Do Shower Filters Work? The Truth About Shower Water

Are you concerned about the quality of your shower water? Have you heard about filtered shower heads and head filters but are still wondering if they actually work?

While some have been shown to remove some contaminants effectively, they may not be the miracle solution some manufacturers claim. Some work and some don’t, to put it bluntly. 

Naturally, you want to clearly understand do shower filters work or not to remove contaminants from your shower water. 

In this article, we’ll explore the truth about shower head filters and whether or not they’re worth the investment. Keep reading to discover whether shower head filters work before replacing your existing shower head.

How Do Shower Water Filters Work?

The way shower filters work is pretty simple – they attach to your existing shower head or are a complete showerhead unit with a built-in filter. They have filter media inside to remove impurities from the water as it passes through. 

Various shower filters are available, each with its own mechanism for removing contaminants. Some use activated carbon, a porous material that can trap sediment, rust, and chlorine. Others may use ceramic beads or other filtering media to remove heavy metals and other harmful contaminants from water. A more robust shower filter uses, KDF-55, Vitamin C filters, and ion exchange resin.

While shower filters can help to improve the quality of your shower water, it’s important to remember that not all shower water filters are created equal. Some may be more effective than others at removing certain contaminants, and the level of filtration may depend on factors such as water pressure and temperature.

In the next section, we’ll explore the specific types of contaminants that a filtered shower head filter can help to remove, as well as the potential benefits and drawbacks of using a shower head filter in your home.

What can shower filters remove?

Let’s look closer at each contaminant and how a shower head filter can help remove them.

Chlorine

Chlorine is commonly used as a disinfectant to treat water, and is added to municipal water supplies to kill harmful bacteria and viruses. While it is effective at disinfecting water, chlorine can also harm your skin and hair, and can cause dryness, itching, and irritation.

Shower filters that use activated carbon filtering media or Vitamin C filters effectively remove chlorine from your water—activated carbon filters work by attracting and absorbing chlorine onto the surface of the shower filter media. Vitamin C filters neutralize the chlorine in the water, making it less harmful to your skin and hair.

In addition to causing skin and hair irritation, chlorine can also be harmful to your respiratory system. When you take a hot shower, chlorine gas is released into the air, which you may inhale. Prolonged exposure to chlorine gas can lead to respiratory problems, especially for those with asthma or other respiratory conditions.

Heavy Metals

Heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, and arsenic, can harm your health if consumed in high amounts. They can enter your body through ingestion, inhalation, and the skin. While the amount of heavy metals that can be absorbed through the skin is generally low, prolonged exposure to heavy metals in shower water can still pose a risk to your health.

Shower filters that use activated carbon or KDF filtering media effectively remove some heavy metals from your water, reducing the risk of exposure. KDF shower filters convert heavy metals into harmless ions, while activated carbon filters attract and absorb heavy metals onto the surface of the filter media.

NB: Not all heavy metals can be removed. In the next section about what can’t be filtered, you’ll see some of the heavy metals that will get through. 

Chemical Pollutants

Chemical pollutants like pesticides and herbicides can also be present in tap water and may harm your health. Many shower filters use activated carbon filtering media, effectively removing various chemical pollutants from water. Some shower head water filters also may use other shower filter media, such as coconut shell carbon, to remove specific chemical pollutants.

Exposure to chemical pollutants in shower water can lead to various health problems, including skin irritation, respiratory issues, and even cancer. Children, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems may be particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of chemical pollutants in shower water.

By using a shower filter that removes chemical pollutants, you can help to protect yourself and your family from the harmful effects of these contaminants.

Bacteria

Bacteria can also be present in your shower water, particularly if you have a well or live in an area with high levels of bacteria in the water supply. Some shower filters are designed specifically to remove bacteria from water. For example, an inline shower filter that uses silver has natural antibacterial properties to kill harmful bacteria in water.

Odors

Shower filters can also help to remove other unpleasant odors that may be present in your water, such as the smell of chlorine or the musty odor that can sometimes be present in well water.

What Can a Shower Filter Not Remove?

While shower filters effectively remove many contaminants from your water, there are some things they can’t remove. Here are some examples:

Hard Water

Shower filters can’t soften water, which is caused by an excess of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Hard water from hot showers can leave a residue on your skin and hair, causing dryness and irritation. You may need to use a whole house water softener or install a whole-house filter to soften water.

Chloramine

Chloramine is a disinfectant that is often used to treat municipal water supplies. Chloramine combines chlorine with ammonia, killing bacteria and other harmful microorganisms in your drinking water.

While some shower filters are effective at removing chlorine from your water, they may be less effective at removing chloramine. Chloramine is a small molecule that can pass through shower filters designed to remove larger contaminants.

Fluoride

Fluoride is often added to municipal water supplies to promote dental health. While some believe that fluoride benefits your teeth, others are concerned about the potential health risks of fluoride consumption.

A shower filter is generally not effective at removing fluoride from your water. Fluoride is a small molecule that can pass through most shower filters designed to remove larger contaminants.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

A shower filter may not effectively remove volatile organic compounds, such as benzene or toluene, from your water. These chemicals can harm your health if consumed in high amounts and can be present in tap water due to industrial pollution or other sources.

Do Shower Filters Help with Hair Loss?

If you’re experiencing hair loss or thinning, you may wonder if a shower filter can help your hair health. While many shower filter companies promote the idea that a shower filter can help prevent hair loss and promote hair growth, no scientific evidence supports this claim.

One theory is that the minerals in hard water can build up on your scalp and clog your hair follicles, leading to hair loss. 

While hard water can leave a residue on your hair and scalp, it is unlikely to cause significant hair loss or damage. Traditional shower filters are not designed to soften hard water, which means they may not effectively remove the minerals that can build up on your scalp.

While shower filters may not be effective at preventing hair loss, they can still provide other benefits for your hair and scalp. By removing chlorine and other contaminants from your water, shower filters can help to prevent dryness, irritation, and damage to your hair and scalp. This can help to keep your hair looking and feeling healthy and vibrant.

Do shower filters help hair color?

If you color your hair, you may be concerned about the effects of chlorine and other chemicals in your shower water. These chemicals can strip the color from your hair and leave it looking dull and lifeless. Some people believe that shower filters can help to protect hair color from chlorine and chloramines and keep it looking vibrant and healthy.

Although chlorine will affect the color of your hair if you dye it, the amounts in your shower water are unlikely to have any effect. Usually, professional swimmers have this problem, but they are far more exposed to chlorine than others. The main factors that affect hair color are the type of hair dye used, the frequency of color treatments, and the condition of your hair.

However, KDF shower filters can remove chlorine and other harmful chemicals from your shower water can still benefit your hair. Chlorine can cause dryness, irritation, and damage to your hair and scalp, making your hair more prone to breakage and damage. Shower filters can help prevent these issues and keep your hair looking and feeling healthy by removing chlorine and other chemicals from your water.

Do Dermatologists Recommend Shower Filters?

While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, many dermatologists recommend shower filters to protect your skin and hair from the effects of hard water, chlorine, and other contaminants.

Hard water can leave a residue on your skin and hair, which can cause dryness, irritation, and other issues. Chlorine and other chemicals in your shower water can also cause skin irritation and dryness, especially for people with sensitive skin.

By removing these contaminants from your shower water, shower filters can help to protect your skin and hair from damage and keep them looking and feeling healthy. This is especially important for people with psoriasis, eczema-prone, dry skin or, or sensitive skin conditions who may be more susceptible to hard water and chlorine effects.

Although this study does not explicitly mention shower filters, it does mention that bathing habits can affect psoriasis severity and quality of life. In other words, there may be some relief from shower filters for skin conditions. 

Can a Shower Filter Help Acne?

If you suffer from acne, you may wonder if a shower filter can help improve your skin. While shower filters are not a cure-all for acne, they can benefit people concerned about hard water’s effects and contaminants on their skin.

Hard water can leave a residue on your skin, which can clog pores and contribute to the development of acne. Chlorine and other chemicals in your shower water can also dry out your skin, worsening acne.

By removing these contaminants from your shower water, shower filters can help to protect your skin and prevent breakouts. Shower filters can also help to soothe and hydrate your skin, which can help to improve the overall health and appearance of your skin.

Do Vitamin C Shower Filters Work?

Vitamin C filters are popular for people concerned about chlorine’s effects in their shower water. These filters use Vitamin C as a media to filter out some contaminants in your water and free chlorine. They can be an effective way to remove chlorine and improve the overall quality of your shower water.

Vitamin C can neutralize chlorine in your shower water flows well. 1,000 mg of Vitamin C can de-chlorinate up to 40 gallons of water, which makes it an effective way to remove chlorine from your shower water.

However, it’s important to note that Vitamin C shower filters have limitations. While they can effectively remove chlorine from your water, they cannot remove other contaminants, such as heavy metals or pesticides. Despite what some shower water filter manufacturers may claim, they also cannot soften your water or improve the collagen in your hair and skin.

How to Know If a Shower Filter Works

If you’re considering purchasing a shower filter, it’s important to determine if it works as it should. Here are some tips for how to know if a shower filter works:

• Check the certification: Look for a shower filter certified by a reputable third-party organization, such as NSF International. This certification ensures that the filter has been independently tested and verified to remove contaminants from the water.
• Test the water: After the installation, it’s a good idea to test the effectiveness of the shower filter. You can purchase a water testing kit online or from a home improvement store to test your water for chlorine, heavy metals, and other contaminants.
• Check the filter cartridge: Some shower filters have a clear cartridge that lets you see the contaminants removed from the water. If the cartridge appears dirty or discolored, it’s a good sign that the filter is working.
• Look for replacement filters: A good shower filter will require regular filter replacement. Look for a filter with readily available replacement cartridges, as this is a good sign that the filter is effective and popular among consumers.

FAQ

Conclusion

So, now that you’ve learned about the benefits of shower filters, you might be wondering whether they’re worth investing in. The answer largely depends on your personal needs and priorities.

Overall, a shower head filter can be a great investment for improving the quality of your shower water and your overall shower experience. However, it’s important to remember that shower head filters are not a cure-all solution for all water problems. A whole-house water filtration system or system may be a better option if you’re dealing with serious water quality issues.

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