared to the small screws it was difficult to wrap the tape around the screw without using too much of it. I was able to use it on two different pivots successfully. If the tape wasn't as wide it might work out better for my applications. If you use this with a longer screw it should work fine.

I purchased this to stretch my ears further and it was wholly unsuccessful. I know that's not the purpose it's intended for initially but that was my experience with it. I'm sure for its other uses it works fine

Too wide to use easily. The shower head unit that I bought also came with thread sealant tape so this wasn't needed. It didn't apply easily, but it WILL do the job.

It's so small, don't believe the picture

Absolutely the worst threading tape I have ever worked with. Almost imposable to use on small fixtures or on hard install places.

I wish this product had better power. We have great water pressure and had to purchase a new hand held as the holder broke on our last shower head.While it says massage...there is no massage. I took out water restrictor and this did not help the water force. It took me a lot longer to rinse out shampoo and conditioner.

Upon installing this water went everywhere. Now we have to package it back up and send it back. Given how hard it was to get out of the package it will be a hard to package it back up to send back.

Showerhead greatHose failedThe hose is stiff and it cannot handle good water pressure. It works for about a minute and the the water blows out of the connection at the joint that attaches to your plumbing. I checked the washer, the correct end of the hose, still fails.Returned and ordered just the showerhead version.

This is the weakest shower massage I have ever owned. Visually it is great. I am sure people will need it for more than that. Will never buy another Waterpik.

I was shocked that this shower head leaked, given the glowing reviews by other Amazon.com customers. The shower head installed within seconds, but water leaked near the top of the head, near where the spray control dial. I called Waterpik to see if they could offer a solution, but they just suggested I return the item for a refund. The item itself didn't look like very good quality The head feels like plastic, not metal, and the hose itself was so stiff, it wouldn't lay flat against my shower wall. I'll be looking for another shower head tonight!

Over the years, we've bought several of these from Amazon; loyal to this reliable product. The Brushed Nickel version of the Waterpik TRS-553 Elements 5-Mode handheld shower head provided versatility, from a gentle shower to a focused, high-pressure/pulsating massage. We found the range of choice helpful in coping with injury. The 5 settings delivered up to 30% more intensity with its OptiFLOW technology. Note: After exercise, using an intense blast with the massage setting & cold water on the injured area really minimizes pain and swelling more effectively than office visits to physical therapy for electric pulse treatments. The shower head also withstood our extremely hard water well, and required replacement only every so often.NOW, we just got the Chrome model, and even after removing the "water-saving" devise, we have only a trickle of water coming through. There is a new design with another "filter" in the hose element that we can't remove. The water-flow is weak, and the "massage" is a joke. I'm afraid the prior Brushed Nickel version will now have the same problem. I can't recommend this formerly superb product any longer!

Do not buy from amandami. They sent a cheap, unusable knock off. The plastic wheel was thin and sharp. It was not Dixon. The tape was unusable. We have a plumbing shop. We know tape. We sent it back for a refund and had to drop it off at a UPS site, which was a pain.

Roll is very small

Horrible and low quality. Will not recommend.

this was not a good bargain it look like a sample

It is horrible, it does not attach at all. Pointless purchase!!!

doesn't hold to the threads as well as my old tape, hard to keep this on before putting the connections together