Shower filters are essential devices that purify your water to provide a healthy and refreshing shower experience. They are designed to remove impurities, such as chlorine, heavy metals, and other chemicals, from your water supply.
Having access to clean water while showering not only improves your physical well-being but also enhances the overall quality of your showers.
This article is an overview of the various benefits of shower filters, how they work, and factors to consider when choosing the best shower filter for your needs.
Discover the Benefits of Shower Filters for Health and Wellness
Investing in a shower filter offers numerous advantages that lead to an improvement in your health and well-being. Some of these benefits include:
- Reducing chlorine and other harmful chemicals: Shower filters, much like the filters in drinking water systems, effectively remove chlorine and other contaminants from your water supply. This ensures that the water you use for showering is both clean and pure. Untreated water may cause skin irritation and potentially lead to respiratory issues. We expand on some of the other things that shower filters can and cannot remove from your water supply in this article.
- Improving skin and hair health: By eliminating harmful chemicals from your water, shower filters may improve your skin and hair health by preserving natural oils and moisture. This could lead to softer, smoother skin and shinier, stronger hair. Of course, many other factors, such as your diet and lifestyle, also play a role in your skin and hair health.
- Preventing bacterial growth: Some shower filters are designed to specifically reduce the growth of mold, mildew, and other bacteria that thrive in damp environments. In a study out of Japan, researchers found that point-of-use water filters on shower heads were effective in reducing the presence of bacteria such as Mycobacterium, Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, Aeromonas, and Klebsiella spp.
- Enhancing overall shower experience: Shower filters can heighten your daily shower routine by making your water gentler on your skin, leading to a more enjoyable experience. They can also improve water pressure and consistency, which in turn, contributes to a more relaxing and invigorating shower. Furthermore, some shower filters come with additional features such as aromatherapy, further enhancing your shower experience.
Unveiling the Science: How Shower Filters Work
Various filtration systems are used in shower filters to ensure you receive clean, purified water.
However, you’ll find that companies will rely on one of the three types of filtration systems:
- Kinetic Degradation Fluxion (KDF): KDF shower filters use a combination of copper and zinc to create an electrochemical reaction that eliminates harmful contaminants. KDF filters are highly effective at reducing chlorine, heavy metals, and bacteria.
- Activated carbon filters: These filters use a highly porous form of carbon to trap and eliminate impurities. Activated carbon filters are widely used due to their effectiveness in removing chlorine, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other chemicals. However, they may be less efficient in hot water conditions.
- Vitamin C filters: Utilizing a chemical reaction, Vitamin C filters neutralize chlorine and chloramines in your water supply. Vitamin C filters are highly effective at removing these chemicals, but they may not remove other contaminants.
Shower filters are typically composed of a filtration cartridge encased in a corrosion-resistant housing, which connects to your showerhead or water supply line.
Selecting the Ideal Shower Filter: Factors to Consider
When shopping for a shower filter, consider the following factors to ensure you choose the best one for your needs:
- Look for a shower filter with a multi-stage filtration system that tackles a broad range of contaminants as they will provide you with the most comprehensive protection. Single-stage filters are typically less effective at removing contaminants but may be specifically designed to target a particular type of contaminant.
- Most shower filters are fairly easy to install. However, depending on your shower system, some professional assistance may be required. Check before you order so you can get an accurate idea of the time and cost involved. However, most filters can be easily connected to your existing showerhead in less than 10 minutes.
- Choose a filter with straightforward maintenance procedures and readily available replacement cartridges. Be sure to replace the cartridge according to the manufacturer’s recommendations to maintain optimal performance.
- Ensure the shower filter you select is compatible with your current showerhead. Some larger models may not fit or limit the amount that the shower head can pivot on the ball joint. Be sure to measure for clearance.
