I have had the panel for about three months now. I am really happy with it. There are a couple of items worth mentioning
I installed the unit in a typical construction grade tub/shower arrangement with curtain. This was a bit like installing a diamond in a piece of coal but my plan was to prototype a panel in the guest bath for eventual installation of a similar or nicer unit in my master bathroom. The net result is I now take all my showers in the guest bathroom.
Why? Well, the panel has a temp gauge so I can easily see where I'm at when I get the shower warming up. I know what my best temps are for post workout shower and normal evening shower. I can set the faucet up and get exactly the right temp before I step in. Very cool.
The panel looks great in the shower. It really looks high quality for the price. If you have hard water, be prepared to give the fascia a wipe down after your shower in order to keep it shiny. No biggie, takes me about 30 seconds.
The shower head is a fixed spray but I love the rainlike quality of the shower. Water flow is very evenly distributed across the large square shower outlet and is just feels great without splashing all over the place. You could almost shower without a curtain. For those who want a massage effect you can use the hand held shower fixture which provides different spray patterns.
The small spray outlets on the fascia work OK but I find them somewhat superfluous. Some people would probably like them.
The install was a bit of a pain but that had to do with ancient plumbing at my place, all of which I had to cut out and replace. Good news is I was able to find all necessary parts on Amazon.
Finally the shower fascia is like a mirror so you can use it to shave in the morning. There is a small flat area on top of the panel which is perfect for shaving cream and razor storage.
Overall I am really happy with this shower and consider it a great value for money as of the three month point.
Edit at the one year point. Still very happy have not remodeled yet but shower still looks and operates beautifully.
Update 12/02/19 - well, I now have nearly two and a half years on this panel and it is going great. Couple of tips and lessons learned.
1. As mentioned in my original review. If you have anything but the softest water, invest thirty seconds of time to wipe the unit down after use. I do this and the darn thing still looks brand new. it is used a lot too.
2. When you first get the unit, pay special attention to the nut which holds the shower head to the panel. Mine is a little looser than I would like and I keep having the readjust the shower head pipe coming out of the panel. No leaks there but just an annoying adjustment. To fix this I will have to remove the panel from its brackets to get behind the fascia and tighten the nut. That is a bit of a pain so check tightness before you install.
Overall I am still extremely happy. The unit continues to function perfectly. I intend to buy a second one to install in the master shower.
update 08/11/23
Time flies!! But it does not seem to be flying for the shower panel. Still looks and functions like new.
Couple more observations first, the nut to tighten the shower head pipe is not accessible even with the panel off the wall. As, mentioned earlier, not an issue leak wise but annoying having to tweak the orientation of the shower head from time to time. They probably have that fixed by now.
The internal plumbing of this unit is the secret sauce IMO, All you need on the wall is a cold and hot water outlet. I pity those of you who have a behind the wall multi function valve. Heads up people, sooner or later you are going to have to replace this valve and it will cost a fortune. Do yourself a favor, buy a shower panel which includes the valve and plumbing. And reconfigure your bath to simply provide hot and cold water outlets (similar to what you see with a clothes washer). This way when something goes bad you can simply replace the panel and it will take you about 30 minutes AND the install will be FREE. You can buy one of the panels for the cost of two hours of plumber's labor, not that you'll have to because this thing is holding up beautifully after almost six years.
| Brand | Blue Ocean |
|---|---|
| Color | Blue |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Number of Handles | 8 |
| Handle Material | Brass |
| Mounting Type | Wall Mount |
| Included Components | Hose |
| Manufacturer | Blue Ocean |
| Part Number | 22099749080 |
| Item Weight | 34.7 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 43.5 x 10 x 52 inches |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Item model number | SPA392M |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
