How to Replace Ionic Shower Head Filter Balls & Mineral Stones: Step-by-Step 2026 Guide (With Photos)

Replacing the stone filter balls in your ionic shower head is one of the easiest maintenance jobs you'll ever do. No tools, no plumber, no fuss — just two minutes and your hands. But easy doesn't mean there's nothing to know. Done right, your shower filter continues to deliver clean, soft, healthy water. Done carelessly, you could end up with a leak or a filter that isn't working at full capacity.

This guide walks you through the entire process step by step, with photos at every stage. Whether you're doing this for the first time or the fifth, you'll find everything you need right here — including the tips we've collected from thousands of customers since we first introduced ionic shower filters to the UK back in 2008.

This guide works for most ionic handheld shower filters with stone filter balls. PureShowers pioneered this design, and it has since been widely copied across the market — so if you have a similar style of shower head from another brand, chances are the process is virtually identical to what you'll find here.

What Are Ionic Shower Head Filter Balls?

Before you start, it helps to know what you're working with.

The PureShowers Ionic Shower Head contains three types of ceramic stone filter balls, each doing a different job:

  ⚫  Negative Ion Tourmaline Alkaline Stone Balls (black) — produce negative ions and alkaline water as water passes through them. Negative ions are known to increase oxygen flow to the brain and leave you feeling refreshed, while alkaline water offers anti-ageing, hydrating and detoxifying benefits.

  🟤  FIR Ceramic Balls (brown) — far infrared mineral ceramic balls that filter out heavy metals including lead and chromium, kill bacteria, absorb impurities and help make water feel softer.

  ⚪  Zeolite Stone Balls (white) — Zeolite has been used for centuries for its exceptional water filtering properties. It effectively removes heavy metals and helps soften water by removing calcium and magnesium ions.

Together, these three types of ball work as a team. That's why replacing all of them at the same time — rather than topping up individual types — gives you the best results.

For a deeper dive into how each type of ball works, take a look at our articles on FIR Ceramic Balls and Zeolite in shower filters — but for now, let's get on with the replacement.

How Do You Know When It's Time to Replace Them?

Your filter balls don't last forever. Over time, the microscopic pores inside each ball fill up with the impurities they've been capturing — and once they're saturated, they simply can't do their job anymore. The good news is your shower will usually tell you when that's happened.

Signs it's time to replace your filter balls:

  🔴  Reduced water pressure — one of the first and most common signs. If your shower doesn't feel as powerful as it used to, saturated balls are often the culprit.

  🔴  Water feels different — harder, less silky, or more drying on your skin and hair than usual.

  🔴  Unusual smell — if your shower water has a faint chlorine or chemical odour it didn't have before.

  🔴  Visible discolouration of the balls — old balls will look darker and duller than new ones.

Even if you don't notice any of these signs, it's worth replacing on a regular schedule — more on that below.

What You'll Need

This is genuinely a minimal job. Here's your checklist:

  ✅  Your PureShowers Ionic Shower Head Replacement Cartridge Pack — includes all three bags of fresh stone filter balls

  ✅  Your hands

  ✅  Optional: a small flat implement like a butter knife (see Step 2)

  ✅  Two minutes

That's it. No tools, no plumber's tape, no specialist equipment.

Step-by-Step: How to Replace Your Ionic Shower Head Filter Balls

Step 1 — Turn Off Your Shower and Remove the Shower Head

Make sure the water is off before you start. Unscrew the shower head from the hose so you're holding it freely in both hands.

Step 2 — Twist the Bottom Half Anti-Clockwise to Open

Hold the shower head firmly in both hands — one hand gripping the top half (the half that has the shower face and the black Negative Ion Tourmaline balls), the other hand gripping the bottom half (the shower head handle part that houses the brown and white balls).

Twist the bottom half anti-clockwise. It will unscrew and separate from the top half, giving you access to the filter balls inside both sections.

💡 Pro Tip — The Chrome Collar & Mesh Washer

You'll notice that in the middle of the shower head, where the two halves meet, there is a decorative chrome collar. This collar sits over the threads of the bottom half so that you can't see the join between the two halves — it's there purely for aesthetics. When the two halves come apart, slide this collar off and set it aside so you have clear, unobstructed access to the threads and the filter sections. Don't forget to slide it back on before screwing the two halves back together.

You'll also find a small mesh washer inside the bottom half sitting on top of the filter balls. This washer keeps the balls contained in the lower section. It can be a little awkward to get out with fingers alone — a small flat implement like a butter knife slipped under the edge will flick it out easily. Set it aside safely, you'll need to put it back.

Step 3 — Remove the Old Filter Balls

With the mesh washer out of the way, tip out the old brown and white filter balls from the bottom half. For the top half, you'll find the black Negative Ion Tourmaline balls are held in place with a small black stopper — remove the stopper first, then tip out the black balls. Give each section a quick rinse under the tap to clear any residue or sediment before adding your new balls.

💡 Pro Tip — Mix Your Brown and White Balls First

Before you load the bottom half, tip your new brown (FIR Ceramic) and white (Zeolite) balls into a small bowl or your hand and mix them together first. Loading them in a mixed blend — rather than one type on top of the other — ensures even distribution and better filtration performance throughout the section.

Step 4 — Load the New Filter Balls and Replace the Stoppers

Load the mixed brown and white balls into the bottom half, and the black Negative Ion Tourmaline Alkaline Stone Balls into the top half. Replace the mesh washer back into the bottom half on top of the balls, pressing it gently into place. Then replace the black stopper into the top half to keep the black balls securely contained.

💡 Pro Tip — Check the Gasket Before You Close Up

Before screwing the two halves back together, look at the top of the threads on the upper half. You'll see a rubber gasket sitting in a groove. This gasket creates a watertight seal between the two halves — without it seated correctly, you'll get a leak from the middle of the shower head.

Since 2008, this is one of the most common issues we've helped customers with. Before closing up, make sure the gasket is sitting flat, fully in its groove, and without any kinks or twists. Even a small kink can cause a persistent drip. Take five seconds to check this — it's worth it.

Step 5 — Screw the Two Halves Back Together

Hold the top and bottom halves up to each other and begin screwing the bottom half back on clockwise.

Step 6 — Reattach and Run the Water

Screw your shower head back onto the hose, turn the water on, and let it run for 30 seconds before stepping in. This flushes through any loose particles or dust from the new balls and ensures everything is flowing cleanly.

That's it. Your filter balls are replaced and your shower is good to go for the next three months.

How Often Should You Replace Your Filter Balls?

Every shower is different — water hardness, household size, and daily usage all affect how quickly your filter balls reach saturation. Here's a simple guide:

Not sure how hard your water is? The UK has extensive hard water mapping available online — most of the South East, Midlands and East of England is hard to very hard.

Pro tip: Order your next replacement pack at the same time as you're fitting your current one. That way it's sitting ready in the cupboard when the time comes.

→ Shop Ionic Shower Filter Replacement Cartridge Packs

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reuse my old filter balls?
No. Once the microscopic pores inside each ball are saturated with impurities, they cannot be cleaned out or regenerated. Rinsing them may make them look cleaner, but it won't restore their filtration capacity. Always replace with fresh balls.

Do the filter balls dissolve?
This is one of the most common questions we get, and the answer is no — they don't dissolve. They work by trapping impurities inside their porous structure, not by dissolving into the water. Read our full article on this here →

What happens if I don't replace them?
Once your filter balls are saturated, water will continue to flow through your shower head — but it won't be filtered. You'll effectively be showering in unfiltered tap water, losing all the benefits of the ionic shower head. You may also notice reduced water pressure as the clogged balls begin to restrict flow.

Are these replacement balls compatible with other ionic shower heads?
The replacement cartridge packs sold on PureShowers.co.uk are specifically formulated and sized for the PureShowers Ionic Shower Head. The design of ionic handheld shower filters is widely replicated across the market, so the process described in this guide will likely look very familiar if you have a similar style of product — but always check pack compatibility before purchasing.

How do I know which replacement pack to buy?
If you have the PureShowers Ionic 3 Spray Shower Head, you need the Ionic Hand Held Shower Filter Cartridges. If you have the Vitamin C Ionic version, you need the Vitamin C Ionic Shower Filter Cartridges which includes both the stone filter balls and a replacement Vitamin C block. Check your shower head model if you're unsure.

Can I clean the shower head face at the same time?
Absolutely — and we recommend it. While you have the shower head apart, it's the perfect opportunity to remove the stainless steel faceplate (twist the ribbed chrome face anti-clockwise), give it a clean to remove any limescale buildup, and replace it before reassembling. This is especially worth doing if you live in a hard water area. See our full cleaning guide here →

You're All Set

Replacing your ionic shower filter balls really is that simple — and now you know all the details that make the difference between a quick swap and a perfect result. Properly seated gasket, aligned threads, chrome collar back in place, mixed balls in the bottom half, black stopper secured in the top. Two minutes well spent.

If you have any questions at all, our team is here to help — we've been answering shower filter questions since 2008 and there's not much we haven't heard.

Published by PureShowers.co.uk — the UK's original shower filter specialist since 2008.