How Well Do Shower Filters Work?

Basic Information

• Shower filters are designed to remove sediment from the supply water before the water exits the shower head and enters the shower. Sediment may be introduced to the water supply through a break in the city’s water pipes that allows sand and dirt to flow into the pipes and mix with the water. Sediment also can come from pipe shavings of solder joints inside your house’s water supply pipes that break loose. Mineral deposits can collect on the sides of the water supply pipes or inside the hot water heater that break off and flow down the pipes to the shower’s faucet. The filter sits inside the shower head where the shower head connects to the water pipe on the wall.

Low-Flow Models

• Low-flow shower heads not only have a filter that prevents sediment from flowing out into the shower, but they also have a flow restrictor filter. The flow restrictor is a plastic disc with small holes, and it too sits inside the shower head. As is the case with the shower head’s filter, you have to remove the shower head from the water pipe to see the flow restrictor. The flow restrictor slows the water as it moves into the shower head, allowing less water to flow out of the shower head and reducing the amount of water you use when you shower.

Clogged Filters

• As sediment becomes caught in the shower head’s filter, the flow of water from the shower head may weaken or cease completely. If you are not sure whether your shower head has a filter, remove the shower head by wrapping a rag around the base of the shower head, clamping a pipe wrench over the rag and using the wrench to turn the shower head counterclockwise until it comes off the pipe. If the shower head does not have a metal screen on its inlet hole, look inside for a flow restrictor that also may be clogged. You can simply lift a water filter out of the shower head’s inlet and rinse it under a stream of clean water. With the flow restrictors, you can spray water inside the shower head to remove debris, or soak the shower head in vinegar overnight to dissolve mineral deposits.

Low Water Pressure

• If water does not flow freely even though your shower head does not have a screen or flow restrictor or the screen is free of debris, your shower may suffer from low water pressure. To test whether that is the problem, take the shower head off the water pipe and thread a water pressure gauge onto the pipe. Turn on the faucet to get a reading. If your water pressure is below 40 PSI (pounds per square inch), you have insufficient water pressure.