If you only want to remove free chlorine and other impurities from your water, I recommend getting a Sprite Shower Filter. This is one of the few showers filters that will remove most free chlorine from your shower. If you want to remove both chloramines and chlorine from your shower, I recommend a vitamin-C based shower filter, like the Sonaki In-Line Filter Update: This newly released combination filter looks interesting. Vitashower has finally incorporated a sediment filter and a Vitamin C filter into one unit. I’ll be testing these filters soon — see their website for more information in the meantime. Almost all popular shower filters available today only remove 20% – 80% of free chlorine (not total combined chlorine) from your shower. This includes shower filters that are certified by the NSF #177 Standard — unfortunately this standard only indicates that a filter will remove 50% of free chlorine in the water. Also, many cities now treat water with chloramines instead of chlorine.
There are no conventional shower filters that will remove more than a small amount of chloramines from your shower. The only way to remove chloramines is to use a Vitamin-C based shower filter which are only made in Korea and Japan. Because your skin absorbs substances while showering. Typically, 60% of the chlorine that most people absorb daily comes from showering in chlorinated water. Chlorine damages your hair and skin — you can read about the hazards of showering in chlorinated water here. Shower water also contains things like heavy metals and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Ideally, all these things should all be filtered out, but filtering water at the showerhead is problematic, because the water is typically hot and under high pressure, making filtration difficult. Carbon filters, which are normally excellent at remove chlorine, cannot handle the volume and heat of shower water. Because of these problems, most shower filter makers rely on a metallic medium called KDF.
Shower filter vendors typically show impressive charts to demonstrate long-term removal of chlorine. However, if you read the tests carefully, you’ll see that they apply to “free chorine” (chlorine that has not combined with other constituents in water), and the reality is that KDF-filters have little effect on “total chlorine” (combined chlorine). In fact, chlorine is often added at the water plant as a blend with ammonia called “chloramine.” KDF is not effective at removing chloramine or combined chlorine. Here are the details on my recommended shower filters: Vitamin C shower filters are very effective in removing chlorine and chloramines from shower water. Chloramine or NH2Cl (a combination of chlorine and ammonia) is now commonly being used in place of chlorine for disinfection, but chloramines are not easily removed from water. Carbon filters are virtually useless in showers, because they do not work when the water is warm, and they also get clogged fairly quickly.
KDF filters also don’t perform well in hot water, and they don’t remove chloramines. However, Vitamin C filters can remove chloramines effectively from water. To back this up, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission now states on their website that only Vitamin C can be used to remove chlormaines from municipal water. Here is the quote from the Commission: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) has recently been included in AWWA Standard (AWWA, 2005b) as one of the methods for dechlorination of disinfected water mains. SFPUC and other utilities have used Vitamin C for dechlorination prior to environmental discharges of chlorinated and chloraminated water. Since ascorbic acid is weakly acidic, the pH of water may decrease slightly (Tikkanen et al., 2001). Ascorbic acid has been used for a long time as one of the dechlorinating agents for preservation of chlorinated or chloraminated water samples for laboratory analysis. The full document can be found here. Vitamin C filters are simple in design — they contain a solid block of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), and water runs through the filter and comes into contact with the Vitamin C.
The Vitamin C neutralizes about 99% of the chlorine and chloramines in the water, and their effectiveness does not diminish until the Vitamin C is completely used up. My recommendation for a Vitamin C showerhead is the Sonaki In-Line Filter The filters last about 2-4 months before they need replacing, depending on how many showers you take. The filter is transparent, so you can see when the Vitamin C has run out. Refills for the Sonaki filters are priced at $37 for 5 filters. If you are just interested in removing free chlorine and sediment from your water, my recommendation is to use a Sprite Shower Filter. This filter is NSF Certified to standard #177 for shower filtration. It removes most free chlorine and some combined chlorine, sediment, hydrogen sulfide, iron oxide. Besides the fact that it does not remove chloramines, this is pretty good filter, and it is constructed with brass instead of the usual plastic. The filter comes with a one year warranty, it is rated to filter 20,000 gallons or last 12 months, which ever comes first.
It should be flipped half-way through the year. If the O-ring on the filter breaks, Sprite will replace it for free. You can get the Sprite Shower Filter on Amazon for around $48. See also my review of low-flow shower heads — these shower heads can be used in conjunction with these filters. Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and . If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you increase your sales. learn more about Fulfillment by Amazon Used & new (3) from $73.06 Sold by SONAKI Rich & Luxury Shower Systems and Fulfilled by Amazon. See more product details Selection for all your Bathroom needs, from towels and storage to bathroom fans, faucets and more. Vitamin C Shower Head With Water Filter By SONAKI - 2 Shower Filters Included - Removes 99.9% Of Chlorine And Chloramines - Low Flow High Pressure
DetailsSonaki Vitamin C Shower Filter Cartridge - 5 Pack Vitamin C Filter Refills - Remove 99.9% of… DetailsVitabath Vita-c-bath Effervescent Vitamin C Dechlorination, 1000 mg, 100 Tablets FREE Shipping on orders over . Compare to Similar Items UBS Vita Fresh Shower Filter, 16 Ounce VitaPure Vitamin C Shower Filter, Removes 99.9% Chlorine & Chloramine, for Healthy Skin & Hair. Inline Design for Hand Held or Wall Mount Shower Heads, Includes 3 Extra Refill Cartridges HotelSpa Fusion Vitamin C Chlorine Removing Shower-Head. 7-Setting Water Conditioning Handheld Shower with Overhead Bracket, Refillable Cartridge & Hose. FREE 1 Year Vitamin C Supply included SONAKI Rich & Luxury Shower Systems This Sonaki Vitamin C Showerhead with Filter features extra filtration that reduces 99.9% of Chlorine and Chloramines from your shower water. 2 way adjustable shower head from an invigorating spray to full massage. Includes 2 replaceable filter cartridge that lasts 3,000 gallons or up to 3months each.
This item comes complete with durable resin showerhead assembly with chrome finish with see through filter housing, 5 ft. stainless steel hose, 2-Vitamin C filters, mounting assembly and teflon tape. With this filter, you can ensure you have softer and cleaner water that is better for your skin and hair. How Does It Work? 1. The vitamin c filter cartridge fits inside a stylish, hand held, low flow see through handle 2. Water enters through the bottom of the handle, passing up the sides of the cartridge 3. At the top of the vitamin c cartridge, water is diverted into an agitator that mixes the water w/ the necessary amount of vitamin c powder to instantly neutralize the chlorine or chloramine present in your tap water. 4. Unlike other filter mediums that surround or “hold” most toxins in them, thus reducing their effectiveness as they reach the end of their life cycle 5....this filters distributes vitamin c into the water supply evenly during their entire life cycle passing clean, pure, chlorine free water through the high pressure designed head.
Product was featured on HGTV, 'I Want That' show. Episode 204 In the USA Today paper under the Life section May 26, 2006. Box includes: Durable resin showerhead assembly with chrome finish with see through filter housing, 5 ft. stainless steel hose, 2-Vitamin C filters, mounting assembly and teflon tape. 3.5 x 3 x 9.5 inches 3.8 out of 5 stars #114,681 in Home Improvements (See top 100) #124 in Home Improvement > Kitchen & Bath Fixtures > Bathroom Fixtures > Bathtub Faucets & Showerheads > Showerheads > Showerhead Filters 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Would you like to tell us about a lower price? 5 star38%4 star27%3 star15%2 star9%1 star11%See all verified purchase reviewsTop Customer ReviewsWaste of money!I was very happy with this shower head/filter unitVery easy to installGreat product.Really noticed a difference with my skin and hair. Tested and does not workWorks Great So Far.Four Stars Sonaki Vitamin C Shower Filter Cartridge - 5 Pack Vitamin C Filter Refills - Remove 99.9% of Chlorine and Chloramines