Does a shower filter have a definitive life-span, this is what of those queries which gets asked around here, since it’s kind of decides whether or not you will get a shower filter.
You have been showering in chlorine, chloramine, and fluoride-free water for months now thanks to your shower filter.
However, you start to notice that your skin and hair are a bit dryer and your shower is building up with residue again. What gives?
How Long Does a Shower Water Filter Last? Shower filters need to be replaced every six months to a year depending on the brand you are using. On average, most shower water filters need to be replaced by six months as most individuals go through the water gallon capacity cap for the filter by that point.
With that said, it might be tough to know when a shower filter needs replacing.
I’m a geek, so a reminder in the phone calendar sorts this out. As always I’ve done my research, shower water filters are able to get you the water of your dreams without having to install things like a whole house water filter or install anything extra to your bathroom plumbing. And thats the true benefits for sure.
They are a quick solution to water problems and can benefit your hair and skin greatly. (Skin is supposedly our biggest organ?!)
Continue reading to understand their function and why they need to be changed.
What Do Shower Filters Do?
Unfortunately, for many people, that are not lucky enough to have grade A water where they live and even their shower water can pose many different problems for them. Whether is hard or soft water – and of course most town supply water bore water etc – has all sorts of things you may not want.
Realistically, hard water that is riddled with excessive amounts of different types of contaminants including excessive minerals can be ultimately harmful, particularly to your hair, skin, and nails that you are otherwise diligently attempting to clean.
What do Shower Filters Do? Shower filters work specifically to remove mostly chlorine and chloramine from the water that is used with your shower head. Specifically, they aim to reduce the effects of hard water on your hair, skin, and nails.
How is it harmful? Well, again, think of your hair and skin.
If you have ever experienced a shower that has high levels of chlorine and chloramine, you noticed after that your hair resembled a pile of sticks more than it did a luscious silk scarf. It feels gross to the touch, and it looks about the same.
Even more, you might have looked down and realized that your skin was as dry as the Sahara. Shortly after, you may have begun to itch all over and this is because your water is full of junk your hair and skin cannot take.
When you are taking a warm shower, your pores open up and are much more permeable than when you are cold and dry. Because of this, your skin and scalp are better able to take in all those nasty contaminants and be strongly affected by them.
Sadly for you, this effect is nothing to write home about as you will end up looking more like a stiff and dried-out creature from the Gobi Desert rather than a glowing, moisturized ray of sunlight.
That may sound a bit dramatic, but the hardness of your water plays a very big role in your skin and hair health. This is why shower filters are so important for those who have water that is less than ideal.
Shower filters are able to rid your water of large amounts of chlorine and chloramines that make a difference in your hair and skin within one use.
Truly, the effects of a shower filter are remarkable and will leave you wondering why you waited so long to install one in the first place!
The Importance of Replacing Your Shower Filter
Shower filters are not capable of functioning for prolonged amounts of time. In essence, they are not built with the type of technology that is made to withstand years of use and millions of gallons worth of filtration.
They do have a life-span and need to be replaced in order to keep your water free and clear of contaminants that dull your skin and hair as well as leave your bathroom looking gunky.
Why Does Your Shower Filter Need to be Replaced?
Before you begin replacing your shower filter, you likely want to know the importance of doing so in the first place.
To do this, you need to think of your shower filter like it is a sponge. Sponges absorb and absorb until they can not absorb any more. Once sponges have absorbed so much, they reach their capacity and are no longer to take on any more.
When this happens, they need to be released of what they are containing in order to begin absorbing again. You know the science behind this, and your shower water filter functions in the same way.
Over time, your shower water filter catches so many different contaminants that it begins to fill up and become blocked. When this happens, your shower filter’s primary function (filtration) begins to slow.
If left for too long, it can stop functioning altogether which means you are no longer showering in filtered water making the product useless.
In this case, it would be more of a shower decoration rather than a purposeful item.
Since it is tough to consider a shower water filter a great piece to use as a design statement, you might as well make it effective and change that filter.
When Does Your Shower Filter Need to be Replaced?
No set amount of time is across the board for changing a shower water filter.
Of course, I’ve done the research for you, but expect 6 to 12 months on average.
This is totally dependent on the exact product that you are using and the manufacturer’s suggestion for how long it should be before you change out your filter.
In general, most shower water filters need to be changed every six months or after about every 10,000 gallons worth of usage.
There are some models that are capable of lasting up to a year, but be sure to consult the user manual to see how many gallons of water that these filters can take before they are needed to be replaced.
Basing your change date off the gallon’s worth of usage for the shower filter will be a bit more reliable because people’s showering style varies.
Some take two showers a day, some are very long showers, some prefer in and out showers, and some are in the shower every few days.
People are going to vary in their water usage and this is why it is best to keep track of how much you use on average per day or per week.
Once you have reached that cap for the gallons worth of usage, be sure to replace your filter to get your water back into tip-top shape.
Top 3 Shower Filter Options
If you are looking for a new shower water filter, there are a few great companies to choose from.
Some of the top companies are Aquasana & Crystal Quest. Let’s take a look at the top shower filter options that come from these companies around replacement of filters.
Aquasana Premium Shower Filter
This shower filter comes in a few different varieties, but if you want to hang on to one of your beloved shower heads (everyone has a favorite, you’re not weird), you can attach your own to this filtration system.
While enhancing your water’s pH levels, this filter will remove 90% of chlorine from your water through the use of its patented copper/zinc media and coconut shell carbon.
The filter should be replaced every six months or every 10,000 gallons, whichever comes first. Changing the filter is a breeze and can be done in 15 seconds or less!
Crystal Quest Luxury Shower Filter
Through this filtration system, not only will chlorine and chloramines be removed, but VOCs, THM’s, pesticides, sulfur, heavy metal, hydrogen sulfide, iron oxides, and dirt will be filtered away as well.
This little guy packs a serious punch in the filtration world and is also pH balanced. This shower filter actually lasts about a year and is easy to remove and replace when the time comes.
The filter is also reversible and can be reversed over the course of the year to keep it free of blockage and extend the life.