Why Does My Shower Water Smell Like Chlorine?

It's usually the chlorine used to treat tap water, released by heat — and why a filter helps.
By Better Human Goods
1 min read

That chlorine-pool smell in a hot shower is usually just the chlorine used to disinfect municipal tap water, becoming more noticeable as it evaporates in heat and steam. It's extremely common in treated water and, by itself, is a normal part of how many water systems keep supplies safe. The smell is stronger in the shower precisely because heat releases it into the air.

If the smell bothers you, that's one of the main reasons people add a shower filter — chlorine reduction is exactly what a typical KDF-and-carbon shower filter targets. Reducing it tends to make the shower smell and feel milder. One note: if you ever notice a strong rotten-egg (sulfur) smell or something clearly unusual rather than the familiar chlorine note, that's worth checking with your water utility, since it's a different issue. More in our shower filter guide.

Try the BHG Shower Filter Head.