Welcome to our expert guide to choosing the best shower filter for chlorine removal. In this review and buyer’s guide, we share the top 5 chlorine shower filters with lab test results that show reduction rates. In the world of loosely-regulated water filters, it’s important to see real lab test results instead of taking a company’s word for it.
Then, on the other side of the spectrum, there are reputable companies that meet NSF/ANSI Standards, yet the Standards aren’t very strict. For this reason, we recommend shopping for water filters that exceed NSF/ANSI Standards whenever possible.
We also recommend buying from companies that post real lab test results on their sites for everyone to see. This is the level of transparency a quality water filter company maintains.
Let’s start with our top 5 filters before moving on to the buyer’s guide that’ll help you choose the best shower filter for your home. I’m confident that our Top 5 picks and buyer’s guide will lead you to the answer you’re looking for.
Top 5 Best Chlorine Shower Filters
| Filter | Features & Highlights |
| #1 Pelican PSF-1 Premium Shower Filter
|
|
| #2 Aquasana AQ-4100 Deluxe Shower Filter
|
|
| #3 Berkey Shower Filter
|
|
| #4 Sprite HO2-WH-M Universal Shower Filter
|
|
| #5 Aquabliss SF220 Shower Filter
|
Coupon Code for 5% Off AWMSH2O |
Chlorine Shower Filter Buyer’s Guide
You may have noticed that chlorine is the #1 contaminant that shower filters on the market target with their filter media combinations.
In this buyer’s guide, we answer several frequently asked questions and explain what to look for when choosing the best shower filter for chlorine.
15-Stage Shower Filter vs 2 to 3-Stage Filter
Pelican 3-Stage
15-Stage
Have you noticed how many 15-stage shower filters have suddenly started popping up? These sound great in theory, but they certainly aren’t the best option for chlorine removal. When targeting chlorine, it’s best to stick with what works.
KDF-55 and Chlorgon are the current gold standard for chlorine removal. These 15-stage filters do contain KDF-55. The problem is they only have a thin layer, and your water only has a moment to make contact with your filter media since the shower water flow rate is typically 2.5 GPM.
KDF-55 or redox media is tested to work. The bottom line, stick with companies that use fewer media types that are proven to work. Aiming for a thick layer of filter media that’s proven to work is a better option than getting a thin slice of KDF-55 in a 15-stage filter.
NSF/ANSI Standard 42 & 177
The two NSF/ANSI Standards to look for when choosing the best chlorine shower filter are 42 and 177. Standard 42 is the same standard common water filters such as Brita are tested to meet.
NSF/ANSI Standard 177 is for the reduction of free available chlorine by KDF media, and it’s the more common standard for shower filters since they use KDF-55 media.
The one drawback is Standard 177 requires a 50% chlorine reduction to meet. For this reason, we recommend Pelican and Aquasana as the top filters for chlorine removal because the companies provide lab test results.
We trust Berkey water filtration products, and Sprite is one of the oldest players in the shower filter industry. Sprite’s filters are tested to meet NSF/ANSI Standard 177.
Aquabliss is #5 because we trust their shower filters, but we would like to see them post a reference to NSF/ANSI Standards or post lab test results to confirm their chlorine reduction claim.
Annual Replacement Filter Costs
A key consideration to make before you buy is the annual replacement filter cost. The upfront cost may appear great, but how much do replacement filters cost? The good news is we don’t recommend companies that overcharge for filters or use bait-and-switch tactics.
The chart below orders the annual replacement filter costs from highest to lowest (#1 = highest cost):
|
#1 Aquasana AQ-4100
|
#2 Pelican PSF-1
|
|
#3 Berkey
|
#4 Aquabliss
|
|
#5 Sprite
|
Which shower filter removes the most chlorine?
We chose the Pelican shower filter because it not only meets NSF/ANSI Standard 177 but also consistently removes 96% of chlorine in the lab.
When chlorine levels are low, all of the filters in our Top 5 remove over 90% of chlorine. For example, the Aquasana test results show that the AQ-4100 removes 99% of chlorine when the chlorine level is .02 mg/l.
What we like most about the Pelican test is the length of the test. Pelican tested its filters for a full 30,000 gallons to prove that the filter effectively removes chlorine well beyond its intended lifespan.
The Pelican test used a 1 mg/l chlorine solution, and the filter successfully reduced chlorine up to 98% for the first 8,000 gallons. By 30,000 gallons, the filter still reduced chlorine by over 80%.
We trust the Pelican brand, and the test results prove that Pelican currently manufactures the best shower filter for chlorine removal.
Pelican Wins
Bottom Line
These are currently the top 5 chlorine shower filters. If you’re serious about complete chlorine removal, we recommend sticking with the Pelican PSF-1 or Aquasana AQ-4100. It’s difficult to beat the Pelican since it tested to remove 100% of chlorine for the first 2,000 gallons and over 95% well beyond that.
Another unique advantage of the Pelican filter is that it also removes chloramines. We recommend checking to see if your local water supplier treats your water with chloramines instead of chlorine because the PSF-1 is one of the few shower filters on the market that effectively removes chlorine and chloramines.
- Interested to learn how to install a shower filter and maintenance instructions? We recommend our guide on choosing the best shower filter for well water.
Until next time, cheers!
