AquaBliss SF100 Shower Filter Review: A Data-Driven Analysis

The AquaBliss shower filter certainly sounds impressive with its 12-stage filtration process, and we were keen to see how it performed with our own hands-on testing. 

This review was formed as a discussion of all our testing data, including the objective figures we obtained from testing for contaminants removed, flow rate, and ongoing cost, as well as our subjective notes on the filter’s design, ease of setup and maintenance, and overall value for money.

Overall Score: 8.25

7.71 Contaminant Reduction

7.20 Design

9.50 Maintenance

10.00 Filtration Rate

9.00 Setup

8.65 Company

What We Like

Affordable upfront & ongoing cost

Good flow rate

Easy to install & maintain

Decent 1-year warranty & 30-day guarantee

What We Don’t Like

The only shower filter we tested that didn’t eliminate chlorine

Uses misleading certification language

Poor DBP reduction

Price	$35.99
Contaminants Reduced	2+
Certifications	– Not Certified
Process	Activated Carbon + Calcium Sulfite + KDF
Filter Capacity	10,000 gallons
Annual Cost	~$71.98 – $107.97
Warranty	12 Months

View at aquabliss.com

View on Amazon

📊 Scoring Data

The AquaBliss SF100 Shower Filter is one of the most affordable shower filters we tested, costing just over $35. But affordability isn’t necessarily an advantage if the value for money isn’t there, and that’s what we were aiming to deduce from our testing. We analyzed the system across our 6 key scoring categories, then combined and averaged the scores into an overall performance score. The table below breaks down our testing data.

Criteria	Results
Overall Score	8.25
Health Related Contaminants	7.80
Aesthetic Related Contaminants	9.90
Performance Certification	Not Certified
Filtration Rate	2.50 GPM
Component Quality	Fair
Component Certification	Not Certified
Setup	Excellent
Servicing Requirements	Excellent
Costs	$0.002/gallon
Warranty Length	12 Months
Shipping	Free on orders over $20
Returns	30 days

🚰 Contaminant Reduction

Score: 7.71

Our scoring system is the most heavily weighted by a filter’s performance in the “contaminant reduction” testing category. We test our own water before and after filtration to see how a filter’s performance compares to data shared by the manufacturer. 

A subsection of this category looks at whether or not a filter has been certified by an official testing organization, such as the NSF/ANSI, IAPMO, or the WQA. 

Our Performance Testing

Score: 7.91

We tested our water filtered by the AquaBliss SF100 using a service called SimpleLab Tap Score. We received a kit for taking our samples (one before filtration and one directly from the filtered showerhead), and SimpleLab delivered our results in a comprehensive, interactive test report. 

Our kit also came with a chlorine test strip (chlorine detection is best done as soon as possible because the chemical dissipates quickly once it comes into contact with air). Additionally, we conducted a titration test separately to get a more accurate, real-time understanding of the hardness of our unfiltered and filtered water. 

Before we share our results, it’s helpful for you to understand more about our testing conditions: 

1. First, we decided to test the AquaBliss SF100 with cold water. While this isn’t a realistic representation of how most of us shower, it was really important that we could get an accurate measurement of the disinfection byproducts in our shower water, since these have known health effects when inhaled in water vapor. DBPs are highly volatile and dissipate quickly from hot water, hence why we tested with cold water to obtain the most accurate data possible. 
2. Second, while our water contained more than 10 contaminants with known health effects, we only focused on those that can be harmful to health in shower water, either due to inhalation or dermal exposure (rather than ingestion). These contaminants were chlorine, disinfection byproducts, and water hardness. 

Health-Related Contaminants

Score: 7.70

When it came to reducing health-related contaminants in our water, the AquaBliss Shower Filter was a bit of a letdown. Before we assess our results, let’s discuss what we were dealing with in our unfiltered water. 

Our Tap Score test detected four disinfection byproducts in the trihalomethanes (THMs) category in our water sample: 

• 5.47 PPB of chloroform
• 2.62 PPB of bromodichloromethane
• 0.74 PPB of dibromochloromethane
• 0.25 PPB of bromochloromethane

The first three were present in concentrations exceeding the lab’s HGL, meaning they all posed a potential health risk. Bromochloromethane was detected in concentrations below the Reporting Limit, so its safety in our water couldn’t be evaluated. 

Good to know: A 2020 study has been conducted into the possible health effects of DBPs, specifically THMs, in shower water. Scientists deduced that THMs exposure in shower vapor could increase the potential for “cancer and non-cancer risks” when inhaled. 

AquaBliss claims to  “effectively reduce dirt, chlorine, trihalomethanes (THMs), and more”—but how did it perform in our testing?

Well, unfortunately, the SF100 ended up being the only shower filter we tested that didn’t even reduce 100% of chlorine (it only reduced it by 75%, and 0.5 PPM remained in our filtered water). 

This was confusing to us given that the filter reportedly contains a blend of three types of media that are all generally very effective at removing chlorine: calcium sulfite, redox media, and activated carbon. Interestingly, Aquabliss sells two similar shower filter models that are reportedly more effective at removing chlorine. We’re considering testing one of these to see if it’s capable of reducing 100% chlorine, as we’d expect. 

The filter also didn’t reduce THMs, despite AquaBliss’ claims. We only saw an incidental reduction of just under 6%, from 8.83 PPM to 8.31 PPM. Despite its extensive filtration media, we think the filter’s lack of a solid carbon block filter is the main reason why it can’t effectively reduce disinfection byproducts. 

Water Hardness

To measure the differences in our water hardness pre- and post-filtration, we used data from our Tap Score lab test and our more precise on-site titration test. Here’s how the results compared: 

• In our Tap Score test report, our unfiltered water had a total hardness reading of 128.19 PPM, or 7.49 GPG, putting it in the “hard” category.
• Our on-site titration test detected a water hardness of 8 GPG. 

Note: while hard water isn’t dangerous to health in the same way as disinfection byproducts, it can still have mild-to-moderate skin and hair effects, especially for people with existing skin conditions like eczema. 

What were we expecting from AquaBliss? The manufacturer claims the filter “Reduces Contaminants to Make Water Feel Softer”, and “helps control scale”, so we were anticipating at least a slight reduction in the calcium and magnesium minerals in our water. 

So our results were a little disappointing:

• In our Tap Score test, the total hardness of our water had dropped by less than 1%.
• Hardness remained the same, at 8 GPG, in our on-site titration test.

This wasn’t altogether surprising given that AquaBliss doesn’t mention the addition of an ion exchange media, which is needed to remove hardness minerals, in its filter. 

Minerals & pH Balance

While the possible increase in healthy minerals and alterations to our water’s pH balance didn’t affect our testing score, we still want to discuss them here since AquaBliss claims that the SF100 has these abilities. 

Specifically, the company says the filter “Infuses High-Quality Minerals — Get Gorgeous Skin, Hair, and Nails”, and “Improves PH Balance — Soothe Dry Itchy Skin and Reduce Dandruff and Eczema”. 

In terms of pH, our post-filtration results showed that this was reduced by around 7%, from 8.39 to 7.80. So no substantial changes—but perhaps this was because the pH of our unfiltered water was only slightly alkaline anyway, and our results would have been more apparent if it was significantly higher or lower. 

Alternatively, it’s possible that the filter can’t actually change pH, which seems more likely given that it didn’t affect the mineral concentrations that contribute to pH. We wouldn’t know without conducting another more specific test. 

As for mineral infusion, AquaBliss doesn’t explicitly state exactly which minerals the filter adds to water. We only know that it contains “mineralized beads” that “release beneficial minerals”, as well as vitamin C. Our own testing was possibly limited (depending on the minerals the filter is intended to remove) as it only detected calcium and magnesium minerals, which didn’t increase.

Unexpected Outcomes

We noticed a couple of unexpected outcomes in our test results that we want to mention here. 

As we mentioned, we focused only on the contaminants that could have health effects in shower water. However, we think it’s still worth mentioning increases in contaminants that aren’t known to be harmful in shower water, since they can possibly be related to the filter design itself. 

First, a number of metals, including lithium, arsenic, vanadium, and molybdenum, actually increased post-filtration. We think this is likely incidental, caused by fluctuations of these metals in our water supply between our initial test and our filtered water test. 

We also saw a substantial 3227.75% increase in zinc, from 0.00919 PPM to 0.30582 PPM. We think this is likely coming from the KDF media, which is typically made from a copper-zinc alloy. 

We’d need to retest our water to confirm these hypotheses. 

Performance Certifications

Score: 6.00

Shower filter manufacturers can obtain an NSF 177 performance certification, which involves getting their filters professionally tested and deemed capable of meeting NSF requirements for chlorine reduction.

Manufacturers don’t need to be certified in order to make contaminant reduction claims, but a lot of people (including us) find it reassuring to know that a filter has official, unbiased independent performance testing. 

The AquaBliss Shower Filter isn’t performance certified, so it received the lowest score in this testing sub-category. This is despite misleading claims from AquaBliss that the filter is “certified” on the product page.

🚦Filtration Rate

Score: 10.00

We measured the SF100 filter’s flow rate by timing how long it took to filter 2 cups of water. We repeated the test three times in total and recorded the average time from all three. 

It actually had one of the slowest flow rates of all the shower filters we tested, coming in at 1.50 gallons per minute (the other filters had flow rates ranging from 1.43 to 2.33 GPM). 

That said, this is still a good flow rate for a shower filter and we didn’t notice a reduction in our water pressure after installing it.  

Information about the filter’s maximum flow rate isn’t available online. When we emailed customer service, a rep told us that the filter’s maximum flow rate was 2.50 GPM.

📐 Design

Score: 7.20

The SF100 is one of AquaBliss’ four shower filter offerings. Its defining feature, which isn’t available in any of AquaBliss’ other models, is its vitamin- and mineral-infusion media. 

It’s an inline filter that’s designed to be installed with an existing shower head, and is compatible with all kinds of showers, including fixed, rain, and handheld showers. 

The filter sits inside a cylindrical unit that attaches to your shower arm. You can buy the unit in five finishes: 

1. Chrome
2. Brushed nickel
3. Oil-rubbed bronze
4. Matte black
5. Matte gold

In terms of appearance, it’s one of the less attractive shower filters currently available, prioritizing functionality and practicality over style. 

Component Quality

Score: 8.00

The SF100 didn’t particularly impress us with its component quality, and we noted that, in terms of its build and feel, its design was flimsier compared to most of the other shower filters we tested. This makes us uncertain about its long-term durability. 

We were concerned that there was a design issue when we installed the filter because it leaked initially. But we realized this was actually caused by our own error: the housing wasn’t completely tight, and the leaking stopped once we had tightened it.

Filter Materials

The AquaBliss filter uses a blend of 12 filtration media:

1. Ultra-fine stainless steel mesh 
2. Micro-porous PP cotton
3. Calcium sulfite 
4. Redox media (KDF)
5. Activated carbon 
6. Mineralized beads 
7. Zeolite ceramic beads
8. Ceramic Vitamin C
9. Tourmaline 
10. Magnetic energy 
11. Micro-porous PP cotton 
12. Ultra-fine stainless steel mesh 

We’ve seen a few manufacturers employ the “abundance” technique, aiming to entice customers by demonstrating that their filters contain more media (and build up their lists with vague features like “magnetic energy”) and are therefore more capable than competing systems. 

Unfortunately, as we’ve already discussed, our test results didn’t demonstrate that the filter had any additional abilities to remove contaminants or enhance our filtered water with vitamins or minerals, despite AquaBliss’ claims. 

Materials Safety Certification

Score: 6.00

AquaBliss hasn’t obtained a materials safety certification, so we assigned it the lowest score of 6.00 in this category.

Again, these certifications aren’t a legal requirement, but they help to reassure us that a filter’s materials and components have been tested and deemed to be compliant with NSF standards for materials safety. 

⚙️ Setup

Score: 9.00

Ease of setup is something that AquaBliss gets right, and the process was as simple as screwing the filter onto our shower arm and attaching our existing shower head. 

You don’t need tools or materials for setup (aside from plumber’s tape), and there’s no time-consuming filter priming process. We just had to rinse the filter under warm running water for 60 seconds, to remove any loose carbon dust, before installing it.

🔧 Maintenance

Score: 9.50

AquaBliss also impressed us in the maintenance category, with easy, low-cost filter change requirements, awarding it a high score in this category.

Servicing Requirements

9.00

The filter in the SF100 lasts up to 4-6 months, depending on your water quality and your shower times, so maintenance is a pretty infrequent requirement. 

We found it easy to replace the filters by simply unscrewing the casing, sliding out the existing shower filter cartridge, and slotting the new one in its place.

Simple maintenance is our expectation for shower filters, so we were pleased that AquaBliss didn’t let us down in this category.

Costs

Score: 10.00

As for maintenance costs, the AquaBliss Shower Filter is one of the most affordable of all the shower filters we tested. 

It has an ongoing cost of just 0.002/ gallon, based on AquaBliss’ filter lifespan claims and the price of replacement filters on the manufacturer’s website.

🏢 Company

Score: 8.65

AquaBliss is one of the more established shower filter companies, so we expected it to offer a decent warranty, as well as good returns and shipping policies. Here, we evaluated the company behind the product. 

Warranty

Score: 8.50

AquaBliss offers a 12-month warranty, which is one of the longest we’ve seen for a shower filter.  The warranty guarantees that the SF100 is “free from defects in material and workmanship”, for a period of 12 months from the date of purchase. 

To be eligible for a refund or replacement under the warranty, you need to send back the defective part(s) along with your proof of purchase. 

Learn more about AquaBliss’ warranty here. 

Shipping 

Score: 9.50

You’ll receive free shipping when you spend more than $20 on orders on the AquaBliss website. That means you won’t have to pay for shipping on your initial purchase, but you will if you choose to buy replacement filters (which cost less than $20 each) individually.

Returns

Score: 8.00

AquaBliss’ 30-day returns policy is pretty good, especially given its affordable upfront cost, allowing you to try the filter and see if it works for you within the first 30 days after your purchase. If you don’t like it for whatever reason, you can return it for a refund or replacement. You’ll need to contact AquaBliss with your proof of purchase and the reason for your return. 

There’s some fine print to be aware of, including that the filter needs to be undamaged and in its original condition for you to be eligible for a full refund. 

View AquaBliss’ refund and returns policy here.

💰 Value For Money

Now we’ve shared all our testing data, do we think the AquaBliss SF100 is worth the money?

The short answer is no. While the filter might be one of the most affordable of the bunch we tested, the fact that it didn’t even remove 100% chlorine in our testing made it a big letdown. We also don’t like the fact that AquaBliss is deceiving customers by making inaccurate claims about its ability to address water hardness issues. 

Given that the filter comprises so many filtration media, we expected more. At the very least, we expected complete chlorine removal, but we didn’t even get that. And the fact that the filter doesn’t even slightly reduce DPBs, which are commonly found in chlorinated water supplies, means it’s failing to perform an important duty.  

Are there any exceptions here? Perhaps the filter could be an option if you know for certain that your water contains little-to-no DPBs but you still want an affordable solution for reducing (albeit not necessarily removing) chlorine. But in our opinion, it’s better to spend twice as much on the Weddell Duo, which is the only shower filter we tested to actually address DBPs effectively.