Frequently Asked Questions
- Why should I use a filter in my shower?
- Besides Chlorine, what other chemicals does the Natural Shower reduce?
- How does the Natural Shower compare to the other shower filters?
- Does the Natural Shower reduce Chloramines?
- Can I use a Hand-held Shower Wand with my Natural Shower?
- Does the Natural Shower Cartridge fit in my old Wellness Shower base?
- My Natural Shower is leaking.
- There is something brown / black coming out of my shower head.
Why should I use a filter in my shower?
Chlorine is the most commonly used disinfectant in public water supplies across the globe. It is used because of its effectiveness at eliminating viruses, bacteria, and other micro-organisms that can lead to various waterborne illnesses and death. Unfortunately, drinking water with high levels of Chlorine can be harmful to your health1. What many people don't know is that showering in chlorinated tap water can cause you to absorb, through inhalation and skin absorption, up to 100 times more contaminants than simply drinking that same water2. Aside from these health risks, showering or bathing in chlorinated water can cause skin and hair dryness, irritation or even dermatitis3.
Besides Chlorine, what other chemicals does the Natural Shower reduce?
The only contaminant any shower filter has been certified to reduce is Chlorine. Many companies selling shower filters without certification or performance data claim that they remove or reduce various chemicals but they will not provide 3rd party testing data to validate those claims. While some reduction of other contaminants is possible, the contact time (amount of media compared to the flow of the water) is very low in a shower filter compared to a kitchen filter and the only thing that can be effectively reduced is Chlorine.
By effectively reducing the Chlorine before it exits the shower and reacts with the air and your skin, you are also reducing the production of Chlorine Byproducts (Trihalomethanes or THMs) such as Chloroform which can be hazardous in the shower.
How does the Natural Shower compare to the other shower filters?
Most shower filters reduce less than 90% of Chlorine initially, and quickly drop off to 50 - 60% reduction. That's leaving half the Chlorine in your water! The Natural Shower reduces greater than 98% of Chlorine after 9,000 gallons and still reduces more than 89% of the Chlorine at the end of its cartridge life.
The Natural Shower also offers industry leading performance in sediment heavy waters. The patented KDF chamber was designed in collaboration with KDF Labs and allows the Natural Shower to perform in problem water areas where other showers clog up in days or weeks.
You can learn more about how the Natural Shower compares to other top shower filter brands on the Comparison Tab.
Does the Natural Shower reduce Chloramines?
We have tested our Natural Shower internally and it can reduce up to 60% of Chloramines. There is simply not enough contact time to offer a high level of reduction. Our drinking and home systems both reduce Chloramines effectively. If you find a company claiming that their shower filter effectively reduces or removes Chloramines, you should check their test data to validate the claim. We have not seen any reputable data showing a shower filter that effectively reduces Chloramines.
Can I use a Hand-held Shower Wand with my Natural Shower?
You can use any US Standard shower head with the Natural Shower, including most hand-held shower wands. The Natural Shower is attached directly to the 1/2 Inch male pipe fitting in your shower. It comes with a massage shower head that can be removed to expose a 1/2 Inch male pipe fitting that any standard shower head can be connected to.
Does the Natural Shower Cartridge fit in my old Wellness Shower base?
The Natural Shower cartridge fits in the black Wellness Shower base, as they are produced from the same mold. Your filtration performance will be identical, filter life is the same, and the backwashing feature is the same in both units. We produced the Wellness Shower for Wellness and it is just an extended cartridge made from our standard molding used for the Natural Shower. We extended the cartridge for their unit to add their Japanese stones and magnets, which did not affect the filtration performance of the unit. We discontinued the Wellness Shower model When Wellness Filter closed in July 2010 as they were unable to validate the value of their media and we did not feel it was worth the $100 price increase on both unit and cartridge.
My Natural Shower is leaking.
Leaks from shower pipe connection - This occurs when the rubber gasket is not achieving a proper seal against the end of the shower pipe. Unscrew the leaky connection and inspect the rubber gasket and the shower pipe for damage. If the end of the shower pipe is damaged, you can use a metal file to smooth the surface of the shower pipe end. If there is damage to the pipe threading you can add Teflon tape to help achieve a better seal. If the rubber gasket is damaged (this can happen if you over-tighten the connection) you may need to replace it.
Leaks from Backwash Holes on base - Water should not be leaking from the two backwash holes on the base of the unit during normal service operation. The most common cause of this problem is that the cartridge is not seated properly on the base. This can be fixed by unscrewing the locking ring and re-tightening the cartridge onto the base as described in the cartridge change section of the Natural Shower manual. Pay particular attention to step 4 of the instructions as it is possible that one of your rubber gaskets is missing, improperly seated, or damaged. If you have a missing or damaged rubber gasket please contact us for a replacement part.
There is something brown / black coming out of my shower head.
Please contact us if you have physical particulates coming from your shower head. It is likely that you will need to replace your cartridge. If your cartridge is less than 6 months old you may be eligible for a credit towards your next cartridge.
The most common cause of particulates exiting the shower head is that your shower filter has been overwhelmed by sediment. The Natural Shower has a unique backwash feature that allows you to easily purge sediments that can build up in the unit over time. If the water in your area has extremely high sediments you can backwash the unit daily for 30 seconds to maximize the effective life of the filter. Even with regular backwashing, some sediments can stick inside the filter chamber and shorten the life of your system.
