> Attractive. Includes 1 (uninstalled) filter and teflon plumber's tape. > Uses compact, affordable filters. Every filter comes with new pre-installed o-rings. PACKAGING > Comes in VERY hard-to-open retail "anti-theft" packaging, which is kinda ridiculous, since the showerhead is way too big to fit in a pocket or otherwise to be smuggled out of a store. And who's gonna smuggle a showerhead from an Amzn delivery van? The anti-theft packaging is also dangerous because cutting it (with scissors, etc.) creates sharp edges. Gone are the days when Amzn promoted "frustration-free" packaging. SAFELY REMOVING THE SHOWERHEAD FROM THE PLASTIC PACKAGING > With the package (top up) firmly held flat on your kitchen counter, very carefully cut ALL THE WAY around the edge (above the seam) with a box-cutter held horizontally (with less than 1/4" of blade showing), and then just lift the top off. That may sound like excessive caution and effort , but trust me, it is really the easiest, and safest, way. RETURNING TO AMZN > Obviously, you are required to destroy the original packaging to open it --- so requirements to "return in the original packaging" are problematic. Fortunately, despite the instructions, Amzn accepts products without original packaging --- so feel free to return the bare showerhead, --- with shards and fragments of the "original packaging" if you wish. Or follow my instructions (above) and you can preserve at least some semblance of the "original packaging". INSTALLING FILTER > I strongly suggest coating the black o-rings of with silicon grease before installing the filter --- which helps a little, but not enough. Be sure that the the filter is fully seated (which is very problematic), and that the outer casing is tightly closed (with the "chrome" ring) --- otherwise the head just spins and clicks, but the selector doesn't move through the selections. INSTALLING THE SHOWERHEAD > Comes with way more than enough teflon tape for installation --- but, if you use more than about 2" of the tape, installation can be tight, requiring alot of muscle and a long mechanics wrench of the correct size for the necessary leverage. You can't really tear the teflon tape, so have scissors handy to cut the 2" you'll need. It's best to "pull" the tape deep into the pipe threads before you cut off the excess. Or, you may not actually need to use the teflon tape --- particularly if you disable the flow-restrictor (see below). > Claims to require "no tools" for installation. Not true. At the very least, you'll need an adjustable wrench to remove the old showerhead, and to adequately tighten the new one. Use a 7/8" mechanic's (open end box) wrench if you can -- the exact fit and the greater leverage makes installation much easier. If you try to use pliers or a monkey wrench, you'll damage the finish. CHANGING SPRAY PATTERNS > It is VERY hard to "dial" the shower head for different shower patterns. This is made worse by the slippery outer (gray) "dial" ring --- it is very hard to get a good grip on the ring to turn it. A wash cloth helps get a better grip, but then you can't see the spray pattern. Maybe that's a good thing --- your wife and kids won't be changing your favorite pattern. If I were doing this a again, I'd be tempted to use a jar-opener to spin the selector around a couple of dozen times to loosen it up --- and/or try to spray-in some liquid silicon to lubricate it. > For me, with my municipal water supply, the showerhead was all but useless. Only one pattern was usable at all, and it took forever to simply wash the shampoo out of my short, thin, geaser (old man) hair. DEFEATING THE FLOW RESTRICTOR > According to some reviewers, the flow-restrictor was easily removable on an older model, less so on this Culligan model. I couldn't see an easy way to remove the flow-restrictor, but it is easily defeatable. From the back side (the fitting that attaches to the wall pipe), I simply pushed a 1/8" diameter Phillips-head screwdriver through the little blue-green plastic "cup", leaving a 1/8" hole. Ridiculously easy. That done, the showerhead functioned acceptably --- but not as well as a similar (apparently discontinued or not sold on Amzn) showerhead that the Culligan replaces. Apparently the small filters (even when brandnew) are themselves significant flow-restrictors. I expect the flow to become intolerable again as the filters filter (clog up over time). After defeating the flow restrictor, 3 patterns are usable. Not great, but usable. FILTER EFFECTIVENESS > In my opinion, there is just too much volume of water moving through the filter too quickly for any useful filtering, absorption, or chemical reactions to take place. So, why did I buy this product? Solely because my wife insists that she wants it. If Dr. Oz told her that it was probably ineffective, she'd believe him. I taught hydrology on the university level, but she doesn't believe me. CHANGING FILTER CARTRIDGES > The filter cartridge fits VERY tightly, and is VERY difficult to remove. (Another reviewer describes cutting the old filter out in sections with a Dremel tool). You need a monkey wrench to remove the filter, and you still risk damaging the old filter, or the showerhead casing, doing so. I can't imagine trying to replace a filter when the old filter has become cemented-in with calcium deposits.
