Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Ava Shower Filter [Review]

Let's be honest! Our water supply is not as clean as it used to be. Just because water looks clear doesn't mean that it is clear. Among chemicals dumped down drains, prescription medications flushed down the toilet, run offs from chemical plants, etc., we must take steps to clean out pollutants and toxins from the water in our houses. A shower filter that fits right on to the shower head is a great way to remove chlorine, fluoride, hard water and other contaminants using a patented KDF shower filter system.



Ava Shower Filter     
Rating: total green check marks out of 5.


The Good
The Not So Good
Easy installation (need Teflon tape)
No filter replacement indicator
Filter lasts 9-12 months before replacement
Does not work as promised!





The Ava Shower Filter is an quick and easy way to filter the water coming out of your shower. The plastic covered system is easy to install and the filter lasts about 9-12 months (regular use). This shower filter claims to filter out 99.9% of Chlorine, Algae, Dirt, Fluoride, Lead, Chloramine, Bacteria, Arsenic, Chromium, Zinc, Copper, Selenium, Mercury and Heavy Metals and many more chemicals. The shower filter also reduces scum build-up using kdf.

To install the shower filter, you remove your existing shower head, wrap Teflon tape (not provided in my package) on the filter thread on the water pipe thread, screw the shower head on to the threads and connect the swivel collar to the water pipe. Basically, the shower filter goes between the water pipe and the shower head. Once hand tightened, use pliers to tighten the swivel collar until the shower filter is firmly in place.

We installed Ava shower filter in the basement bathroom. The positioning of the threats on the shower filter does not really change the height of the shower head, but it does move the shower head farther away from the wall. Since our master bathroom has an enclosed shower (no bath), we did not have much room left for the shower head to stick out about 3-4" more. For a bigger enclosed shower or a shower and bath combination, this would not be an issue.

Installation: The installation of the shower filter was not too difficult. My husband is not a plumber by any means, but he was able to install the shower filter within about 30 minutes, taking his time to ensure proper placement and seals. The Teflon or plumbers tape is very important to ensure a good seal and prevent leaks. I had to purchase Teflon tape because my package did not come with it (though Amazon description says that it does).

Results: The filter does NOT filter out contaminants! The shower filter claims to filter out 99.9% of the chemicals mentioned above. There have been mixed reviews on Amazon, even with those who tested their water before and after. I had a couple of water test kits that I received from free from a local hardware store. I thought I would try these first, using one before the shower filter was installed and one after the shower filter was installed. Basically, the results were about the same - no change in water purity.

We use a Brita pitcher, which is effective and does make the water taste better by removing water contaminants. I tasted the shower water before and after and there was no change in taste. This is another reason that I feel like the product does not work as expected.

It is questionable whether the filter filters out the contaminants as promised. The initial cost is $59.99 and the replacement filter costs $49.99. Since the filter makes up most of the system, I can see the higher cost for the replacement filter. Filtering shower water for chlorine and fluoride will cost about $50/year with this system. Since the product does not work as promised, I would not recommend purchasing this product.

 

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own and are honest.


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