Guides
How often to change a shower filter
Short answer: about every 60 days for one to two people. Sooner if more people share the shower. Here's why, and the signs it's time.
Why 60 days
The layers inside a shower filter work by trapping or reacting with what's in your water. Over time those layers fill up and wear out. After about two months of daily showers, the cartridge does noticeably less, even if it looks fine from the outside.
How fast that happens depends on three things:
- How many people use the shower each day.
- How long each shower runs.
- Your water. More chlorine or more sediment wears a cartridge out faster.
A simple guide
| People using the shower | Change about every |
| 1 to 2 | 60 days |
| 3 to 4 | 45 days |
| 5 or more | 30 days |
Signs it's time
- The chlorine or pool smell is coming back in the steam.
- Water pressure feels lower than when the cartridge was new.
- Your hair and skin feel the way they did before the filter.
- You see grit or discoloration in the water.
What happens if you wait too long
An old cartridge isn't dangerous. It just stops doing its job, so you're back to unfiltered water. A very clogged cartridge can also lower your water pressure.
How to make it easy
The Lull refill plan sends a fresh cartridge every 60 days for $20, so you don't have to remember. You can skip or cancel anytime. Swapping takes a few minutes by hand, no tools. The steps are on our Refills page.
Read next: how to install a shower filter.