Reviewed: Culligan WSH-C125 & HSH-C135 Shower Head Filters
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Expert Fact-Checking: Buddhini Dolapihilla, MBSS // Last Updated: Aug 4, 2023
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The Culligan shower filter featured in this guide is available in two versions:
- The Culligan WSH-C125 filtered shower head
- And the Culligan HSH-C135 hand-held shower filter
If one of the two is the right fit for you, you’ll find out below!
Culligan WSH-C125 |
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| Price: | $ |
| Flow Rate: | 2 gpm |
| Filter Capacity: | 10,000 gal |
| NSF Certifications: | 177 |
| Warranty: | 5 Years |
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Our Rating
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Culligan HSH-C135 |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Flow Rate: | 2 gpm |
| Filter Capacity: | 10,000 gal |
| NSF Certifications: | 177 |
| Warranty: | 5 Years |
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Our Rating
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Culligan WSH-C125 and HSH-C135 – Key Features
Both Culligan shower filters use the same filter cartridge (WSR-140) to remove at least 50% (all the way up to 99%) of free available chlorine from municipal waters – chlorine that would otherwise damage the follicles of your hair and cause dry and itchy skin.
What the filter also does is eliminate sulfur odor as well as reduce mineral scale for a refreshing shower experience.
So in a way you could say that we have a shower filter for hard water, even if you can’t compare the softening effectiveness to a proper whole house water softener by any means.
Another benefit of the Culligan shower head is that the filter media is bacteriostatic, meaning that it limits passage and growth of bacteria to improve the overall cleanliness of your water.
By the way, the heads are rated at 2 gallons per minute service flow. Thus they meet the EPA WaterSense program standard with the goal to help you “conserve water resources for future generations“. (Source)
The downside is that you might notice a small drop in pressure in case your old shower head was rated at 2.5 gpm.
Did we mention that you can choose between 5 spray settings for added comfort?
WSH-C125 & HSH-C135 Pros
The most important benefit is that the WSH-C125 and HSH-C135 were tested according to NSF/ANSI Standard 177, a standard specifically developed for shower filtration systems. It measures aesthetic effects a.k.a. chlorine smell and odor reduction capabilities.
What’s more, no matter which version you choose, both install within minutes on any industry standard ½” threaded shower arm – no tools needed.
And lastly, everything is backed by a 5-year limited manufacturer warranty.
The Culligan WSH-C125 – learn more on amazon.com
The Culligan HSH-C135 – learn more on amazon.com
Installation Instructions
If you want to install the Culligan WSH-C125 follow these steps:
- First remove your old showerhead.
- Clean the threaded end of the pipe from any debris.
- Wrap Teflon tape (included) around the shower pipe threads.
- Attach the Culligan showerhead onto the shower pipe turning clockwise. Tighten by hand.
- Additional tightening of the nut might be necessary. This can be done with the help of a wrench. Tip: Use a soft cloth to protect the finish.
- Turn on the water and check for leaks. Tighten if need be.
For the HSH-C135 do this:
- Again, remove your old showerhead.
- Clean the threaded end of the pipe from any debris.
- Wrap Teflon tape (included) around the shower pipe threads.
- Now place the mounting bracket on the shower arm. Tighten by hand.
- Additional tightening of the nut might be necessary. This can be done with the help of a wrench. Tip: Use a soft cloth to protect the finish.
- Insert one of the two black rubber washers (included) into the small threaded end of the shower hose. Attach the hose to the mounting bracket.
- Insert the other black rubber washer (included) into the large threaded end of the shower hose and attach to the threaded end of the showerhead handle.
- Place showerhead in mounting bracket.
- Turn on the water and check for leaks. Tighten any fittings if need be.
Video
Since many of you prefer video, here is one that explains how to install the Culligan WSH-C125 step by step:
The Package (Parts)
Culligan WSH-C125:
- Showerhead
- WSR-140 cartridge
- Teflon tape
Culligan HSH-C135:
- Showerhead
- WSR-140 cartridge
- Teflon tape
- Metal hose
- Bracket
Maintenance
Maintaining shower filters in general is a piece of cake. That’s also the case for the Culligan:
Filters are rated at 10,000 gallons or 6 months filtration capacity – whichever comes first. The bad news is that some users reported a shorter lifetime of 2 to 3 months and nowhere close to 10k gallons (more on this in a bit).
The annual cost for replacements cartridges is reasonable.
Filter Replacement Instructions
- Firmly hold the body/handle of the showerhead. Turn the ribbed ring in counterclockwise direction to unscrew.
- Remove the white cartridge pulling upwards and to the side.
- Remove the sticker from both sides of the new cartridge. Insert it into the head by pushing it down until seated.
- Align threads until faceplate clicks into cavity.
- Turn faceplate clockwise until secure.
- Turn on the water and check for leaks. Tighten if need be.
- Flush the new cartridge for a couple of minutes to remove any loose carbon fines.
Manual
Here you can find a manual featuring both versions.
WSH-C125 & HSH-C135 Cons
We have three issues. Probably the most important one is that the hand-held version is simply too heavy for the ball joint. Thus the showerhead does not stay up. This really is a terrible design flaw and the curved handle makes everything even worse.
You are forced to stand against the wall to get under the water which does not allow for ergonomic standing. No amount of tightening seems to help so you want to be careful with this thing over your head, especially if you have kids.
Our second issue is that like most other shower filters, the Culligan WSH-C125/HSH-C125 will not improve your shower water significantly. Really all it does is take care of some of the chlorine.
Last but not least, for some users the replacement cartridges last no more than 2 to 3 months as already mentioned above. This is not only inconvenient, it also doubles maintenance cost.
Culligan WSH-C125 and HSH-C135 Review: Our Verdict + Best for
No more dry itchy skin and softer hair is what you can expect from the Culligan shower filter which is best for chlorinated water.
Due to the weight issue, we clearly prefer the regular showerhead version over the hand-held.
Our verdict: 4 stars for the former, 3 stars for the latter!
More Reviews:
- If you would like to check out our other Culligan water filter guides as well, follow this link: https://www.best-osmosis-systems.com/culligan-water-filter-reviews/
- Or do you want the best shower filter?
- Review of the Culligan HF-360A, HD-950A, and HF-150A Whole House Filters
This completes our guide for Culligan shower filters. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
Information provided on BOS is for educational purposes only. The products and services we review may not be right for your individual circumstances.
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