How do shower head filters work and are they effective?

If you’re active on social media, you’ve likely seen influencers talking about the advantages of using a shower head filter to improve water quality. They claim to remove contaminants such as chlorine/chloramine and heavy metals all while improving the texture of skin and hair. But do shower head filters really work, and how does a shower head filter work? In this post we’re answering the most frequently asked questions to determine if a shower filter is worth it or if there’s a better option for you.

There are many brands and models of shower head filters on the market, but generally there are two types of shower head filters: inline and integrated units. Inline units work by attaching directly to the shower head. Integrated units replace the shower head entirely. Installation is typically quick and easy and can be accomplished without professional help.

Shower head filters work by using a medium to filter the water. The most used mediums are; activated carbon filtration, KDF-55 (Kinetic Degradation Fluxion), ascorbic acid, or a multi-stage filtration system.

These mediums all vary in how they remove contaminants. Some are more effective than others. Here’s a quick breakdown of the filtration methods:

Yes, shower filters are effective at removing contaminants like chlorine/chloramine and sometimes heavy metals, but they aren’t the most effective option to address multiple types of contaminants. Filters lose their effectiveness over time and shower head filters are so small, they don’t last as long compared to whole home filters. Contaminants quickly clog up, decreasing water pressure and losing effectiveness.

When we’re talking about filtration methods that rely on water’s contact time with the filter’s surface medium — the more contact with the filter, the better. For example, a larger whole home filter will remove more contaminants than a small shower filter simply due to the filter size. And if your water contains a lot of sediment or hard water minerals, you’ll like to clog your shower filters even faster.

Shower head filters have their limitations about what they can remove. For example, hard water is a big issue for the Oklahoma City metro – an area shower filters can’t address. While you may see some benefit in the health of your skin and hair from using a shower filter, you’ll see the most difference after installing a water softener.

Shower head filters will need to be replaced frequently. Most brands recommend three to six months. However, from experience, we can tell you most will need to be replaced even sooner, especially if hard water is involved. Replacing your shower filter will depend on how much water you use and your unique water quality. You can always request a free in-home basic water analysis from us if you’re curious about your water quality.

There are benefits to using a shower head filter, such as quick installation and lower upfront costs. If you’re renting a home or looking for a fast and temporary solution, a shower head filter may be your best option. If you want to make a long-term investment in the health of your family and home, a whole-house filtration system may be a better option for you. At Mollman’s Culligan Water of Oklahoma City, we offer financing as well as leasing options to help you get access to cleaner water.

The disadvantages of using a shower head filter are that it can affect flow rate, leaving you with little water pressure. They also need to be changed frequently to be effective. It’s hard to know how frequently to change the filters because water quality and usage is different amongst Oklahoma City households.

A shower filter is a localized solution; you’ll want to install one on each shower you’d like to filter. A whole house filter and/or a water softener will filter the water as it enters your home, allowing you to enjoy clean water from every tap.

Shower filters will need to be replaced about every 90 days, sometimes more frequently. A whole home filter can be replaced every one to two years. Water softeners will require the addition of salt every six months or so.

Shower filters are great for removing chlorine/chloramine and some heavy metals which will improve the quality of your skin and hair. A whole home filter can remove PFAS, heavy metals, iron, sulfur and more. A water softener can reduce hardness and even eliminate some contaminants like chlorine/chloramine and others.

When you choose a professional water expert like Culligan of Oklahoma City, we can tailor a whole home system to your needs.