How to install a shower filter
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Every inline shower filter sold in Australia fits the standard half-inch shower arm thread. The ten-minute install, the mistake that causes leaks, and how to flush it.
Installing an inline shower filter is a ten-minute job with no plumber and one adjustable spanner. Here is how, and the mistakes that cause leaks.
What you need
The filter, a roll of PTFE thread tape, an adjustable spanner or a cloth to protect chrome, and a towel for the floor.
Steps
- Remove the existing shower head. Turn it anticlockwise by hand. If it is stuck, wrap a cloth around the fitting and use the spanner gently.
- Clean the arm thread. Pick off old tape and scale.
- Tape the arm. Two to three wraps of thread tape clockwise, so it tightens as you screw the filter on.
- Screw the filter onto the arm. Hand-tight, then a quarter turn with the spanner. Do not overtighten; plastic housings crack.
- Tape the filter’s outlet thread the same way, and screw the shower head onto it.
- Flush. Turn the shower on cold, pointing at the drain, for two minutes.
- Check for drips. A slow drip at either joint means another wrap of tape.
The mistake that causes leaks
Skipping the flush and overtightening are the usual causes. The other is a warped washer: if the filter came with a rubber washer, seat it flat before screwing on.
Handheld showers
An inline filter goes between the wall outlet and the hose, so it fits handheld showers too. If your outlet is a ball joint on a rail, the filter fits after the elbow.
Which filter
Our shower filter guide covers the two we would buy and when each is right.
Frequently asked questions
What thread size are Australian shower arms?
Half-inch BSP, the same standard used across Australia and most of the world. Any shower filter sold here fits it. The exception is some designer showers with a fixed head and no exposed arm; those cannot take an inline filter.
Do I need thread tape?
Usually yes, two or three wraps clockwise on the male threads. Some filters ship with rubber washers that seal without tape; if yours leaks with the washer alone, add tape.
Why is the water cloudy or coloured after installing?
New KDF and carbon cartridges shed fines for the first minute or two. Run the shower on cold, with the head pointed at the drain, for two minutes before the first use. Vitamin C cartridges can run slightly discoloured at first for the same reason.
How often do I change the cartridge?
Three to six months of daily use for most units. Vitamin C cartridges are consumed as they work and run out rather than clog, so follow the litre or month rating rather than waiting for a drop in flow.