Shower head water softeners and filters

[K Frame]

Anyone use one? Any thoughts on the "softening" aspect?

I can't see that it would be very effective for very long.

But, the carbon filtering aspect to remove chlorine might be a better deal anyway because that's what causes the most skin drying.

Along those lines, any thoughts on putting a carbon filter assembly in right before the water heater?

[Brad Johnson]

I'm with you... I don't see it lasting long unless there is a way to recharge or change the ion exchange cartridge. The water also doesn't have enough time in the exchange bed to do much more than a vestigial job of ion exchange. Carbon filtering? Sure. That's a mechanical process that's not reliant on time. If the water makes it through, it's working. The softening part, though? Not buying it.

Brad