Meta Title: 5 Best Shower Filters For Hard Water | Water Defense
Meta Description: Take a deep dive into the 5 best shower filters for hard water with our expert guide. We rate filtration capabilities, filter longevity, and all other key criteria.
Showering with hard water is, well, hard. Hard water makes it more difficult for soap to form a lather and can lead to rust and limescale buildup. A shower filter can help on both accounts.
In our list of the best 5 shower filters, the AquaHomeGroup Handheld Shower Head came out on top. It’s effective and designed to add vitamins A, C, and E to your shower water. The runner-up is the Aqua Earth 15-Stage Shower Filter, which filters water in 15 stages and only needs to be replaced around once every 6 months.
But, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, we recommend something else—the Feelso Shower Filter at just $18.49.
Shower Filters for Hard Water
AquaHomeGroup Handheld Shower Head – Best Overall
- Filtration Stages:20
- Filter Life: 6 months
PROS
- The 20-stage filtration process reduces a wide variety of contaminants and is one of the most effective systems on the market
- Adds vitamins A, E, and C to the water rather than just removing contaminants
- Comes with a lot of additional attachments, which make it highly versatile
CONS
- The installation procedure is complex and time-consuming
The AquaHome Group Handheld Shower Filter has 20 filtration stages, much more than most standard models. These stages are effective against many things, from removing chlorine to getting rid of hard minerals and heavy metals.
Added Vitamins
Aside from removing common contaminants, the AquaHomeGroup shower head adds vitamins to the water. More specifically, it adds vitamins C, E, and A, which help you achieve a better complexion and make your skin smoother and softer.
This is a great feature that’s fairly unique. Most shower filters remove contaminants without adding anything beneficial to the water. We were really impressed that this unit could do both.
Full Shower Set
Another benefit of the AquaHomeGroup model is that you get a complete shower set when you buy it. The set includes the filter itself, a custom shower head specifically designed to be used with it, a 59-inch length hose, and several different fittings for the installation.
Furthermore, you get a high-pressure spray plate to change the water flow’s power, 5 shower caps to keep your hair dry, and even some Teflon tape for the installation. Super convenient!
Incredible Filtration
While some of the other units on our list have 2 or 3 stages of filtration, this system has 20! This means it's very effective at removing contaminants from water and eliminating odors. In fact, it can remove up to 99% of chlorine, and it also removes calcium, which prevents limescale buildup.
We found the water it provided to be pure and soft, and we didn’t notice any drops in water pressure once it was installed.
Aqua Earth 15 Stage Shower Filter – Best Runner-up
- Filter Life:6 months
- Filtration Stages: 15
PROS
- The 15-stage filtration process removes various contaminants and minerals from the water
- Adds vitamin C to the water, which neutralizes chlorine and leads to softer water
- 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it out and see if it’s right for you
CONS
- The claim regarding fluoride removal is unsupported by NSF certifications
The Aqua Earth is almost the same price as the AquaHomeGroup and has just as many features. The 15-stage filtration system is remarkably effective at eliminating chlorine and hard minerals from your water. The main difference is that this unit doesn’t add as many vitamins to the water as the top-rated system on our list. Still, there isn’t much to separate the two.
4-Stage Filtration
The filter is divided into 4 sections:
- The first section uses mesh, microfiber, and PP screens to catch and remove sediment, dirt, or soil particles in the water.
- The second section is where KDF media, calcium sulfite, and activated carbon treat chlorine, soften the water, and neutralize unpleasant tastes and odors.
- The third stage uses ceramic, mineralized, and magnetic energy balls to remove heavy metals and add helpful minerals and vitamin C to the water.
- The fourth and final stage uses alkaline balls, microporous PP cotton, and stainless steel mesh to erase the remaining traces of sediment and soil particles and increase the pH value of the water, ensuring it’s not too acidic.
Filter Longevity
The Aqua Earth 15 Stage can go through 10,000 gallons of water before it needs replacing. The exact expiration date depends on how often you shower and how much water you use. Still, a single cartridge should last around 6 months before you need to get a replacement.
This might not seem very long, but we’ve tested many shower filters that need replacing every 1 to 2 months, and it can get very expensive very fast. Thankfully, this isn’t the case with this unit.
Universal Compatibility
Another thing we really like about this filter is that it’s compatible with any type of showerhead. You can use this filter whether you have a handheld, overhead, combo, or rainfall shower.
Feelso Shower Filter – Best Price
- Filtration Stages: 15
- Filter Life: 6 months
PROS
- Uses a comprehensive filtration process that’s efficient at removing contaminants
- Adds vitamin C to water
- The showerhead has 5 spray settings
- It’s one of the most affordable options on our list
CONS
- It’s a fragile filter that breaks easily so we highly recommend being careful when you install it
The Feelso is the most cost-effective option on our list. While lower prices usually come at the expense of product quality, this product doesn’t lag behind the competition. In fact, it has a more effective filter than most other units on our list.
Key Features:
15-stage filtration: Like the Aqua Earth unit, the Feelso filter has a multi-stage filtration process consisting of 15 stages. We included it in our list because one of those filter stages eliminates hard water molecules quickly and efficiently.
Contaminant removal: Aside from hard minerals, this model also works against chlorine, odors, and heavy metals like mercury, nickel, copper, lead, chromium, and more. In addition, the stainless steel mesh and microporous PP cotton eradicate sediment particles from the water.
Beneficial minerals: Another similarity with Aqua Earth is Feelso’s inclusion of ceramic, mineral, and medical stones to add healthy minerals back to the filtered water and vitamin C for your skin.
Shower head included: The filter comes with a shower head that perfectly matches the filter. The shower head is placed on a swivel joint, so you can easily turn and adjust it however you want. It also includes 5 spray modes: rain, massage, mist, rain and mist, and rain and massage mode.
PureAction SH158 – Best Additional Perks
- Filtration Stages: 3
- Filter Life: 1 to 4 months
PROS
- Features aroma filters that add a pleasant scent to the water
- Comes with 5 replacement filters: standard, vitamin C, lavender, rose, and jasmine
- Removes a wide range of contaminants including chloramine, chlorine, and sediment
CONS
- The aroma filters need to be replaced every month
- The shower wand is fragile so you might need to replace it regularly too
The PureAction SH158 gets all the basics right. It removes a wide array of contaminants and adds vitamin C to provide clean, softened water to your shower. It’s also compatible with all the standard shower head types and comes with 5 replacement filters, including aroma filters.
Key Features:
Scented replacement filters: The additional perks of the PureAction SH158 model are a few quality-of-life items that significantly improve your showers. The most notable perk is the luxury gift box containing 4 scented replacement filters for this unit, in addition to the standard replacement filter you get with the purchase. So, the PureAction SH158 comes with 5 replacement filters free of charge, 4 of which add a pleasant scent to the water while softening it. Getting five premium replacement filters for free is a fantastic deal that saves you a lot of money.
Effective filtration: PureAction’s filter is effective against chlorine, chloramines, sediment particles, heavy metals, and bad odors and prevents scale and rust from building up.
Straightforward installation: We found this unit easy to install in a matter of minutes. It can be connected to any standard shower arm so you shouldn’t have any issues setting it up.
Full package: In addition to the filters, you get a 60-inch shower hose and some sealant tape. Considering it only costs $40.99, this is seriously good value for money.
Rainshow'r CQ-1000-MS – Best Filter Life
- Filtration Stages: 2
- Filter Life: 6 – 9 Months
PROS
- It has a filter life of around 9 months, which is longer than any other unit on our list
- This filter uses quartz crystals to counteract the effects of hard minerals
- The shower head has a massage function, which we found to be soothing
CONS
- Removes chlorine and neutralizes hard minerals, but it’s ineffective against other contaminants
If you’re looking for a long-lasting shower filter, the Rainshow’r CQ-1000-MS blows its competition out of the water thanks to the 9-month filter life. However, remember that the exact time depends on several factors, predominantly how often you shower and how much water you use.
Key Features:
Long-lasting filter: Typically, shower filters purify 10,000 gallons of water before they need replacing, which most companies estimate to be 6 months. If we do some math, we’ll find that the 9-month lifetime of the Rainshow’r CQ-1000-MS means it filters roughly 15,000 gallons of water before it expires. That’s a significant stretch for a single cartridge.
No-fuss installation: The installation process is as simple as it gets, and it’ll probably take you less time to attach this filter than to figure out how to pronounce the model’s name. You should remove the old shower head and attach the filter and accompanying shower head to the water pipe.
Simple yet effective filtration: The filter itself uses a carbon filter to eliminate chlorine from the water, as well as unpleasant odors and tastes. There’s also a KDF media responsible for softening hard water. Rather than removing magnesium and calcium minerals from the water, the KDF media uses quartz crystals to reduce surface tension. The process counteracts the harmful effects of hard water.
2 settings: The shower head has a standard and massage setting, so you can take a slow relaxing shower or jet-blast to loosen up.
How Does a Shower Filter for Hard Water Work?
Shower filters work by using filtration media to remove hard minerals. The filtration media is placed inside a cylinder or cartridge, which is attached between the shower head and the water pipe.
Once the water flows, it goes through the filter, where the filtration media absorbs contaminants before the water exits through the shower head.
The filtration media type determines what pollutants will be eliminated. Furthermore, some filtration media types can also add beneficial vitamins or minerals to the water.
Some shower filters can’t remove minerals from the water, so they use alternative methods to improve the water quality and make it less susceptible to the adverse effects of hard minerals.
For instance, if the surface tension of the water is reduced enough, hard minerals will no longer stick to surfaces and cause limescale buildup or non-lathering soaps.
Advantages of Shower Filters for Hard Water
Shower filters for hard water are very small and simple to install, which gives them an edge over other models. They don’t weigh the pipe down, and you can install them in just a few minutes.
They are also incredibly cost-effective. The two most expensive units on our list are only $59.95, and even if you look around multiple sites, you’d be hard-pressed to find a hard water shower filter that breaks 3 digits.
Disadvantages of Shower Filters for Hard Water
Shower filters are handy but not effective against extremely hard water. They tackle many contaminants, but only to a certain degree. If the water is too polluted, it’ll clog the filter.
If you live in an area with particularly hard water, the best option is to install a whole-house water softener.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s answer the most frequently asked questions concerning shower filters.
The cheapest model for hard water, both on our list and on the market, is the Feelso. This unit only costs $18.49, which is criminally low for a filter with many perks.
Even if we missed something and you find an even cheaper hard water filter online, we guarantee it won’t have the same cost-to-benefits ratio as the Feelso.
These units generally cost between $30 and $60. There will naturally be exceptions to this, but even the exceptions shouldn’t cost more than $100.
Installing a shower filter for hard water is straightforward and boils down to a few simple steps:
Unscrew your current showerhead from the water pipe and put it to the side.
Use Teflon or some other thread-sealing tape and wind it a few times around the end of the now-exposed water pipe.
If your shower filter comes with an O-ring, place it inside the input point of the unit.
Screw the filter onto the water pipe.
Attach your shower head or the shower head that came with the product to the filter.
Turn on the water and check for leaks.
If something is leaking, turn the connections slightly for a better seal.
If nothing is leaking, your job is done.
Keep in mind that hand-held models come with more parts, but the general idea is the same, and you should be fine as long as you follow the product’s instructions.
Conclusion
The AquaHomeGroup Handheld Shower Head has everything you need from a shower filter for hard water, making it a great pick for any home.
The Aqua Earth 15-Stage Shower Filter has a slightly less effective filtration process, but it’s still an excellent pick for just about anyone.
The Feelso is the most affordable unit on our list, so it’s a perfect pick for newbies who want to try a filter without making a significant financial investment.
The PureAction SH158 has many useful extras that improve your shower experience, so it’s the go-to model for those who want to take their time and enjoy their shower.
The Rainshow’r CQ-1000-MS has an incredibly long-lasting filter life, so it’s an ideal choice for people who can’t be bothered with maintenance.
