The Apartment Renter's Guide to Better Shower Water

Renting means living with what's already there. You can't repaint without asking, you can't touch the plumbing, and you definitely can't do anything permanent to the bathroom. But there's one part of your water you can change without asking your landlord for anything: what comes out of your shower head. Here's what that actually looks like, and how to pick the right filter for the apartment you're in right now.

Why renters have less say over their water

Water quality depends on more than just the city supply. It also depends on the building: how old the pipes are, how well the water heater has been maintained, how much sediment has settled in over the years the building's been standing. None of that is something a lease lets you touch, and none of it changes just because you'd like it to. The one part of the system you do control is the fixture the water passes through last, right before it reaches your skin.

A fix that doesn't touch the plumbing

A shower filter sits between your shower arm and your shower head. There's no drilling, no plumber, and no permanent change to anything the building owns. Aquabliss filters install in under 2 minutes with no tools, and fit any standard ½ inch shower arm, so putting one in, and taking it back out when you move, is exactly as simple as it sounds. Nothing about the process touches your deposit.

Choosing the right filter for the apartment you're in

Aquabliss makes a few different filters, and which one makes sense depends on your building more than your bathroom.

Aquabliss Daily Essential Shower Filter (SF220) - the straightforward option

• Reduces chlorine and filters sediment, with a simpler formulation and no added extras

• The only Aquabliss filter suitable for well water, if your rental happens to be on it

• Designed for sensitive skin, and may help reduce irritation linked to water quality

Aquabliss Daily Revitalize Shower Filter (SF100) - the everyday pick

• Reduces chlorine and sediment, and adds Vitamin C filtration media

• Designed for sensitive skin, kinder to skin and hair with regular use

• Available in five finishes, so it can actually match your bathroom hardware

Aquabliss Daily Essential+ Heavy Duty Shower Filter (SF500) - for older buildings

• 44% more filter media than standard shower filters

• Recommended for heavy sediment, common in older buildings with aging pipes

• Reduces chlorine, pharmaceuticals, THMs and organic impurities

Checking your shower arm before you buy

Standard ½ inch shower arms cover the vast majority of apartments, but it's worth a quick check before you order anything. Look at where your current shower head screws on: if it's a simple threaded connection with no odd adapters or unusual angles, you're almost certainly working with the standard fitting. If your building has anything custom, like a rain head built into the ceiling, it's worth measuring first rather than guessing.

If you want to mention it to your landlord

Most renters don't need permission for a change this small, since nothing about the plumbing or the fixture itself is altered. But if your lease is strict about anything touching the bathroom, or you'd simply rather not deal with a surprised landlord, a quick heads-up costs nothing. Framing it as a temporary, tool-free addition that comes off just as easily as it went on tends to answer most questions before they're asked.

Something that moves with you

The best part of a fixture that isn't actually fixed is that it comes with you. Unscrew it, pack it, put it on the shower arm at the next address. A cartridge lasts 3 to 6 months depending on water quality, so it's a small, ongoing thing to keep track of, not a one-time fix you forget about. If you move more than once a year, that's one less thing to buy new every time you unpack a bathroom.

Frequently asked questions

Will a shower filter void my lease or damage the plumbing?

No. It installs between your existing shower arm and shower head, without cutting into or altering any of the building's plumbing. Most people can take it off just as easily as they put it on, which matters if you're planning to leave everything the way you found it.

Do I need a plumber to install one?

No. Aquabliss filters install in under 2 minutes with no tools required, and fit all standard ½ inch shower arms.

What if my shower arm isn't a standard ½ inch fitting?

A small number of older buildings or custom installations use something other than the standard fitting. If you're not sure, checking the connection before you buy is a quicker fix than dealing with a return.

Can I take my shower filter with me when I move?

Yes. Since it isn't a permanent fixture, it comes off as easily as it went on, and fits onto the next standard shower arm just the same way.

Does a shower filter fit any shower head?

Aquabliss filters have a universal fit across fixed, rain, handheld, combo and dual shower heads, as long as the shower arm is a standard ½ inch fitting, which covers the vast majority of apartments.

Better shower water shouldn't depend on what your landlord will or won't let you change. Find your filter and start your new daily routine.