How Often Should You Replace a Shower Filter?

Often every 3-6 months, depending on water and use — here's how to know when.
By Better Human Goods
1 min read

A common guideline is to replace a shower filter cartridge every few months — often around every three to six months — but it depends on your water quality and how much you use it. Filter media has a finite capacity; once it's saturated, it stops reducing chlorine and sediment effectively, so periodic replacement is what keeps it working. Heavier use or poorer incoming water means more frequent changes.

Signs it's time: a return of that chlorine smell, reduced water flow, or simply hitting the interval the manufacturer suggests. The simplest approach is to follow your filter's stated cartridge life and adjust based on what you notice. Keeping a spare cartridge on hand makes the swap painless. A filter is only doing its job with fresh media, so this is the one bit of upkeep worth staying on top of. More in our shower filter guide.

Try the BHG Shower Filter Head.