The ZYNAFLO 15-stage shower filter is manufactured by ZYNAFLO, a company specializing in producing water solutions, including hydrogen water generators, shower filters, showerheads, and shower accessories. This 15-stage shower filter from the company is one of the most efficient in the market.

It comes only as an inline shower filter (no showerhead), featuring 15 different media that together provide a very comprehensive water treatment solution. The media have been carefully blended to ensure maximum water filtration.

They comprise coconut activated carbon, KDF-55, and calcium sulfite, which are the main filtration media and effectively remove a lot of different contaminants from the shower water, including chlorine and other harmful chemicals, heavy metals, bacteria, and germs. They also remove hardness minerals, hence softening the water.

Besides filtering out contaminants, this ZYNAFLO shower filter does vitalize the water using various ceramic and mineral stones. These stones restore the natural pH balance of the water and add beneficial elements that help improve the health of your skin and hair.

It’s basically a robust water treatment system that offers a nice balance between filtration and rejuvenation to ensure your shower water is clean, safe, and healthy for your skin, hair, and entire body.

In this review, we’ll go through it to see how it performs, how easy it is to install, use, and maintain, and its overall quality compared to other shower filters out there. It’s an in-depth review, so read on to learn more.

The Filtration Process

The 15 stages of the ZYNAFLO shower filter comprise ultra-fine stainless steel mesh (2 layers), polypropylene cotton (2 layers), high-density stainless steel mesh (2 layers), coconut activated carbon, KDF-55, calcium sulfite, and ceramic stones that include alkaline ceramic balls, maifan stones, negative ion ceramic balls, enriched Vitamin C balls, germanium balls, and magnetic energy balls.

The combination of all these media forms an effective water treatment system that clears most of the common contaminants from the shower water while at the same time vitalizing it with beneficial properties that drastically enhance its quality and make it healthy for the whole body, from the skin to the hair.

The first three stages of the filtration process serve to remove sediments and fine particles that might be present in the water.

When the water first enters the unit, it goes through the ultra-fine stainless steel mesh, which traps all large and medium-sized sediments such as clay, lime-scale, and sand. It then passes through polypropylene cotton, which captures fine sediments like rust and dust. From there, the water goes through the high-density stainless steel mesh that further helps trap fine particles before the water reaches the main filtration media and the ceramic/mineral stones.

The company has utilized a combination of coconut-activated carbon, KDF-55, and calcium sulfite as the main filtration media for removing all the other remaining harmful contaminants in the water.

The coconut-activated carbon has a very high density of micro-pores that give it more surface area and porosity, allowing it to adsorb chlorine and other chemical contaminants, especially VOCs and organic chemicals like pesticides, herbicides, and pharmaceuticals. It also helps get rid of any lingering odor from chlorine and other chemicals.

The KDF-55, which is the 11th stage in the filter system, is a copper-zinc formulation, and it equally aids in removing the chlorine content in the water as well as hydrogen sulfide. It also removes heavy metals, including mercury, lead, nickel, chromium, iron, and arsenic.

More importantly, it adsorbs calcium and magnesium, which cause hard water. This media is as well highly-effective in controlling/stopping the buildup of bacteria, fungi, and algae within the filter system.

Calcium sulfite is highly effective at removing chlorine in both hot and cold water instantly. It clears out all the remaining chlorine as well as any heavy metal residue that may be left in the shower water. The fact that it’s able to work at high temperatures makes the ZYNAFLO shower filter ideal for use with either cold or hot water.

This combination of coconut-activated carbon, calcium sulfite, and KDF-55 is what makes the filtration performance of the ZYNAFLO quite impressive. It uses 40g of KDF-55 media, which is double that of other units, while the calcium sulfite amount is about 30g, which is triple the amount of generic filters (most often use 10g or less).

This high amount of calcium sulfite and KDF-55 provides a large surface area that allows them to achieve the maximum filtration possible and effectively remove over 90% of chlorine, heavy metal, and other contaminants. Therefore, the water that comes out of the filter is very clean and safe.

Rejuvenation occurs through the multiple layers of ceramic stones that are added to the shower filter. Each of these stones enhances the quality of the shower water further as it passes through them.

The alkaline ceramic balls, which make the 4th stage in the filter system, help to make the water slightly alkaline by increasing its pH level to about 8.5. It as well gives antioxidant properties, which, together with the alkaline pH, offer several health benefits like immune system support, improved hydration, improved skin health, and anti-aging properties.

The maifan stones remineralize the water. They add trace amounts of essential/healthy minerals like magnesium, calcium, selenium, and lithium. These minerals help improve the quality of the shower water further by restoring its natural pH balance. They are equally beneficial in maintaining the body’s natural pH. They also have a strong adsorption ability to heavy metal ions and other toxins, so they do help to filter them out.

From the maifan stones, the water in the system goes through negative ion ceramic balls. They produce negative ions, which are pretty beneficial as they help boost the immune system and support the body’s ability to remove toxins and wastes.

These stones as well increase the water’s negative ORP, which, together with its alkaline state, helps improve cell hydration and regeneration by neutralizing the harmful effects of free radicals in the body.

The enriched Vitamin C balls in the 7th stage of the filter system infuse Vitamin C into the water. This is one of the most beneficial elements as it promotes healthier skin and hair. It effectively neutralizes the residual side effects of chlorine and hardness minerals like frizzy hair, dry skin, dandruff, and itchy scalp and eyes. Vitamin C basically nourishes your skin and hair.

There are germanium ceramic balls within the filter system too, and these sterilize, deodorize, and activate the shower water. They release negative ions and far-infrared radiation, which offer several benefits to the body. They promote blood circulation, slow down aging, and increase the amount of oxygen in the blood. They also help prevent skin disease by giving it vitality.

The final ceramic stones in the filter are magnetic energy balls. These balls consist of natural magnetic mineral materials which energize the water with oxygen that in turn helps nourish both the skin and the hair. They also adsorb impurities and heavy metals.

From the ceramic balls, the water goes through the high-density stainless steel mesh, polypropylene cotton, and then the ultra-fine stainless steel mesh, all of which help clear out any remaining sediment and fine particles.

The outcome of these 15 stages of filtration is a tremendous improvement in the quality of the shower water produced by the ZYNAFLO. The water is cleaner, safer, and very beneficial to the skin and hair.

Users were overall pleased with the performance of the filter. Many reported that their hair and skin feel so much healthier. The skin is soft and no longer dry, plus it stops itching immediately after you start using the filter. They also mentioned that the hair becomes silkier and less frizzy.

If you have hard water, then you’ll benefit from this filter too. Users reported that their shower water felt softer than it was, and their shampoo also lathered better than before, leaving the skin feeling cleaner. The unit as well makes the water smell great by adding vitamin C and eliminating chlorine, chemicals, and the smell of hard water.

Installation

The setup process for this ZYNAFLO shower filter is straightforward. You just remove your existing shower head from the shower arm and then twist on the ZYNAFLO shower filter with the O-ring washers placed at both ends. You then attach your shower head to the filter, and you’re good to go.

The filter cartridges have “Direction of Water Flow” arrows to guide you so that you don’t place them in the wrong direction. You’ll need to flush them first before you start showering in order to get rid of any residual carbon particles.

It’s a very simple installation process, and the instructions are fairly clear to follow. You’ll just need a bit of strength and probably an adjustable wrench to remove the showerhead and tighten the filter onto the shower arm/pipe.

The filter is compatible with all standard American ½-inch NPT pipes. You can use both hot and cold water thanks to the calcium sulfite and KDF-55 media, which work effectively at high temperatures.

While most of the users didn’t have any issues with regard to installation, some reported leaks around the pipe connections. However, this is easily corrected using the Teflon tape included in the package. You wrap it tightly around the threads on both ends for a better seal and ensure that the O-ring washers sit firmly in place at either end.

Leaks can also occur around the seams of the filter housing, so you’ll need to ensure the large housing seals are equally firmly in place and that both halves are tightened securely.

The package comprises everything you need to finish the setup, except the wrench. It includes the shower filter housing, two filter cartridges, two O-ring washers, two spare housing silicone seals, Teflon tape, and five shower caps, which are actually free gifts from the company.

Maintenance

Maintaining the ZYNAFLO doesn’t involve a lot of work. It’s just replacing the filters and cleaning the unit regularly. As mentioned above, the package includes two filter cartridges, each capable of filtering around 10,000 to 12,000 gallons of water before requiring replacement.

That’s equivalent to a service life of roughly 6 months if your water is fairly clean and you take not more than two showers a day. So, the two cartridges can last you up to a year before you can think of purchasing replacements. If your water is in bad condition or very hard, you may have to replace them sooner, probably after 4 to 5 months.

ZYNAFLO does sell filter replacement cartridges for this unit, and they are available on their website and Amazon, hence you won’t have trouble getting them. Moreover, they come in a pack of two just like the original filter cartridges that come with the unit, meaning each pack can equally last a year before requiring replacement.

Carrying out the replacement isn’t difficult at all. You simply uninstall the filter by detaching the showerhead and then unscrewing the filter from the shower arm. You then unscrew the filter housing, remove the used filter cartridge, and replace it with the new one, following the “Direction of Water Flow” arrow etched on the cartridge.

From there, you let the water run through the new filter for a couple of minutes before showering to allow all the carbon dust to clear out.

The only challenge you may have is knowing exactly when to change the filter cartridge because the unit doesn’t come with a filter life indicator. The only option is to keep an eye on the pressure because it begins to weaken when the filter becomes exhausted.

Besides replacing the filter cartridge, you’ll have to clean the surface of the filter regularly, like once every week, using a mild cleaning solution and a soft cloth. If there are stubborn stains, you can use vinegar and water solution to scrub the spots and then dry the filter surface with a soft cloth.

Build Quality

The ZYNAFLO shower filter is relatively solid and built to last for a long time. The filter housing is made using ABS engineering plastic that has been electroplated with seven layers of industrial-grade chrome. It’s a specialized treatment and protection that ensures the filter housing will be able to withstand years of use without deteriorating. The O-ring seals are made of silicone and are fairly thick, so they are of good quality and will provide a secure seal when set properly.

The whole unit measures 3.31 x 3.31 x 4.72 inches. It may feel a tad bulky, but it’s still compact enough for installation where space may be limited. The glossy chrome finish will perfectly fit any bathroom and even match the showerhead and other bathroom fixtures.

Final Remarks

This is a powerful and effective shower filter that works to remove chlorine, heavy metals, and other contaminants from your hot or cold water. It’s a great option if you want to improve the quality of your shower water and rejuvenate your skin and hair. It has numerous ceramic stones that infuse the water with beneficial elements and properties.

It’s able to remove hardness minerals and make the water softer, so you can also consider it if you have hard water. It doesn’t seem to have an adverse effect on the water pressure until maybe when its service life is up. Installing and maintaining it is pretty easy, so generally, you have nothing to worry about.

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ZYNAFLO 15-Stage Detailed Images