Installing a shower filter isn’t the most glamorous job, but if you’re sick of hard water, it’s worth doing. There are plenty of different filters out there, but choosing the right one can be tough. Do some research before buying one, and you’ll be sure that you get the filter you need. I always like to talk with the people at the hardware store about new filters or tools, but you can always do your own research online.
Where Does the Filter Go?
If you’re really worried about all of the water being piped into your house, think about getting a filter for your entire home. Just keep in mind that that kind of filter can be a little more expensive. If you’re just worried about the shower water, or can’t afford an expensive filtration system, then a showerhead filter is what you need. These filters attach to your showerhead and filter the water right before it comes out of the head.
Water Filters Systems to Consider and Why They’re Good
Culligan’s ISH-100 showerhead filter is cheap, prevents drying of the hair and skin, and gets rid of 99% of the chlorine in your water. This system usings the Culligan WHR-140 filter. You’ll have to change the filter at least twice a year or every 10,000 gallons, which will run you right around $18 per filter.
Although this Sprite showerhead filter system is about double the cost of the Culligan, it does an even better job of filtering water. It is a high output system with an attractive solid brass finish with the ability to remove 99% of the chlorine in your water as well as several other harmful chemicals. The filters for this unit are the Sprite HOC cartridges which cost around $25 each.
This shower filter is the first shower head with an internal filtering system. It combines function and design for an all in one system. This shower head boosts a 5-way adjustable shower head with standardized fitting to fit most showers. The replacement filters are priced closer to the Culligan filter, and will remove 99% of the chlorine in your water.
No matter which showerhead filter you choose, make sure that it will remove at least 80% of the chlorine in your water. If you’re really concerned about getting the best quality water, get a filter with a two-stage filtration system. Also note, not all shower filter systems come with it’s own shower head.
How Does It Go On?
Showerhead filters are easy to install.
- Unscrew your showerhead from the pipe coming out of the wall. This might be a little tough. The threads on these showerheads can sometimes get pretty bound up, so you might need a good pipe wrench. (If you don’t have one, go out and get one. It’s a good tool to have in your home’s toolbox.)
- The filter is going to go between the showerhead and the water pipe. There should be threads on both ends of the filter, and on the pipe and the showerhead. Match up the threads appropriately and screw everything together. That’s it.
Most water pipes and showerheads have pretty standard threads and almost any filter should work with any showerhead, but if you run into problems, take your filter back to the hardware store and tell them what’s going on. They should be able to help you figure it out. When my oldest son installed a filter on his shower, he had some trouble and took a few pictures with his cell phone. He told me the pictures were a big help when he got back to the hardware store.
