Shower Filter
Reviews and Recommendations

The fact is we have a much greater potential for toxic exposure to chlorine, chlorine by-products, and other chemicals via our daily shower than we do with drinking.

The reason for this is because chlorine vaporizes in a hot shower and is then inhaled and transferred into the blood stream by way of the lungs.

According to Dr. John Andelman, Ph.D., in Bottom Line, August 1987, “A long, hot shower can be dangerous. The toxic chemicals are inhaled in high concentrations.”

In addition to inhalation, the chlorine is readily absorbed through your skin. When your shower water is hot (or even warm) your pores are wide open.

Thus, a five- to ten-minute shower can equate to drinking up to a gallon of chlorinated water (unfiltered).

Another way to look at this is to realize that you might drink one-half gallon of water a day (eight 8-oz. glasses), but when you shower you expose yourself to 20 or 25 gallons of chlorinated water.

What Is the Big Deal About Chlorine?

The biggest health issue related to chlorine has to do with the by-products that are formed when chlorine combines with organic matter in the water or in our bodies.

These harmful disinfection by-products (DBPs), such as trihalomethanes (THMs), have been shown to cause cancer in lab animals.

Scientific studies have also linked the long-term exposure of chlorine by-products to serious health conditions such as cancer of the bladder, stomach, colon and liver.

High blood pressure, heart disease and allergies have also been linked to chlorine.

In addition to the health risks, chlorine strips the natural oils from your skin and hair, causing excess drying. Showering in chlorinated water can also break down hair dyes.

Key Advantages of Using a Filter for Your Shower

A good quality shower (and/or bath) filter can significantly reduce these health risks for people of all ages. In fact, children and the elderly are at highest risk for health issues.

• Provides a significant reduction of exposure to chlorine and disinfection by-products (DBPs)
• Filters out volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as well as some heavy metals such as lead and copper
• Improves the texture of skin and hair
• Maintains free-flowing water and is easy to install
• Is reasonably priced and has a low cost of ownership
• Will help you to sing better in the shower (no guarantees though)

My Top 3 Picks for Shower Filters

I recommend the following filters (in no particular order) because of their filtration media, company reputation and reliability, customer reviews, personal experience, and overall value.

The first shower filter I purchased many years ago was an economical Sprite filter that I found at the local home improvement store. It served my family well and provided a noticeable reduction of chlorine – at least to a certain degree.

The ones I am listing are the showerhead type because that is what I prefer. However, if you like the handheld type, all of these companies provide that option with the same level of filtration. In addition, most shower filters come in a variety of finishes, including white, chrome, satin, or brass.

The following shower filters are a few steps up in quality from the ones you will most likely find in a department store. However, when it comes to shower filters, any degree of filtration is better than none!

Aquasana AQ-4100 Shower Filter

Aquasana’s filter system is certified to remove 91% of chlorine from your shower water - for a healthier shower, softer skin, and shinier hair.

Ninety-one percent reduction of chlorine is a high percentage considering the high flow rate of water used during a shower. Many shower filters only achieve about 50% reduction.

This shower filter also reduces chlorine by-products (THMs) as well as volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) by greater than 90%, as well as significant amounts of lead and copper.

What I like best about this Aquasana shower filter is that its unique two-stage process uses a combination of copper-zinc oxidation media and coconut shell carbon.

This filter combination not only reduces the chlorine in your water, but it also reduces synthetic chemicals and enhances pH balance.

This filter is easy to install and the filter cartridges last 6 months or 10,000 gallons.

Aquasana offers a 90-day satisfaction guarantee and a 1-year warranty. As with all Aquasana products, you get high-quality performance and great value for the price: $85 retail.

Read more about the Aquasana shower system and get a 20% discount.

Sprite High Output HO-WH Shower Filter

Sprite Industries offers a number of shower filters, but I like this specific one for a number of reasons, mainly because it uses a combination of Kinetic Degradation Fluxion (KDF) and Chlorgon media for filtration.

KDF filters are effective for reducing chlorine, iron hydrogen sulfide, lead, mercury, chromium, and other dissolved metals. The media may also inhibit the growth of bacteria, algae and fungi, commonly found in bathtubs and showers.

A substance called Chlorgon is also included in the KDF media of this filter, which increases the temperature range for effective chlorine removal.

In fact, it is NSF certified to reduce both free and combined chlorine. (Note: the company does not specify the percentage of chlorine reduction).

One of the things I like best about this Sprite model is that it delivers a strong, high-output stream of water and has a strong housing with a guaranteed longer life than the average shower filter.

The HOC filter cartridge does not need to be replaced for an entire year. The cartridge is also reversible, so you have the option of reversing the filter to ensure maximum usage and water filtration.

The filter comes in chrome or white finish and has a 1-year warranty. It provides high value for just $36.

Click here to purchase and to check out the Amazon.com reviews.

Culligan Shower Filter WSH-C125 Wall-Mount

This Culligan shower filter is certified to remove up to 99 percent of chlorine, as well as other impurities in the water. In addition, it reduces sulfur and scale (that hard, filmy residue in municipal water), which provides more hydrating nourishment to skin and hair.

This showerhead provides filtration for up to 10,000 gallons of water, or about six months, and it meets NSF standards for water safety.

One of the things I like best about this filter is the fact that it filters such a high degree of chlorine and chemicals.

But I also like its anti-clog rubber spray nozzle (with five spray settings) and nice chrome finish.

This showerhead is easy to install within minutes and does not require any tools. Culligan offers a limited five-year warranty.

Excellent reviews on Amazon.com and retails for about $30. Click here to purchase or read customer reviews

Editor’s note: Please think seriously about the value of minimizing your family’s exposure to chlorine and its by-products! If you only had $50 to $100 a year to spend on your health and prevention, I can’t think of a better way to invest that money than by getting a shower filter(s)in your home. You will get far more bang for your buck than you would get from investing the same amount in vitamins or health supplements!

Further reading. . .

Chlorine in Drinking Water - the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly News


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