Since the 1930s, cities, and municipalities have been using chlorine to disinfect public water supplies (source). But while chlorine helps keep our drinking water safe, it is also quite harmful to humans. The CDC states that high chlorine levels can cause coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing (source).
But don’t worry; the amount of chlorine within your drinking water is regulated by the government and is safe for consumption.
However, knowing that it exists in the water, some people rightfully want to remove chlorine from their shower water. This can be especially important for people with asthma or other respiratory problems.
So how do you go about removing chlorine from your shower water?
There are two ways you can remove chlorine from your shower water:
Modern shower filters can remove upwards of 99% of chlorine from your shower water. Another way to remove chlorine is with a whole-house water filtration system. This system is installed on your main water line and will remove chlorine (and other contaminants) from all the water in your home, not just your shower water.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Both Systems
Here’s a brief overview of the advantages and disadvantages of each system:
Advantages of Shower Filters
Sometimes referred to as point-of-use (POU) filters, shower filters are a great way to remove chlorine from your shower water. And since they are installed between your shower arm and shower head, they can easily be installed by anyone, even if you’re not particularly handy.
Additionally, shower filters are a great way to enjoy clean water without incurring the cost of a whole-house filtration system. Lastly, shower filters can be added to just about any bathroom, including rental units and apartments.
Disadvantages of Shower Filters
Shower filters will only remove chlorine from your shower water and nowhere else in your home.
While most shower filters contain multi-stage filtration media, such as the AquaBliss SF100, they still have difficulty removing chloramines. To remove chloramines, the water must undergo reverse osmosis filtration or pass through a catalytic carbon filter. We discuss more chloramine removal in this article.
Advantages of Whole House Water Filtration Systems
As the name suggests, whole-house water filtration systems treat all the water coming into your home. This means that every time you turn on the faucet or shower, the water is filtered of chlorine, chloramines, and other contaminants.
Another advantage of whole-house systems is that they don’t require maintenance like shower filters. Most systems will also last for years, if not decades before they need to be replaced.
Disadvantages of Whole House Water Filtration Systems
The biggest disadvantage of whole-house systems is the upfront cost. These systems can range in price from $500 to $4000+, depending on the size of your home and the type of system you choose.
Another disadvantage is that whole-house systems require professional installation. This means that if you’re not handy or don’t have a lot of experience working with plumbing, you’ll need to hire a professional to install the system for you.
Benefits of Removing Chlorine from Water
There are many benefits to removing chlorine from your shower water, including:
- Improved skin and hair health: Chlorine strips the natural oils from your skin and hair, leaving them dry and brittle.
- Reduced risk of respiratory problems: Chlorine can aggravate respiratory problems like asthma.
- Eliminating bad odors: Chlorine can cause your skin and hair to develop a chlorine smell.
- Peace of mind: Knowing that your shower water is free of harmful chemicals can give you peace of mind, especially if you have young children or elderly family members.
Conclusion
We hope this article helped you understand the options and the advantages and disadvantages of each system for removing chlorine from your shower water. Regardless of which system you choose, we’re confident that you’ll notice a difference in your skin and hair health and a reduction in respiratory problems. Most importantly, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your family is safe from harmful chemicals.
