8 Misconceptions About Shower Filters

Shower filters have become popular in the UAE in recent years.  They remove impurities in the water including sand, dirt and heavy metals.  Shower filters also remove Chlorine, a chemical which has some nasty side effects when ingested.

Unfortunately, there are a few misconceptions about how shower filters work and what they can remove from the water. To help you understand exactly how they work, we have compiled the 8 most common misconceptions about shower filters!

1: There Is No Health Benefit From Using a Shower Filter

High-quality shower filters are effective at removing the impurities from your water supply including sand, dirt, heavy metals, inorganic salts, and chlorine.  Of those contaminants, Chlorine, and heavy metals are the most dangerous. During a shower, the body can absorb up to 8 glasses of chlorinated water through the skin, a heavy dose of this chemical.

Ingesting chlorine through the skin, lungs, and digestive system can have a toxic effect on the body that scientists are still trying to understand.  Prolonged exposure to chlorine may cause a range serious illnesses including cancer and asthma. There is a range of other side effects associated with showering in Chlorine including:

• Hair loss
• Dry or irritated skin
• Hair that is brittle, dry or frizzy
• Red or irritated eyes
• Irritated sinuses

Showering in chlorinated water can also be detrimental for people who have pre-existing skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis or rosacea. Removing chlorine from your water supply will reduce your risk of developing a serious disease; as well as improving your appearance.

2: Shower Filters Are Ineffective 

To appreciate the benefits of a shower filter, it is best to first understand exactly how they work. We will use our shower filters as an example. It uses 3 stages to remove Chlorine from the water.

In the first stage, a filter removes sand, rust, dirt and other kinds of large particles.

The water is then pushed through a water filtration media called KDF-55.  This contains Calcium Sulphate and is what removes the Chlorine.

Finally, the water enters through another filter, which captures any remaining impurities, before exiting your shower head.

This results in a 98% reduction of chlorine and other toxins which you are exposed to every day.

3: There is no Difference in Quality Between Filters

There are dozens of shower filters on the market, making various claims about their effectiveness.  Unfortunately, some of these filters are poorly made and do not remove many contaminants.  Some choose to use Vitamin C instead of KDF-55. This is an ascorbic acid, so while it does remove Chlorine, is also stains the hair and skin. Many manufacturers add it for its scent even though it is not as effective.

4: Shower Filters Are Expensive

When shower filters were first released onto the market, they were a novelty item and quite expensive.  In recent years, they have become much more popular and the price has decreased.  You can now get a high quality and long lasting shower filter for an affordable price!

5: An Expert is Required to Install a Shower Filter

While advanced home filtration systems may need a professional to install, most shower filters are easy to setup.  We have put together a short video to show how a filter can be attached to your shower in a few minutes.

6: Shower Filters Are The Same as Drinking Water Filters

While they share similar components with a drinking water filter, shower filters are designed to filter water running at high volumes and temperatures through a shower head.  They are also designed to be quite compact and easy to attach.

7: Shower Filters are High-Maintenance

Some people believe that shower filters are a hassle to maintain.  The truth is, they have no moving parts and rarely need to be touched.  The only maintenance that needs to be performed is replacing the filter after it has reached its usage limit. (Our filters last around 6 months, based on two 10-minute showers per day).

8: Water Softeners do the Same Job to Shower Filters

Water softeners only remove certain minerals that make the water “hard”. They don’t remove chlorine from your water.