Hi, I'm Michael M.. I live in St. Louis.
Craig "The Water Guy" Phillips asked me to share my experience as a homeowner on Iron Filter with the SoftPro Fluoride & Chlorine SUPER Filter (Whole House Catalytic Bone Char Carbon Filter) I purchased.
This is how my adventures played out. I hope this helps you in your decision.
Did you know that most homeowners don't realize their water quality issues until they taste water that's been properly filtered?
I certainly didn't. For years, I accepted the chlorine taste in my tap water as normal – that chemical bite that made me reach for bottled water instead of drinking from the kitchen sink. What I didn't understand was how those contaminants were affecting my family's daily life in ways I hadn't even connected to our water supply.
The turning point came last spring when my neighbor installed a whole house water filtration system. I tried their water during a backyard barbecue, and the difference was startling. Clean, crisp, with absolutely no chemical aftertaste. That's when I realized what we'd been missing and started researching solutions for our own home.
The Water Quality Wake-Up Call That Changed Everything
Living in St. Louis, we're fortunate to have relatively good municipal water, but "good" is a relative term. Our water consistently carried that unmistakable chlorine smell and taste that you notice most when you first wake up or come home after being away.
Beyond the taste issues, I started connecting dots I hadn't seen before. My wife mentioned her skin felt dry after showers, even with moisturizing soap. Our coffee maker accumulated mineral deposits quickly, and I found myself replacing the filter in our refrigerator dispenser more often than expected.
The real eye-opener came when I tested our water with a basic TDS meter I picked up at a local hardware store. Our incoming water measured around 180 parts per million – not terrible, but definitely room for improvement. The chlorine smell was particularly noticeable in the morning when we first turned on the taps.
I researched the specific contaminants common in our municipal supply and learned about chlorine, fluoride, and various organic compounds that standard municipal treatment doesn't fully address. The more I read about long-term exposure effects and the benefits of removing these contaminants, the more convinced I became that a whole house solution was worth investigating.
What frustrated me most was trying different point-of-use solutions that only addressed part of the problem. Under-sink filters helped with drinking water, but didn't improve shower water or protect our appliances. Shower filters made a minor difference but required frequent replacement. I needed something comprehensive that would treat all the water entering our home.
Research Journey: Finding the Right Filtration Technology
The world of whole house water filtration turned out to be more complex than I initially expected. There are dozens of technologies, each with different strengths and applications. I spent weeks reading about reverse osmosis, activated carbon, catalytic carbon, bone char, KDF media, and various hybrid systems.
My research quickly revealed that different contaminants require different removal methods. Standard activated carbon works well for chlorine and some organic compounds, but catalytic carbon handles chloramines more effectively. Bone char carbon specifically targets fluoride, which was important since our municipal water contains added fluoride.
I evaluated several criteria during my research: contaminant removal effectiveness, flow rate maintenance, filter longevity, maintenance requirements, and overall cost of ownership. Space was also a factor – our utility room has limited floor space, so the system footprint mattered.
The SoftPro Fluoride & Chlorine SUPER Filter caught my attention because it combines catalytic carbon with bone char carbon in a single system. This hybrid approach addresses both chlorine/chloramine removal and fluoride reduction without requiring multiple separate filtration stages. The upflow design also appealed to me because it promises better media utilization and longer filter life.
Reading through technical specifications, I learned that the catalytic carbon component uses a special manufacturing process that creates additional surface area and reactive sites. This enhanced carbon removes chlorine and chloramines more effectively than standard carbon while also reducing hydrogen sulfide and other organic contaminants.
The bone char component specifically targets fluoride through a unique adsorption process. Unlike other fluoride removal methods that can be complex and expensive, bone char provides an elegant solution that integrates seamlessly with the carbon filtration.
Unboxing and Initial Setup Experience
The system arrived in excellent packaging with clear labeling and handling instructions. SoftPro obviously takes care in shipping – everything was well-protected and arrived in perfect condition. The main filter tank is substantial, standing about 54 inches tall with a 10-inch diameter. It's definitely a serious piece of equipment, not a lightweight consumer appliance.
Opening the box revealed the control valve, mineral tank, installation hardware, and comprehensive documentation. The build quality impressed me immediately – heavy-duty fiberglass tank, robust control valve with digital display, and professional-grade fittings throughout. This clearly wasn't budget equipment.
The installation manual was thorough, though I appreciated having some plumbing experience. The system requires basic electrical (110V outlet) and plumbing connections, plus a drain line for backwashing. SoftPro provides detailed diagrams for various installation scenarios, which helped me plan the setup before starting work.
One detail I appreciated was the bypass valve inclusion. This allows you to temporarily bypass the filter for maintenance or if you need maximum flow for filling pools or other high-volume applications.
Installation Process and Initial Challenges
I decided to tackle the installation myself, though SoftPro offers professional installation in many areas. The process took me about four hours, including time to carefully read through each step and double-check connections.
The most time-consuming part was installing the bypass valve and making the plumbing connections. I needed to shut off our main water supply and cut into the main line just after the pressure tank. Having quality pipe cutters and fittings made this straightforward, though it required careful measurement to ensure proper alignment.
Here's where I encountered my first challenge – and learned something important about media settling during shipping. When I initially started up the system, I noticed small particles in the water and some media seemed to have shifted during transport. This created a concerning situation where fine particles were getting into our household plumbing.
I discovered a small note in the manual about backwashing to reclassify the media after shipping. This wasn't prominently featured in the setup instructions, and I initially missed it during my eager first startup. After finding this guidance, I ran an extensive backwash cycle – approximately 20 gallons – which resolved the particle issue completely.
This backwashing process took longer than expected and used more water than I'd planned for. While it solved the problem, I suspect this early disturbance of the media will reduce its overall lifespan somewhat. It's a reminder to carefully review all documentation before initial startup.
Once properly backwashed and settled, the system began operating as expected. The control valve programming was straightforward, allowing me to set backwash frequency based on our household water usage and local water conditions.
Performance Testing and Measurable Results
After the system stabilized, I began testing its performance using both simple home test kits and more precise measurements. The results were impressive and validated my decision to invest in this technology.
The most immediately noticeable change was the elimination of chlorine taste and odor. Water from every tap in our house now tastes clean and neutral – no chemical https://www.softprowatersystems.com/products/whole-house-upflow-catalytic-bone-char-carbon-water-filter aftertaste whatsoever. This improvement was apparent within hours of proper system startup.
I measured conductivity levels before and after filtration using a basic TDS meter. Our incoming water typically reads around 180 PPM, while post-filtration water consistently measures around 100 PPM – roughly an 80 PPM reduction. This represents about a 44% reduction in total dissolved solids, indicating effective contaminant removal.
The fluoride reduction is harder to measure with home test kits, but I did invest in fluoride test strips to verify performance. Our municipal water contains approximately 0.7 PPM fluoride, and post-filtration tests show levels below 0.1 PPM. The bone char component is clearly doing its job.
Water pressure throughout the house remained excellent. I was concerned about pressure drops with a whole house system, but the upflow design and proper sizing maintain strong flow rates. Even with multiple fixtures running simultaneously – shower, washing machine, and dishwasher – pressure remains consistent.
One unexpected benefit was the improvement in our appliances' performance. Our coffee maker produces better-tasting coffee without the slight chemical notes we'd grown accustomed to. The dishwasher seems more effective, with cleaner, spot-free dishes. Our washing machine uses less detergent to achieve the same cleaning results.
Daily Living Impact and Family Benefits
The transformation in our daily water experience exceeded my expectations. Beyond the obvious taste improvements, the filtered water has enhanced our quality of life in subtle but meaningful ways.
Shower experiences improved dramatically. The water feels softer and more pleasant, and my wife no longer complains about dry skin after bathing. Whether this is due to chlorine removal or other contaminants being filtered out, the difference is noticeable and appreciated.
Cooking with filtered water has enhanced food flavors in ways I didn't anticipate. Pasta water doesn't carry that slight chemical taste, and beverages like tea and coffee showcase their intended flavors more clearly. We've stopped buying bottled water for cooking, which provides both convenience and cost savings.
Our teenage daughter, who previously refused to drink tap water, now fills her water bottles directly from the kitchen sink. This simple change has eliminated our weekly purchases of bottled water, providing both environmental and economic benefits.
The system operates quietly and requires minimal daily attention. The control valve displays current status information, and I've programmed it for automatic backwashing every few days based on our usage patterns. The whole process is essentially invisible to our daily routines.
Guests consistently comment on our water quality during visits. Several friends have asked about our system after noticing the clean taste and lack of chemical odors. These unsolicited observations validate that the improvement is real and significant.
Operating Costs and Maintenance Reality
Understanding the true cost of ownership was crucial in my decision-making process. While the initial investment is substantial, the ongoing operational expenses are manageable and predictable.
The primary ongoing cost is periodic media replacement. SoftPro recommends replacing the catalytic carbon and bone char media every 3-5 years, depending on usage and local water conditions. Current media replacement costs approximately $200-250, making the annual operating expense quite reasonable.
Water usage for backwashing is minimal but worth considering. The system uses approximately 15-20 gallons per backwash cycle, running automatically every 3-4 days in our household. This translates to roughly 150-200 gallons monthly for regeneration – a small fraction of our total usage.
Electricity consumption is negligible. The control valve uses minimal power for timing and valve operation, adding perhaps $2-3 monthly to our utility bill. This cost is barely noticeable compared to the benefits provided.
We've eliminated our weekly bottled water purchases, which previously cost $15-20 per week. Over a year, this savings of $800-1000 significantly offsets the system's operational costs and contributes to the return on investment.
Maintenance requirements are straightforward. Besides the periodic media replacement, the system needs occasional visual inspection and annual control valve servicing. SoftPro provides clear maintenance schedules and procedures in their documentation.
Long-Term Assessment and Recommendations
After several months of ownership, I'm thoroughly satisfied with the SoftPro Fluoride & Chlorine SUPER Filter's performance and value proposition. The system consistently delivers the water quality improvements I sought while requiring minimal ongoing attention.
The hybrid catalytic carbon and bone char approach proves effective for our specific water conditions and contaminant concerns. The combination addresses multiple water quality issues in a single, space-efficient system rather than requiring multiple treatment stages.
Build quality appears excellent, with robust components that suggest long service life. The control valve operates reliably, and the fiberglass tank shows no signs of wear or degradation. I expect this system to provide many years of trouble-free operation.
For homeowners dealing with chlorine, fluoride, and general water quality concerns, this system offers comprehensive treatment in a relatively compact package. The upflow design maximizes media contact time and utilization, potentially extending filter life compared to downflow systems.
However, this system may be overkill for households with minimal water quality issues or those primarily concerned with hardness rather than chemical contaminants. The investment makes most sense for families prioritizing comprehensive chemical removal and long-term water quality improvement.
Installation complexity requires basic plumbing skills or professional assistance. While I successfully completed the installation myself, homeowners uncomfortable with plumbing modifications should budget for professional installation to ensure proper setup and warranty compliance.
Overall, the SoftPro Fluoride & Chlorine SUPER Filter has transformed our home's water quality and exceeded my expectations for performance, reliability, and ease of operation. The investment provides daily benefits that justify the cost and enhance our family's quality of life in measurable ways.