Taking a shower is understood to be a momentary escape from not only dirt and grime but from the stresses of life. Some people use their time in the shower as an opportunity to wind down or to psych themselves up for the day. But the purity and cleanliness of the water itself matters to how effective a shower actually is. Even with the cleanest of home water sources, there is a possibility of minerals and other undesirables seeping into the water from the ground or even residue from some pipe materials. Some filters seep out these undesirable elements and some replace them with beneficial things like vitamins and healthy minerals. Within the general category of shower filters are various filter types, materials, prices, capabilities, and features. These features can easily overlap.
So how do you choose which shower filter is best? How do you know which features to look for and which models may be right for you and your family? Online research can go far in helping with the decision, as can consulting employees at brick-and-mortar stores. Any product bought online should have plenty of reviews available, and some retailers even offer a customer-run question and answer section for customers to discuss the pros and cons of the product and ask specific questions. Here are examples that provide an excellent starting point and are readily available for order on Amazon.
1. Aquasana AQ-4100
Aquasana’s coconut shell carbon and copper-zinc mix helps to reduce organic compounds that could be harmful to anyone who uses the non-filtered shower or chooses a filter which later proves to be inadequate. Undesirable elements can seep through a cheaply made filter or one that is not equipped to handle how often a shower is used. Some of these undesirable elements are chlorine, pesticides, lead, and other elements that are not only harmful to your skin and hair, they could cause internal damage or illness if ingested. The AQ-100 does not only filter the water coming from the shower. As a result of this process and through a small separate one, it purifies the steam and by default the shower air. The lungs are sure to be pleased by the much smaller levels of harsh chemicals and potential bacteria that can lurk in tap water. This filter lasts for 10,000 gallons or six months, making it one of the most durable filters available.
2. BathBeyond
With fifteen internal stages of filtration, this shower filter ensures multi-layered protection from harsh chemicals and mineral hiding in the water coming from the tap. It is easy to install and easy to replace. Multiple layers of PP cotton, as well as steel balls, steel mesh, activated carbon, and more make it difficult for nasties to find their way through the filter and to the showering person’s hair and skin. Hair, skin, and nails are sure to reap the benefits of the extra vitamins and good minerals. Several of the filtration layers are formulated to not only prevent the “bad” stuff from getting into the water that ultimately is used, they have several benefits themselves as material. Enhanced KDF-55 helps to reduce hard water buildup and as an added bonus, this model comes in four different colors to fit in with the rest of the bathroom decor. It is sleek, stylish, and a simple option for those who do not want to deal with complex installs and taking apart the pipes.
3. Torti Lia
Like the filter from BathBeyond, Torti Lia’s version has a fifteen stage mineral, material, and metal filtration system. However, a benefit this version has is that it currently comes with replacement filters and, like the BathBeyond version, a special type of tape used for plumbing projects and repairs. This filter will not reduce water pressure, which is a common fear for people shopping for shower filters. Instead, this filter both softens and purifies without sacrificing water pressure and heat as a trade. With a temperature range from forty to one hundred seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit, it is an excellent choice for everything from cold wake-up showers to steaming the bathroom for symptom relief from sore throats and the common cold and is easy to install and replace. The vitamin c infused into the filtration system helps to clear breathing passages and boosts the immune system, as well as nourishing the skin and hair and even improving overall health.
Benefits of a Shower Filter
While shower filters do have unique features depending on which model is purchased, they all serve the same basic purpose and offer similar benefits. Eliminating harmful chemicals such as chlorine that can have a detrimental effect on health and confidence helps to enhance the physical and mental health of the user as well as preventing hard water buildup from crusting into the holes in the showerhead and negatively impacting the water quality and pressure.
Another benefit of having a shower filter is that it actually can save money. Because the water will feel cleaner and will be more nourishing, it will feel less urgent to use more and more water and soap to feel truly clean. As a result, less water will be used and over time the filter will pay for itself by reducing the monthly water bill. Even other personal care items could be reduced in how often they are needed to be purchased. For example, harder water means that it is less nourishing. This result leads to dryer skin, hair, and nails, which in turn leads to more solutions (such as lotion and conditioner) purchased. Ultimately, hard, unfiltered water can make life in general more expensive.
Buying Guide
While ordering shower filters online is certainly a viable option, so is looking at department stores and other retailers. Home repair departments and even entire stores devoted to construction and maintenance of the home would have more options than a department store, and the likelihood of finding an even greater variety of options increases if consumers can find a store that specifically sells plumbing supplies. Major retailers like Home Depot and Ace Hardware are likely to have a good number of options in a wide variety of price ranges.
Even though there is a variety of styles and prices of shower filters, it is important not to go for the cheap option simply because it is cheap. The number of people using the shower, how long the showers typically last, how often the shower is used, what the average water pressure is, and more can affect which model and brand of shower filter to buy. Different types of filtration may work better for different people, and allergies should be taken into consideration especially when filters involve metals or other materials that could be an allergen, such as nickel plating. While it is true that the higher the price of the filter the more likely it is to be a decent quality, even some high-end filters contain potential allergens or pose a risk to people with certain medical conditions. It is important to consider all factors, especially health and finances, when shopping for a shower filter. What is a good value to one family could be a frivolous investment for a single person in a one bathroom home. In addition, different regions may have different water needs and the water from one could damage a filter if the proper filter is not purchased.
Shower filters are not the most complex plumbing product, but they are an important one. They can increase the health of the plumbing of your home by allowing for less water used to feel clean, and they can benefit your health by filtering out the bad and being constructed of good materials, including vitamins and beneficial minerals. They can reduce the water usage overall when showers become shorter, and they make excellent boosters to beauty routines due to their tendency to soften hair, skin, and nails through the water purification process and the added vitamins. As a byproduct of improved overall health and softer hair, skin, and nails, mental health may be improved through both the general feeling of enhanced health and the knowledge that a smart, effective purchase has been made.