How To Choose A Shower Water Filter
Shower water filters perform precisely what their name implies: they filter the water in the shower. Tap water can be safe to drink, clean with, and so on. But what about taking a shower? Not in the least. In this article, we’ll talk about how to choose a shower water filter that serves its purpose.
The water coming out of your showerhead may not be as pure as you believe. Tap water in many houses contains minerals and chemicals such as chlorine that can irritate your skin. These contaminants can form a film on your body when you shower or bathe. It makes it more difficult to lather up and rinse clean. Hair dull, brittle, and flat, and dry or irritated skin can all be caused by washing in hard water. Contaminants in the water supply, especially heavy metals like lead, can cause major health problems in larger amounts.
Shower filters are a simple solution for removing impurities and avoiding the negative effects of hard water. Like water filters, these devices have layers of materials that sift out metals, silt, chemicals, and other pollutants as water flows. Installing a shower filter is simple. It can be especially advantageous if you reside in a hard water area or detect chlorine or other unpleasant odor when the water is flowing.
How Do Shower Filters Work?
You may be experiencing the impact of some compounds in the water if your skin feels itchy and your hair feels lifeless after a seemingly relaxing shower. Shower filters are useful in this situation. Once connected to your existing shower arm, they use appropriate filtration technologies. It helps keep such contaminants from contacting your skin and hair.
These technologies use specific filtering media or combinations of media. Popular choices are KDF (Kinetic Degradation Fluxion) and GAC (Granular Active Carbon) to filter out contaminants. KDF takes advantage of the redox process, whereas GAC absorbs and traps the molecules physically.
Initially, its mere intention is to filter impurities from the water and make it safer. The instrument improves over time, even going so far as to improve the water quality by releasing nurturing elements. It will enhance our skin and hair health, which is a nice adjustment.
SHOWER FILTER TYPES
There are two sorts of shower filters when it comes to installation methods.
- Filtered shower heads are shower heads that have a built-in filtration mechanism and require users to remove their old showerhead.
- Shower filters placed in-line or portable are installed between the current showerhead and the water supply line. They’re usually small and require little work to set up.
There are (potentially) three sorts if we categorize them based on the filtration target.
- Chlorine filters are the most prevalent, as well as the earliest, form of the shower filter. KDF, GAC, and Calcium Sulfite are the most common media used in chlorine filters.
- Chloramine filters: While less hazardous than chlorine, chloramine poses a health danger in the shower. Particularly when using hot water. Vitamin C has been the most successful medium thus far.
- Fluoride shower filters have been increasingly popular in recent years. I’m not sure why this is the case, especially given there aren’t many studies on fluoride’s adverse effects.
HOW TO CHOOSE A SHOWER WATER FILTER: BUYING GUIDE
We understand how stressful it may be to complete all the research to cross your t’s and dot your i’s when selecting whether or not to purchase a shower filter.
That’s why we went ahead and took care of it for you! Use our comprehensive buyer’s guide to learn everything you need to know about shower head water filters and how to make the best decision for your needs.
Choosing Tips
- You might not know where to begin your search because there are so many shower head water filters on the market nowadays. That’s why it’s crucial to understand which shower head filters are available and how they work.
- You might be able to locate a limited selection of shower head water filters at your local home improvement store. But the best choice is always found online. Not only can you see which possibilities are available to you when you purchase online, but you can also filter down your search. You can search depending on your individual preferences, such as price, model, and size.
- When shopping online, set up a time to read product reviews, whether objective reviews provide you with factual information about a filter or consumer reviews based on personal experience. These can be quite useful in judging whether a product lives up to the claims made by its producer.
- Before you buy a shower head filter, make sure you understand exactly what to expect from it. Contact the manufacturer directly if there’s any lacking vital information regarding a product. You want to be sure you’re investing in a filter that will perform just as it should.
Considerations
Material Used
A shower head water filter is available in both plastic and metal.
Your personal preference may depend on the aesthetics of your bathroom and the current shower. Because the materials are meant to help them blend in, matching a shower head water filter to the rest of your bathroom environment shouldn’t be too tough.
Plastic shower heads and filter units are typically less expensive, but they are more prone to wear and tear leakage and aren’t as long-lasting as metal equivalents. Some higher-quality metal showerhead water filters are rust-resistant, but you’ll have to spend extra for this type of superior material.
Budget
Showerhead water filters are priced vary depending on their performance, marketing, quality, and brand recognition. It can sometimes cost at the lower or higher end of the market for no obvious reason, so don’t base your decision just on price.
There will be lots of choices, so even if you don’t want to go too high or too low with your budget, you’ll be able to choose from a variety of filter kinds.
Size and Flexibility
Showerhead water filters, like showerheads, are typically much larger than standard shower units. Make sure the filter you choose is compatible with the specifications of your existing shower arm.
You should be able to find clear dimensions in a product’s description, which you can then compare to the specs of your shower unit to ensure compatibility.
Weight
Many people don’t think to check the weight of a shower head water filter before buying it online, but if safety and convenience are important to you, it’s worth it. You want to be able to lift your shower head with ease, and you don’t want it to be so heavy that the arm can’t support it.
Installation and Maintenance
The best shower filters have a self-installing design. Even if you have limited DIY skills, you can easily install your shower head unit. However, the quality of the manufacturer’s installation instructions might either help or impede your ability to complete the work swiftly.
With any shower head water filter, you want well-organized installation instructions that are not overly wordy and include important labeled diagrams to assist you in doing the job as fast and completely as possible. Certain filters may even have specific online video lessons illustrating the installation process if you’re a visual learner.
It’s also crucial to have plenty of showerhead maintenance instructions. A good filter unit should have a comprehensive user manual covering all you need to know about filter changes and regular maintenance.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
If you care about your health even when showering, you should know how to choose a shower filter. Your water pipes have a significant impact on the water that enters your home. Even though water is completely cleansed at a treatment facility, it may take up various toxins on its way to you from the pipes alone.
Certain older piping systems consist of lead and copper. They can leak into the water, giving it an unpleasant taste and odor and posing a major health danger.
Whether or whether toxins in your water are a concern for you, a shower water filter is required if you want to maintain your hair healthy. You might discover that no matter how often you wash your hair or what products you use, you can’t get your hair to seem soft and lustrous.