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Choosing a Shower Filter Shouldn't Be Hard
If you're getting a headache trying to figure out shower filters, this page was made for you.
You'll get a brief overview of the 3 major reasons to filter your shower water, followed by 12 design features that can help guide your decision.
Examples of shower filters with each design feature are shown.
Why Filter Your Shower Water?
Shower Falls
Shower filters protect your health and beauty by:
- Removing chlorine from your shower water and steam
- Softening shower water to reduce soap scum and hard water deposits
- Reducing rust and other oxidized minerals in your shower water
Choosing Your Shower Filtration Media
There are 4 types of filtration media used in shower filters:
KDF is a mixture of copper and zinc. When water flows through KDF, a tiny electrical charge is created.
This electrical charge forces free chlorine to combine with minerals in the water (usually calcium or another alkaline mineral). The combination of chlorine and these minerals is a harmless chloride.
KDF is most efficient at warmer water temperatures typically used in the shower.
Carbon removes impurities from water because it has a sticky surface. Carbon media comes in many grades but a high grade must be used in the shower because of the warm water temperatures.
Chlorgon converts free chlorine and some combined chlorines into harmless chlorides. Chlorgon is very efficient at a wide range of water temperatures, so it's a great combination with KDF.
Crystals & Magnets are used to soften water by reducing the size of the clusters of water molecules. This makes the water feel softer and makes soaps and shampoos sudsier.
OK, let's have a look at shower filters that use each of the above filtration mechanisms.
AQ-4105
Aquasana shower filters include activated carbon as the second stage to KDF.
If you're sensitive to chemicals, activated carbon can make a noticeable difference by filtering other volatile organic chemicals from your shower.
The carbon also gives the water a terrific feel, more like soft water than other shower filters.
Aquasana has both hand held and fixed head models.
New Century®
Rainshow'r shower filters include crystalline quartz as a second stage to KDF.
Crystalline quartz reduces the surface tension of water, making your shower feel great and your shampoo and soaps lather like never before.
The Rainshow'r CQ-1000 is certified to NSF Standard 177 for 25,000 gallons.
The Rainshow'r New Century is NSF 177 certified to 30,000 gallons.
Rainshow'r filters have a higher certified capacity than any other shower filters in their price range.
PureMist™
Sprite shower filters include Chlorgon as a second stage.
The main difference between the various Sprite shower filter models is cartridge life and the features or design of the shower head.
Sprite has many shower filter designs to choose from.
All Sprite shower filters are certified to NSF Standard 177. The cartridge life varies with each cartridge design.
Use Your Existing Shower Head
If you already have a shower head that's perfect for you, it can be used with almost any shower filter.
Most Sprite shower filter models are available without a showerhead, so you can easily attach your favorite one and avoid paying for a shower head you won't use.
On the models shown below, the filter and the shower head are completely separate, so using your existing shower head won't have any impact on the filter performance.
Each filter below accepts a standard screw-on shower head.
Sprite also offers a Hose Filter that attaches to any standard hand held shower hose.
The detail description pages show shower heads in the picture at the top, but you can see larger pictures without the sower head to the left as you scroll down the page.
To choose a shower filter without a shower head:
- Click on the picture below for the shower filter you want
- Add the shower filter to your shopping cart using the Add To Cart button
- Click on the Select Finish and/or Select Showerhead dropdown
- Choose the option without a showerhead.
Highest Flowing Shower Filters
If the flow rate of your shower is very important to you, check out the following models, which have a higher flow-through rate than most.
Note that by law, all shower heads limit the flow to 2.5 gallons per minute.
These units have the best flow through the filter for best performance in low pressure situations.
If you want a filtered shower, but have low water pressure, the flow restrictor can be removed from the shower heads included with shower filters below except for the Sprite Royale handheld.
Even if you can't remove the flow restrictor, the spray on the Royale hand held is a very tight pattern. This tight pattern makes the spray feel like a lot more than 2.5 gallons per minute.
One more thing to consider if you have low water pressure. We offer the Rainshow'r PowerShower shower head, which uses the Bernoulli principle to make low pressure showers feel more powerful.
The PowerShower really is amazing. I've used one in my parent's home that's on a low pressure well water system.
The PowerShower turned the wimpy drizzle from the old shower head into a great feeling shower. I literally couldn't believe the difference...feels just like city water pressure.
The PowerShower felt so good, my dad even measured the water usage because it just felt like more water must be used to make such a spray. The PowerShower was saving water, just didn't feel like it.
Chrome, Gold, and Nickel Finish Shower Filters
You may not want to install a white plastic shower filter in your beautiful, new bathroom.
Luckily, many models are available in chrome, polished brass, brushed nickel, and gold finishes.
Also, some shower filters just look nicer than others, which could be a factor for your up-scale bathroom.
The detail description pages sometimes show white finish in the picture at the top, but other finishes can be seen to the left as you scroll down the page.
To choose a different finish, such as chrome:
- Click on the picture below for the filter you want
- Add the shower filter to your shopping cart using the Add To Cart button
- Click on the Select Finish dropdown
- Select the finish that matches your bathroom
Chrome Finish and Chrome Trim
Brushed Nickel Finish
Polished Brass Finish
Gold Finish and Gold Trim
Oil Rubbed Bronze Finish
Raise the Shower Head Height
For tall people, raising the shower head can make for a much more comfortable shower.
The Sprite Slim Line and All-In-Ones, and the Aquasana Shower filter maintain the shower head at almost the same height as normal shower heads.
The Sprite Shower Extensions are designed to raise or lower the shower head to match almost any desired height.
Now this is something most people don't realize: a hand held shower also raises the height of the shower head.
Look at the pictures below. Notice how the shower head is on one end of the handle and the other end of the handle attaches where your current shower head attaches.
That is an easy 6 inches higher for some models.
Maintain the Shower Head Height
If you are't quite up to NBA heights, perhpas just maintaining the existing shower head height is enough for you.
These shower filters either maintain the shower head at the same height, or move it down less than a couple of inches.
Hand Held Shower Massage
Many people really love their hand held shower massage, others have never tried one. Either way, it"s an option to consider.
Just be warned, you might get hooked too!
Luxury Style Shower Head
Many people like the overhead rainfall type shower head, like found on the Sprite Shower Extension models.
Lowest Price, Most Economical
Lowest cost of initial purchase is the Sprite Perma Seal, lowest ongoing cost for replacement cartridges is the Rainshow'r CQ-1000.
The Rainshow'r CQ-1000 and New Century are NSF certified for 25,000 and 30,000 gallons, respectively.
Rainshow'r quotes conservative estimates for filter life because of varying water conditions.
The only other shower filters certified for 25,000 gallons or more sell at a much higher price point (e.g., the Wellness filter is about $250 and is certified for 27,000 gallons).
Massaging Shower Head
A massaging shower head is a luxury enjoyed by millions.
Massaging shower heads are available on all Aquasana shower filters and all Sprite filters except the All-Brass and Shower Extension models.
NSF Standard 177 Certified Shower Filters
The only objective performace comparison between shower filters is a standardized test performed by an independent third party.
NSF defined a certification test for shower filters that tests for filtration of chlorine and pressure tests the filter housing for integrity.
You can view NSF Standard 177 Certifications for all shower filters on the NSF website's NSF Product and Service Listings.
The following shower filters are NSF 177 Certified:
- All Sprite Shower Filters (it's a long list to include here)
- Rainshow'r CQ-1000 & New Century (see below)
Have 2 Showers? Save on Rainshow'r & Sprite
When you get two or more of any Rainshow'r or Sprite shower filter, a quantity discount is applied in the shopping cart.
Just increase the quantity in the shopping cart and press the "Recalculate" button to get the discount.
The discount varies with each model, so just click on any Sprite or Rainshow'r product picture to see discount information on the product details page.
Have Questions? Just Ask Mr. Water Filter
If you have a question about a shower filter, simply use our Ask Mr. Water Filter feature to get a fast and honest answer.
