Founded in 1966 and headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, Pentair is a publicly traded company focusing on water and fluid solutions.
The PSF-1WC is among the most popular shower filters available at Home Depot, with a 4.0-star rating and over 400 reviews. This 3-stage filter promises to remove impurities from your water, including chlorine, rust, dirt, and sediment. It also claims to improve the condition of your skin and hair.
Today we’ll be reviewing and rating many different aspects of this shower filter, including the filtration media, ease of installation, price, and more.
Let’s dig in and see if the Pentair PSF-1WC is worth your money.
Filtration Media
Like the Aquasana AQ-4100 we reviewed, the PSF-1WC relies on a copper and zinc media to remove that targets chlorine and chloramine. For chlorine reduction, the PSF-1WC can remove 96% of free chlorine at a flow rate of 1.5 GPM. However, the 1.5 GPM can be a dealbreaker as it can significantly reduce the flow rate in your shower, making for a less than enjoyable experience.
Working together with the copper and zinc media, Pentair also includes an activated carbon media block in the PSF-1WC. The carbon media is designed to reduce chloramines, herbicides, pesticides, and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Additionally, the activated carbon works to eliminate odors such as those from sulfur or chlorine.
As a bonus, the PSF-1WC includes scent bars that provide a spa-like level of aromatherapy to your shower. These are, of course, optional, especially if you have respiratory sensitivities, but they can be a nice touch.
Note: Can shower filters thoroughly remove chloramines?
Compatibility
With standard 1/2″ NPT connections, the PSF-1WC can be easily installed onto most standard shower arms. However, the filter and the handheld wand may be too heavy if you have a gooseneck, ceiling, or an adjustable shower arm. It could cause your shower arm to droop or simply not be compatible.
Learn more about identifying your shower arm in our side-by-side comparison of the different types.
Installation
Like most shower filters, installing the PSF-1WC is a relatively straightforward process that should only take a few minutes.
You’ll only need a wrench and Teflon tape on hand, as the filter comes with everything else you’ll need for a standard installation.
Pentair has a great video demonstrating step-by-step how to install the PSF-1WC:
Initial Cost
From the affordable Sprite SL2-CM, which costs less than $30, to the Sonaki 300VPX Vitamin C shower filter that rings up at $99.99, the PSF-1WC skews to the high side at $90.30.
However, it’s worth pointing out that the PSF-1WC includes a shower head, whereas the other filters mentioned previously do not.
Maintenance Costs
Aside from the initial cost of the filter, you will need to eventually replace the cartridge. The PSF-1WC must replace the filter every six to nine months (approximately 30,000 gallons). The replacement filters, available here, cost $58.
If you replace your filter every six months, this equates to $116 per year. If you shower daily, that’s about $0.31 per day. Substantially higher than the comparable AquaBliss SF100, which costs about $0.09 per day.
Here’s how to change the filter:
Design
While aesthetics are certainly subjective, we think the PSF-1WC looks good. Available in an all-white or chrome finish, this filter has a nice look that fits most bathroom designs.
However, the bulkiness of the filter may not compliment more modern designs that favor sleek and slim lines over chunkier pieces.
Warranty
Pentair offers an industry-standard one-year warranty on the PSF-1WC. This means that if you experience any defects in workmanship or materials during the first twelve months of ownership, Pentair will replace your filter free of charge.
You can view the full warranty information here.
Alternative Pentair Models
Pentair makes a few different shower filters, which follow the same overall canister design. The PSF-1NHC-P and PSF-1NH are a great choice if you want Pentair’s filtration technology but prefer to keep your existing shower head. These models do not come with a shower head and instead install right onto your existing one.
Other Brands
Pentair is not without some intense competition in the shower filter market. Some suitable alternatives to the PSF-1WC include:
- AquaBliss SF100: The AquaBliss SF100 is a great overall shower filter that improves water quality and saves money. This is accomplished using an ultra-fine stainless steel mesh that traps sediment and scale while allowing healthy minerals to pass through.
- Aquasana AQ-4100: The Aquasana AQ-4100 is a multi-stage filtration system with copper-zinc media and a coconut shell carbon filter. This combination effectively reduces harmful contaminants while improving the taste, smell, and overall quality of your shower water.
- AquaYouth 2.0: The AquaYouth 2.0 is a great choice if you’re looking to improve your skin and hair health. This filter uses granular activated carbon (GAC) and is NSF/ANSI 177 and 372 certified.
Overall
In summary, the PSF-1WC is a great shower filter that will effectively improve your water quality. While it’s not the cheapest option on the market, it does come with a shower head which helps offset the initial cost.
Here are our final results:
| Dimension | Summary | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Filtration Media | The multi-stage filtration media used in the PSF-1WC effectively reduces harmful contaminants and improves skin and hair health. Reduced flow rate can be a dealbreaker for many. | 80 |
| Compatibility | The PSF-1WC is compatible with most standard shower heads. Just keep in mind your type of shower arm. | 95 |
| Installation | Installing the PSF-1WC is a relatively simple process that can be completed in minutes. | 100 |
| Initial Cost | This shower filter is quite pricey compared to some of its counterparts. But the included shower head provides some savings. | 90 |
| Maintenance Costs | The PSF-1WC will need to have the filter replaced every six to nine months, costing $58; it’s quite a bit more than other options. | 85 |
| Design | While larger than some other models, the clean white or chrome design will fit with most bathroom decors. | 90 |
| Warranty | Pentair offers an industry-standard one-year warranty against defects in workmanship and materials. | 95 |
| Overall | The PSF-1WC is a fantastic shower filter that will reduce harmful contaminants and improve your water quality. While it’s pretty pricey, the included shower head helps offset some of the initial cost. | 91 |
