We Tested Our Water Before and After VeraFlow — Here's What Changed

Most filtered shower head content tells you what a filter is supposed to do. We wanted to show what actually happens. So we ran a simple before-and-after comparison: unfiltered tap water straight from the shower arm, versus water passed through a VeraFlow filtered shower head, using basic at-home testing tools anyone can replicate.

How We Tested

We used two accessible methods that don't require a lab:

• Chlorine test strips — the same type used for pools and aquariums, which react visibly to free chlorine in water
• TDS meter (Total Dissolved Solids) — measures the concentration of dissolved particles in water, giving a rough sense of mineral and contaminant load

Neither method is a substitute for certified lab testing, but both are accessible tools you can use yourself to sanity-check any shower filter — ours or anyone else's.

What We Found

Chlorine test strips: Unfiltered water showed a clear, strong color change consistent with typical municipal chlorine levels. Water passed through the VeraFlow showed a noticeably lighter reaction — consistent with substantial chlorine reduction, in line with what carbon and KDF-based filtration media are designed to do.

TDS readings: The unfiltered sample and filtered sample showed only a modest difference in TDS. This is expected and worth being transparent about — TDS measures overall dissolved solids, including minerals like calcium and magnesium that carbon/KDF filters aren't designed to remove. A shower filter targeting chlorine and heavy metals won't dramatically move a TDS reading, and any brand claiming otherwise is misrepresenting what that number measures.

Smell and feel: This part is subjective, but consistent with what test strips indicated — the filtered water had a noticeably milder chlorine smell straight out of the shower head.

Why We're Sharing the Full Picture

It would've been easy to only publish the chlorine result and call it a day. But part of choosing a shower filter well is understanding exactly what it's changing about your water — and what it isn't. A filter that reduces chlorine but doesn't touch hardness minerals isn't underperforming; it's doing the specific job carbon and KDF filtration is built for.

Want to Test Your Own Water?

If you want to replicate this at home:

1. Test your unfiltered water first, straight from the shower arm before installing any filter
2. Install your filtered shower head
3. Run the water for 15–30 seconds to clear any air or residue before testing
4. Test again with the same method (test strips or TDS meter) for a fair comparison

Chlorine test strips are inexpensive and widely available, and they're the most direct way to see a shower filter's core function in action — no lab required.

The Takeaway

Filtered shower heads do exactly what quality carbon and KDF filtration is designed to do: measurably reduce chlorine exposure. They're not designed to soften hard water or eliminate every dissolved mineral, and it's worth being clear-eyed about that distinction before you buy — regardless of which brand you choose.