Have you ever noticed that your hair and skin sometimes feel different after showering in a different place? It could be a change in the water.
Water is full of all kinds of contaminants. For this reason, filters for everything from drinking water to showers – and your home’s entire water supply – have become popular in recent years.
The trendy nature of shower filters may make you wonder if they are just the latest fad or if they’re actually worth it.
So, let’s find out if shower filters are really worth it. Below, we explain what shower filters are and look into the pros and cons associated with this bathroom product:
What Are Shower Filters?
Minerals and chemicals, like chlorine, are commonly found in water supplies across the country. Shower filters are designed to help remove some of these contaminants to make your water cleaner and safer. Most filters will specify which types of chemicals and minerals they eliminate.
Filters can range in price, depending on features, from below $20 to as much as $100. Most are somewhere in the middle, such as the one pictured here by Santevia which sells for about $40.
Benefits of Shower Filters
Fans of shower filters say these small devices can change your health, skin, and hair.
How do they do this?
● Make Water Softer:
Experts in hair and skin say that hard water (usually caused by minerals such as calcium and magnesium) can dry out your hair and skin, making your hair frizzy and more difficult to manage. Removing these elements from the water supply can reportedly improve your complexion and give you the shiny hair you’ve always longed for.
● Remove Chlorine:
Chlorine can irritate your skin and respiratory system. Chlorine in water may even be associated with exacerbating asthma symptoms! So, you can potentially improve your skin and respiratory health by installing a shower filter.
● Remove Other Contaminants:
From heavy metals to bacteria, filters are designed to remove or reduce the contents of all sorts of things from your shower water supply.
Why Not Shower Filters?
As with most consumer goods, the manufacturers make bold claims about what their products can do but some don’t always live up to their promises. There may be cases where a shower filter is simply not the best choice for you and your home. Here are a few considerations:
● You May Need a Water Softener Instead:
If you live in an area with hard water, you might want to opt to soften your entire home’s water supply. A water softener can help prevent pipe damage, soap scum buildup and clogs, while delivering soft water throughout your home. Water softening systems also may come with their own filters. This way, you can also enjoy clean, soft water for any purpose, not just in the shower. This solution may present a larger investment up front, but can give you more for your money in the long run.
● Filters Don’t Always Work:
Not all filters perform as expected. When choosing a water filter, do your homework and select one that’s been third party tested. This means that an independent laboratory has tested the filter to make sure it actually removes or reduces the contaminants it claims to remove.
● Filters Must Be Replaced:
Since shower filters rely on filtering agents such as charcoal to remove contaminants, you’ll need to replace your filter, or at least a cartridge piece, on a regular basis so that it continues to deliver best results. Replacements can be a little costly and it is a recurring expense. Some units also add ingredients to your water such as essential oils or even Vitamin C, which also need to be replenished.
Have you decided if a shower filter is right for you? The good news is that you don’t have to be a DIY enthusiast to install it on your own. Most shower filters are designed with a very simple installation process that takes just minutes to complete.
Once you’ve installed your filter, enjoy the wonderful feeling of a shower featuring warm, steamy, contaminant-free water.