Ionic shower head filters get a lot of attention, and a lot of what's written about them isn't true. Some sellers say they soften hard water, stop limescale, cure dry skin and leave your hair shinier. They don't. What they can do is smaller but real: a stronger-feeling spray, a filter that catches grit and sediment, and a cheap swap you can make in a minute without a plumber. Here's what an ionic shower head filter does, what it doesn't, and when something else is the better buy.
Quick answer
- What it does: finer spray holes give a stronger-feeling shower, and the mineral beads in the handle catch sediment. It may take the edge off a chlorine smell, but it isn't a carbon filter.
- What it doesn't do: it does not soften water, stop limescale, or treat skin or hair conditions.
- Who it suits: anyone with a weak shower or gritty water who wants a cheap upgrade. Ours is €29.99, and refill beads are €23.99 for three packs.
- For limescale: you need a water softener on the supply to the house.
What is an ionic shower head filter?
It's a hand-held shower head with two differences from a normal one. The spray plate has much finer holes, and the clear handle is filled with small beads that the water flows over before it comes out. It screws onto a standard shower hose by hand, in place of the handset you have now.
The refill packs hold three types of bead, white, red and grey, sold as anion, natural and mineral stones. That's where the ionic name comes from. Plenty of claims are made for what ions in a shower do. We stick to what you can actually see and feel.
What an ionic shower head filter does
It gives a stronger-feeling spray
The water is pushed through much smaller holes, so it comes out faster and the shower feels stronger. That helps most where the water pressure is poor, for example a shower fed from the attic tank with little height above it.
It catches sediment
The water passes over the beads in the handle, which strain out sediment, grit and flakes from old pipework or a storage tank before they reach you. You can see the beads through the clear handle, so it's easy to tell when they need changing.
It may reduce chlorine smell a little
The bead maker's labelling lists chlorine among the things the beads reduce, and you may notice the shower smells slightly less of it. Be realistic, though: these are mineral beads, not activated carbon, and water passes through a shower head in a fraction of a second. Treat any chlorine reduction as a bonus, not a promise.
It fits in a minute
It fits most standard shower hoses with no tools and no plumber. Because it replaces the handset on a hose, it isn't suitable for a fixed overhead shower head plumbed into the wall.
What it doesn't do
| You may have read | What's actually true |
|---|---|
| It softens hard water | No. Hardness is calcium and magnesium dissolved in the water, and a shower head can't take them out. |
| It stops limescale on the screen and tiles | No. The water coming out is just as hard as before, so it leaves the same marks when it dries. |
| It cures dry skin, eczema or an itchy scalp | No. It isn't a treatment for any skin, scalp or hair condition, and we don't sell it as one. |
| It removes chlorine completely | No. It may reduce the smell a little. Removing chlorine properly takes activated carbon. |
| It makes unsafe water safe | No. It doesn't disinfect water or remove bacteria. |
It doesn't soften water
Hard water isn't a health risk. Hardness is natural, it's safe to drink, and the Irish drinking water regulations set no upper limit for it. It's a limescale problem: white marks on the shower screen, crusty taps, a scaled-up kettle and a heating system working harder than it should. The only thing that removes hardness is a water softener on the supply to the whole house. If you're not sure whether your water is hard, check your hardness by Eircode, or see our guide to water hardness across Dublin.
Weighing up a softener against the cheaper limescale filters you see advertised? Our guide to water softeners vs limescale filters explains the difference.
It isn't a treatment for skin or hair
Plenty of people like the feel of a finer, stronger spray, and that's a fair reason to buy one. But a shower head filter won't fix eczema, dry skin, an itchy scalp or dull hair. If you have a skin condition, talk to your GP or pharmacist rather than relying on a shower head.
It doesn't make well water safe
If you're on a private well and worried about bacteria, a shower head is the wrong tool. That needs proper well water treatment, usually with UV, specified from an independent lab report. Our guide to bacteria in well water explains what to look for.
Chlorine in the shower
Uisce Éireann adds chlorine to public supplies to kill harmful bacteria, and says a slight taste or smell is not harmful to your health. If the smell is suddenly much stronger than usual, ring them on 1800 278 278.
If chlorine in the shower bothers you, a shower head filter will do a little at most. The proper fix is a whole-house carbon filter, which treats every tap and shower in the house. It's a bigger job and is specified to suit the house, so ask us for a quote. If it's the taste of your drinking water that's the problem, see why tap water tastes of chlorine.
Got an electric shower? Check the manual first. Triton's electric shower instructions, for example, say to fit only shower heads the manufacturer recommends, warn that restricting the flow out of the shower makes the water hotter, and say that using non-genuine parts can invalidate the guarantee. A shower head with very fine holes restricts the flow, so on an electric shower, go with what the manufacturer allows.
Looking after it
- Change the beads when they look discoloured or worn. Refills come in a set of three packs for €23.99, and the shower head comes with two packs to start you off.
- Descale the spray plate now and then, especially on hard water. The holes are fine, so a little limescale makes a big difference to the spray. Soak the plate in descaler or white vinegar, then rinse.
- Keep the spare rubber plate that comes in the box.
Is an ionic shower head filter worth buying?
If your shower is weak, or you'd like a finer, stronger spray and a bit of sediment filtering for under €30, yes. It's a cheap, easy upgrade.
If limescale is what's bothering you, put the money towards a softener instead. A shower head won't change the hardness of your water, and the marks on the glass will keep coming back. Our water softener cost guide sets out what one costs to buy and run.
Shower head filters at EcoFilter Ireland
Our ionic shower head filter is €29.99 and comes with two bead refill packs and a spare rubber plate. Replacement beads are €23.99 for three packs. Please allow about 10 working days for delivery. See the full shower head filters range.
Limescale on the shower screen?
A shower head won't fix it, but a water softener will. We supply and fit the AquaSilk range nationwide except Donegal, Kerry, Leitrim and Sligo. Tell us about your house and we'll recommend the right size.
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Common questions
Does an ionic shower head soften water?
No. It can't take calcium and magnesium out of the water, so the hardness and the limescale stay the same. Only a water softener removes hardness.
Do ionic shower heads remove chlorine?
Not completely. The beads may reduce the smell a little, but they aren't activated carbon. To take chlorine out at every tap and shower, a whole-house carbon filter is the proper fix.
Will an ionic shower head help with eczema or dry skin?
It isn't a treatment for eczema, dry skin or any hair or scalp condition. Speak to your GP or pharmacist about skin problems.
Does an ionic shower head increase water pressure?
It doesn't raise the pressure in your pipes, but the finer holes make the spray feel stronger, which helps most on a weak, tank-fed shower.
Can I use an ionic shower head on an electric shower?
Check the shower's manual first. Some makers, Triton for example, say to fit only shower heads they recommend, because restricting the flow out of the shower makes the water hotter.
How often should I change the beads?
When they look discoloured or worn, or the spray isn't what it was. Refills are €23.99 for three packs.
