162 of 164 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally, a SERIOUS water filter!, October 16, 2005
My husband is allergic to chlorine, so a shower filter is an absolute necessity. We've probably tried every filter that the home supply stores carry -- and this one makes all of those look like toy equipment.
It's not that the filters you get at Home Depot don't work. They do; they're certainly an improvement over the hard water we have, not to mention clearing out the chlorine. The thing is, they don't last long. The filters don't last three months, and we've never had the gizmo itself survive for more than a year. Usually, they broke in a dramatic manner, spraying the entire bathroom as they cracked with a loud bang. Depending on the design, they were also awkward to install, especially if you have a non-mundane shower head.
We've had the Aquasana for six months, and I've just bought the first replacement filter for it. This is definitely a significant improvement over those "basic" filters, and it's worth the extra money. The filtering is MUCH better -- I can tell the difference in that "I just feel cleaner" way -- and the filter lasts twice as long. It wasn't a bad installation, either. If you go to the company's Web site, you can also sign up for the filters to be auto-shipped to you, which is a distinct time savings.
Yes, this one costs a little more than the "basic" units you'll find at Lowe's or Home Depot. And it's definitely worth the expense.
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121 of 124 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Bulky, Pricey...But Works As Advertised, December 10, 2006
Akin to most Amazon products with multiple reviews, there's something to be gleaned both from the positive AND negative feedback. This is certainly one of thosse products.
First things first: the Aquasana Shower Filter does what it promises. Expect noticeably cleaner and fresher water immediately after installation. I've used this in two different states over a 1.5 year-period. In both instances, the natural odor of the local tap water disappeared completely from my shower after installing this filter, likewise the water gunk ring that used to form after a week or two without it.
Related, this is one wonderful showerhead. I'm amazed with all of the filtration going on (alluded to below), such powerful pressure is produced. The multiple setting showerhead is likewise quite user-friendly, rarely -- once every 8-10 months -- requiring a moderate pore cleaning.
The Aquasana Shower Filter, however, is not perfect. This is one expensive solution to shower filtration. Ditto on filters which cost upwards of $35 (minus shipping), only available online (in most instances). It also weighs a ton + is enormous; if you have old or fragile plumbing, this is NOT the filter for you. Related, shower plumbing with minimal distance between the wall and the location of the shower head (<8 inches) might encounter problems with spacing.
Installation is likewise frustrating, requiring trial and error beyond description (for a moderate DIY'er). Getting the filter on without leaking plus the shower head firmly secure to the plumbing requires sufficient patience. Based on feedback from several reviewers, special caution should also be taken not to overtighten the filters to the shower head (to avoid housing unit cracking).
It also takes a hefty number of water gallons to clean the filter's carbon residue upon initial installation. I often thought I could fill the Erie Canal in the amount of water required to completely flush one Aquasana filter.
In sum: the Aquasana filter might be expensive, an installation bugger, and both large and bulky. It does, however, work quite well. My wife and I easily notice the quality loss (in water hardness, softness, odor, ph, chemicals, etc.) every time we shower elsewhere.
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63 of 67 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
mixed emotions - cracks consistently, February 6, 2008
i have mixed emotions about this product. the filter itself is great -- as soon as i stopped using it, i noticed a very definite difference in my skin and hair -- i miss the filter and long to have another one. HOWEVER, three in a row have cracked on me. the first one i let it slide because they ship every six months on auto-ship and i was due a new one in the next week. The second one cracked within a month of replacement, i called the company and explained the problem. They were happy to send a replacement but i had to pay the shipping (!?!). That frustrated me, but since i hadn't reported the first one, i paid the shipping and they sent me a new one. The third and last one cracked within a couple of months and i just gave up. i'm tired of paying for a faulty product and the company doesn't seem to care whether it's faulty or not. I also had the under the sink kitchen filter, which i also loved, but was very upset to come home one day and find the cabinet under the sink flooded. It was a gasket, which the company replace for free and i didn't have to pay the shipping (light weight items), but i still had to deal with the flood under the sink. The filter itself works great, but the housing is shoddy and not worth the trouble to keep using this product. i'm now using a PUR undersink filter (which also works and tastes great - definitely better built) and am looking for a new shower filter. Sigh....
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