A Consumer Guide to Shower Filter Manufacturers and Brands.

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Shower filters can offer surprising health and cosmetic benefits by filtering out chlorine and other dangerous chemicals from shower water.

Many shower filters help clean and remove synthetic chemicals in the water that can vaporize and be inhaled or absorbed through the skin.

Some of the reasons for reducing chlorine and synthetic chemicals levels in your shower water include:

Chlorine bonds to skin and hair destroying the natural bacterial balance. This may lead to dryness, itching, flaking and premature skin aging.

Chlorine gas, chlorine by-products such as Trihalomethanes (THM's), chloroform and many synthetic chemicals may become vaporized in hot shower water and become a concentrated area for toxic gasses. You are consistently inhaling these gasses with regular shower activity and this may pose a long term health risk.
Chlorine and most other chemicals can also be absorbed by the skin. These chemicals can therefore enter the body even without direct ingestion from drinking water.
You may absorb more chlorine and synthetic chemicals through the skin during your shower than through drinking unfiltered tap
water.
There are primarily two types of shower filters:
Granular-Activated Carbon

KDF

KDF removes free chlorine through an electrochemical process and is not compromised by high water temperatures. KDF changes chlorine from an element into a harmless compound. KDF is also bacteriostatic and will not contribute to fungus and mildew growth within the shower filter.

The Granular Activated Coconut Carbon filters reduce synthetic chemicals in the water. Granular Activated Carbon filters are most effective at absorbing chemical contaminants.

It has been shown that we take in 7-10 times more chlorine & other chemicals from showering than from drinking water.

A recent study documents the link between chlorine and breast, colon and bladder cancer and stated that 2/3s of the harmful exposure is from showering...

--American Journal Of Public Health

Buyers Beware

Beware of companies making over exaggerated claims for small, low cost shower filters.

While most shower filtration products are reasonably priced, the small, very low cost brands typically offer little or no benefits.

Unless a filter has the proper volume of filter media and the proper flow design, the desired benefits will not be realized.

Beware of companies that make "magical" or "healing" claims.

There is nothing magical about water filtration, it's an exact science.

There are no mysterious healing benefits from "magnetizers", "energizers" or "Far-infrared crystals".

Shower filtration should simply consist of the best chemical removal process, which typically involves a combination of 2 filter medias; KDF, a zinc/ copper process for removing chlorine and a Granular-Activated Carbon for removing other synthetic chemicals.

This combination will also help balance the water's pH, providing both enhanced health and cosmetic effects.

Do I Need A Shower Filter

While everyone might not "need" a shower filter, everyone can certainly benefit from using a quality shower water filtration system.

People with respiratory problems, skin disorders or people who live on water systems that use chlorinated surface water, and most do, certainly should use shower filters.

Asthma, bronchitus, eczema and many other common ailments are very negatively affected by inhalation and absorption of chlorine and other chemicals while showering.

SHOWER FILTER COMPARISON

Aquasana Shower Filter

Click Here for Detailed PDF Report on Aquasana Shower Filter

2 stage system with replaceable cartridge.
In our tests removed greater than 80% of chlorine for 10,000 gallons.(6 months)
Uses 2 filter medias for chlorine and synthetic chemical (VOC) removal.
Complete new system cost averages $69
Replacement cartridge cost averages $39 every 6 months.
Little or no reduction in shower height or water pressure.
Rating= AAAA
Wellness Filters
2 stage system with replaceable cartridge.
Tests removed greater than 80% of chlorine for 10,000 gallons.(6 months)
Uses 2 filter medias for chlorine & VOC removal.
Complete system cost averages $249
Replacement cartridge cost averages $89 every 6 months.
Little or no reduction in shower height or water pressure.
Rating= AAAA
Paragon Filters
1 stage system with replaceable cartridge.
Tests removed 60% to 70% of chlorine for 6,000 gallons.(3.4 months)
Uses 1 filter media for chlorine reduction.
Complete system cost averages $59
Replacement cartridge cost averages $35 every 3.4 months.
Little or no reduction in shower height, some reduction in water pressure towards end of filter life.
Rating= AAA
Sprite Industries
1 stage system with replaceable cartridge.
Tests removed 50% to 70% of chlorine for 5,000 gallons. (3 months)
Uses 1 filter media for chlorine reduction.
Complete system cost averages $49
Replacement cartridge cost averages $29 every 3 months.
3-4 inch reduction in shower height and slight loss of water pressure towards end of filter life.
Rating= AA
Rain Shower Filter
1 stage system with replaceable cartridge.
Tests removed 50% to 60% of chlorine for 5,000 gallons.(3 months)
Uses 1 filter media for chlorine reduction.
Complete system cost averages $49
Replacement cartridge cost averages $29 every 3 months.
Little or no reduction in shower height, slight reduction in water pressure towards end of filter life.