Installation, Regeneration & Care

Use inexpensive hardness test strips (available online, not included) to test your shower water. When the hardness reading rises noticeably above your post-install baseline, the resin is exhausted and needs regeneration. At average US hardness (10 GPG) with both cartridges installed, that is about 14 ten-minute showers, or roughly every 2 weeks for one person showering daily. Check the water hardness chart above for the count that matches your GPG level and cartridge setup.

Use plain non-iodized table salt (sodium chloride) without anti-caking agents if possible. Iodine and additives can leave residue on the resin and reduce capacity over time. Standard table salt from any grocery store works, as does kosher salt or water softener salt. Potassium chloride (KCl) also works and is gentler on sensitive skin, but use 700g of KCl in place of the 500g of salt. Grain size matters more than the type: large water softener pellets, rock salt, and coarse sea salt can take a very long time to dissolve, so crush them or pick a finer grain instead.

Usually, yes. Soft water lathers much more easily than hard water, so most people find they need noticeably less shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Start with about half of what you normally use and adjust from there. Using your old amount often leaves a slippery, hard-to-rinse feeling that is simply excess product.

Yes. A final rinse with distilled water may help reduce flaking on sensitive scalps, since distilled water contains no dissolved minerals at all. It is optional and not required for ShowerSoft to work, but it is a low-cost thing to try if your scalp is still irritated after switching to soft water.

First, make sure the hoses are not kinked. A kinked hose is the most common cause of reduced flow. Second, check that the filter element is fully seated and locked. Third, inspect the shower head for mineral buildup that may have been present before installing ShowerSoft. If flow was normal at first and decreased over time, the filter element may need regeneration.

Turn off the water, dry the connection, apply 2-3 wraps of the included Teflon tape clockwise around the threads, and retighten by hand plus a quarter turn with the included wrench. Do not over-tighten.

Yes. ShowerSoft connects between the shower arm and the shower hose. Any shower head that uses a standard 1/2 inch connection will work, including handheld and rain shower heads.

Regenerate one cartridge at a time. The regeneration attachment fits one cartridge. If you have two installed (dual setup), regenerate each one separately with its own fresh brine: empty and rinse the tank, then mix a new batch with 500g of non-iodized salt (or 700g of potassium chloride) before starting the second cartridge. Do not reuse the brine from the first cartridge, since it already carries the hardness minerals you just flushed out.

The wall surface must be clean, dry, and smooth. Wipe the area with rubbing alcohol and let it dry completely before applying. Adhesive hooks do not bond well to textured tile, painted drywall with heavy texture, or wet surfaces. Press firmly for 30 seconds and wait at least one hour before hanging the adapter.

No. After regeneration, run the shower on cold for about 5 minutes per cartridge to flush remaining brine from the cartridge and hoses. The water may taste or feel salty until flushed. Once the water tastes and feels normal, you are ready to shower.

Check that you used a full 500g of non-iodized salt and that all of it dissolved before the cycle started. If your water hardness is unusually high (above 20 GPG), you may need to regenerate more often, since the chart above allows only about 8 showers per cycle at that level instead of 14. Iodized salt or insufficient salt are the two most common causes of an underwhelming regeneration.

Make sure the suction cups are firmly pressed against the bottom of the tank and the hose is fully seated on both the pump and the regeneration attachment. Air leaks at the hose connections are the most common cause. Unplug, reseat both ends, press the suction cups down again, and try once more.

No. Each regeneration needs fresh salt and fresh water. The used brine contains the calcium and magnesium hardness minerals you just flushed out of the resin, and running it through again would put them right back. Always start with a clean tank and a new 500g of salt (or 700g of potassium chloride), including between the first and second cartridge of a dual setup.

No. The regeneration attachment is designed only for the brine cycle. For normal shower use, the wall-mount attachment is the correct fitting. It is built to handle line pressure and routes water through the cartridge in the right direction. Always swap back before reinstalling on your shower.