What Makes The Best Water Softening Shower Head?

Looking for the best water softening shower head to transform your shower experience? A high-quality showerhead can make all the difference when it comes to enjoying a relaxing shower while caring for your hair, skin, and plumbing system.

Benefits of Water Softening Shower Heads

Hard water contains an abundance of calcium, magnesium, and other mineral deposits that can wreak havoc in your home. The harsh minerals leave behind soap scum, dry out skin and hair, reduce lather, clog plumbing fixtures, corrode appliances, and more. Water softening shower heads offer an easy and affordable way to reap the benefits of soft water while showering.

By transforming hard water into a more gentle spray, these shower heads allow soap and shampoo to lather properly for a thorough cleanse. Your hair will look shinier, feel softer, and retain moisture better. Skin irritation, flaking, and itchiness can also improve with the protective qualities of softened water.

Without mineral buildup restricting your pipes, you'll prevent clogged shower heads and enjoy steady water pressure. Scale won't accumulate on surfaces as quickly either. This saves you from scrubbing tile and shower doors as frequently. Even your towels will feel fluffier.

While whole house systems also reduce hardness, shower heads offer a focused water softening solution for a fraction of the price. Easy tool-free installation makes them a simple upgrade that pays dividends for self care and home care.

How Water Softening Shower Heads Work

Water softening shower heads use filters as their primary method for minerals removal. Resin beads catch magnesium, calcium carbonate limescale, and other deposits as water flows through. This process is referred to as ion exchange. It's the same technology utilized in whole house water softeners except adapted to work with standard plumbing.

Ion Exchange Technology

During ion exchange, the resin beads attract and cling to positively charged mineral ions. At the same time, they release sodium ions to maintain a balance of charged particles. The sodium proves less problematic than mineral buildup. As a result, the water flowing from your shower head becomes conditioned rather than stripped.

Filter Mineral Deposits

How often the filter cartridge needs replacing depends usage levels and water hardness. On average, plan on a filter change every 6 months. Signs it's time include decreased flow rate, losing water pressure, and minerals accumulating again.

While handy for keeping shower heads free of lime and scale, filters don't eliminate minerals as fully as some whole house systems. The water becomes softer but technically still registers as hard water. Even so, dramatic improvements remain noticeable.

Factors To Consider When Selecting a Water Softening Shower Head

With a wide variety of water softening shower heads available, deciding on the right pick comes down to the features and design factors mattering most for your needs.

Filtration Method

The filtration system and cartridges vary quite a bit from one model to the next. Multi-stage filters tend to be more thorough but need replacing more often. Consider costs, effectiveness, and convenience when comparing cartridge types.

Water Pressure

While filters reduce mineral buildup to maintain steady pressure, some units provide an extra boost too. If your home suffers from low water pressure, seek out a high pressure water softening shower head . These create a more intense spray pattern by restricting the shower head opening to less than 2.5 gallons per minute.

Design and Installation

Handheld shower heads with long flexible hoses give you more range of motion and targeting ability while bathing. Rainfall styles offer wider coverage for a drenching effect. For easy upgrading, pick a water softener showerhead matching your current arm and plumbing. Most utilize a universal connector but always double check.

Cost

Budget plays a factor as well when comparing replacement filters and lifespan. Units under $50 often have less stages of filtration than more expensive counterparts. However, spending between $50-150 yields plenty of thorough and durable options.

Top Features To Look For

Along with water softening capabilities, several convenient features further set apart exceptional shower heads.

Adjustable Water Saving Flow

Low-flow settings allow you to cut back water usage without sacrificing water pressure. When you want full coverage, switch to the high-flow mode for more intense spraying. Pause functionality also prevents wasting water while shaving, lathering up, or scrubbing the kids.

Easy Tool-Free Installation

For quick upgrades without complications, pick a model touting tool-free installation. An adjustable universal connector ends the hassle of perfectly lining up your new water softener component. LuxerLock technology makes angle adjustments simple too.

Built-in Water Filtration

Filters housed inside the shower head fittings streamline the process of softening water. Opt for multistage filter cartridges to remove more minerals and last 6 months between changes. Transparent casings allow checking filter status at a glance.

Self-Cleaning

Rubber spray nozzles prevent buildup by resisting mineral adhesion. Flexible silicone jets also withstand bending to blast away lime and calcium deposits before they calcify.

Reviews of the Best Water Softening Shower Heads

We narrowed down the top-rated water softening shower heads for their exceptional performance, thorough filtration, durability, and easy installation.

Culligan WSH-C125 Wall-Mounted Filtered Shower Head

The Culligan WSH-C125 water softener and filter proves a top pick for lasting scale prevention and adjustable flow levels. Rubber nozzles resist mineral buildup while allowing easy scrubbing if need be. The 5-year limited warranty provides peace of mind too.

AquaBliss High Output Revitalizing Shower Filter

Boasting a universal design for simple upgrading, the AquaBliss High Output shower head consistently ranks as a consumer favorite. Reduced chlorine helps hair and skin while the layered filters grab minerals. Choose from chrome or brushed nickel finish.

Waterpik AST-233C High Pressure Astrea Modern Rainfall Showerhead

Waterpik designed the AST-233C showerhead for maximum water coverage along with filtration. The larger rainfall design head provides a relaxing drenching while also preventing buildup thanks to silicone jets. Rubber spray nozzles boost longevity too.

AquaHomeGroup Luxury Filtered Shower Head

New upgrades enhance the AquaHomeGroup Luxury shower head's effectiveness and durability. The angle adjustable arm accommodates any user with the right range of motion. Activated carbon filtering also removes more chlorine and minerals than previous versions.

DIY Installation and Maintenance Tips

Installing and caring for your new water softening shower head helps ensure it functions properly for mineral removal. We break down key steps for getting set up and keeping filters working their best.

Selecting Shower Arm Size

Measure the diameter of your current shower pipe or arm to match a compatible replacement head. Standard sizes come in 1/2 inches or 1 inch, but tub spouts and some rain showers may be larger.

Adjusting Angles

During first installation, take advantage of adjustable angles and swivel ball joint connectors to point your shower spray exactly where desired once mounted. Improper alignments can leave you uncomfortably blasted from odd directions.

Hard water minerals leave behind lime, calcium and rust colored residue visible on metal components. Give these areas an occasional scrub with white vinegar or descaling solution to restore shine and function.