If you live in an apartment or can’t install a whole-house water softener, creating your own DIY shower water softening system is an effective way to tackle hard water issues.
Why Hard Water is a Problem
Hard water contains two main types of substances that can damage your hair and skin:
- Minerals: Calcium and magnesium ions that cause water hardness.
- Harmful contaminants: Chlorine and other pollutants.
Shower filters can reduce chlorine but don’t remove minerals or other harmful pollutants. While they provide some protection, they’re not enough to fully address hard water problems.
How to Build a DIY Shower Softener System
To soften and purify your shower water, here’s what you’ll need:
- Portable water softener
- Water filter (preferably with activated carbon fibers)
- 1/2-inch connectors (for all hoses and filters)
- 1/2-inch shower hose and a short hose to connect the filter and softener
- Handheld showerhead (optional, but highly compatible with this setup)
- Teflon tape to prevent leaks
- Water quality test strips to check water quality before and after installation
Key Installation Tips
- Connector size matters: Ensure all connectors, hoses, and filters are 1/2 inch for compatibility with standard showerheads.
- Choose the right filter: Use a water filter with activated carbon fibers instead of standard activated carbon. It removes tougher pollutants like pesticides, hormones, THMs, and VOCs in addition to chlorine.
- Seal tightly: Use Teflon tape during installation to prevent leaks.
- Test your water: Use water quality test strips to ensure the system is working properly.
Addressing Recharge Issues
One downside of portable water softeners is their limited internal space. To recharge the resin, they require soaking it in saltwater, but this often means leaving half the space empty for the soaking process. This design reduces the amount of resin inside, which limits the amount of soft water the system can produce.
A solution to this is to add more resin to increase the system’s soft water capacity. However, filling the space with more resin creates a new challenge: insufficient room for saltwater soaking during the recharge process.
To address this, you can use an external saltwater container and a small water pump. The pump connects the container to the softener, creating a saltwater loop that circulates through the resin. This method mimics the traditional soaking process, ensuring the resin comes into full contact with the saltwater. As a result, the resin recharges effectively without wasting water or space, even with the additional resin.
This improvement is optional but highly recommended for those looking to maximize the efficiency of their DIY shower softening system.
Why I Recommend This System
I came up with this solution while trying to solve my own apartment’s hard water issues. Many people waste time and money on shower filters that don’t truly soften water. By building this system, you can save money and protect your skin and hair.
If you prefer convenience, we also offer a complete shower water softener system that includes the portable water softener, water filter, and all necessary parts.
Comparing Options: DIY System vs. Showerstick
The Showerstick is a smaller, portable water softener. While it works, its limited resin capacity means it produces less soft water and requires more frequent recharges. In contrast, the DIY system lasts longer between charges and includes a water filtration feature for better protection, though it may appear bulkier. Ultimately, the choice depends on your priorities—compactness or performance.
Final Thoughts
This DIY shower water softener system is a practical and affordable way to address hard water issues in your shower. I hope it helps you enjoy softer water and healthier skin and hair!