Hi, I'm Judith D. I live in Los Angeles. 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.
When you live in Los Angeles, you think your municipal water is pretty decent. Sure, it tastes a bit like a swimming pool sometimes, but that's just city life, right? I'd been dealing with that familiar chlorine taste and smell for years, along with a lingering worry about what else might be lurking in our tap water.
The breaking point came last spring when my teenage daughter refused to drink tap water anymore, insisting it tasted "gross." Between buying endless cases of bottled water and watching our grocery bill climb, I knew something had to change.
That's when I started researching whole house filtration systems and discovered the world of bone char carbon filters. After months of investigation, I landed on the SoftPro Fluoride & Chlorine SUPER Filter, and six months later, I'm here to share exactly what that journey has been like.
The Problem That Started It All
Living in Los Angeles means dealing with heavily treated municipal water. Our city water department does an excellent job of making water safe, but the chlorine and chloramine disinfection process leaves behind that unmistakable chemical taste and smell that permeates everything from your morning coffee to your evening shower.
But the real wake-up call came when I started researching what else might be in our water supply.
Los Angeles water contains trace amounts of fluoride, added for dental health, but I'd been reading conflicting information about optimal fluoride levels. Some studies suggested that the amounts added to municipal water might be higher than necessary, especially for adults.
Then there were the emerging contaminants - pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, and other substances that standard municipal treatment doesn't fully address. How do you protect your family from contaminants that weren't even on anyone's radar twenty years ago?
I tested our tap water with a basic TDS meter and found levels around 350 parts per million - not dangerous, but definitely room for improvement. The chlorine smell was so strong that guests would comment on it, and I noticed our clothes seemed to fade faster than they should.
I tried pitcher filters first, but constantly refilling them became tedious, and they didn't address the whole-house issues like shower water quality. Faucet-mounted filters helped with drinking water but felt like a Band-Aid solution.
What I really needed was a comprehensive system that could tackle multiple contaminants while being practical for a family of four.
Research Phase: Learning About Bone Char Technology
I'll be honest - before this journey, I'd never heard of bone char carbon filtration. Most whole house systems I initially looked at used standard activated carbon, which works well for chlorine but has limitations with fluoride removal.
That's where bone char technology caught my attention. Bone char, made from cattle bones that are charred in a controlled environment, has a unique porous structure that can adsorb both organic contaminants like chlorine and inorganic substances like fluoride.
The SoftPro system combines this bone char with catalytic carbon, creating a dual-action filtration approach.
The catalytic carbon handles chlorine, chloramines, and many volatile organic compounds through an enhanced adsorption process. Meanwhile, the bone char specifically targets fluoride, heavy metals, and other inorganic contaminants that standard carbon struggles with.
What impressed me during research was learning about the NSF standards these materials meet. The bone char used in quality systems like SoftPro's is NSF-certified, meaning it's been independently tested for safety and effectiveness.
I compared this technology to other options like reverse osmosis whole house systems (too expensive and wasteful for our needs) and standard carbon filters (couldn't handle fluoride). The bone char catalytic carbon combination seemed to hit the sweet spot of comprehensive filtration without over-engineering.
The clincher was discovering that bone char has been used for water purification for over 200 years - this wasn't some untested technology.
Why I Chose the SoftPro System
After researching various manufacturers, several factors led me to the SoftPro Fluoride & Chlorine SUPER Filter. First was the system's capacity - rated for homes up to 6 bedrooms, which gave us plenty of headroom for our 4-person household.
The upflow design particularly appealed to me. Unlike downflow systems where water passes through media from top to bottom, the upflow configuration allows water to enter from the bottom and flow upward. This creates better contact time between water and filtration media, and prevents channeling that can reduce effectiveness.
I also appreciated that SoftPro provides detailed specifications about media types and quantities.
The system contains 2.0 cubic feet of qualitywatertreatment.com mixed bone char and catalytic carbon media in a 10" x 54" fiberglass tank. The flow rate of 12 gallons per minute meant we wouldn't experience pressure drops during peak usage periods.
SoftPro's transparency about backwash requirements was another plus. The system automatically backwashes every 7 days to clean the media bed, using about 100 gallons per cycle. Having this information upfront helped me calculate actual operating costs.
The 10-year tank warranty and 5-year valve warranty gave me confidence in the build quality. Plus, SoftPro's customer service team answered my pre-purchase questions promptly and thoroughly.
At $2,847 for the complete system, it wasn't cheap, but the per-gallon cost over the system's lifespan made sense compared to bottled water expenses.
Installation Experience and First Impressions
The SoftPro system arrived in a wooden crate via freight delivery, which immediately signaled this was serious equipment. The fiberglass tank felt substantial - about 150 pounds when empty - and the digital control valve looked more sophisticated than I expected.
I chose professional installation through SoftPro's network, which cost an additional $450 in my area. Given the plumbing modifications required and my limited experience with water treatment systems, this felt like money well spent.
The installation process took about 4 hours from start to finish.
Our installer, Mike, had to install a bypass valve, connect the drain line for backwashing, and integrate the system into our existing plumbing. He installed it in our garage, which required about 6 feet of vertical clearance and access to both the main water line and a floor drain.
The digital control head required basic programming for our water hardness (8 grains per gallon) and household size. Mike walked me through the settings and explained how the automatic backwash cycles would work.
First impressions of the system operation were positive. The unit runs very quietly - I can barely hear it cycling even when standing next to it. The digital display clearly shows system status, time until next backwash, and flow information.
Within hours of startup, I could taste the difference in our tap water.
Performance Testing and Real-World Results
I'm someone who likes to measure things, so I invested in a comprehensive water testing kit to track the system's performance over time. The results have been consistently impressive.
Chlorine removal has been virtually 100% effective.
Using chlorine test strips, I measure 2.5 PPM chlorine in our municipal supply, while post-filtration levels are undetectable. The swimming pool smell and taste that plagued our water completely disappeared within the first week.
Fluoride reduction has been substantial, though not complete. Pre-filtration levels of 0.8 PPM dropped to approximately 0.2 PPM post-treatment. While bone char doesn't remove fluoride entirely, this 75% reduction brought levels down to what I consider a more comfortable range.
TDS levels dropped from 350 PPM to about 180 PPM, indicating removal of various dissolved substances. The water tastes noticeably cleaner and fresher, with none of the metallic or chemical undertones we'd grown accustomed to.
Perhaps most importantly, my family actually wants to drink tap water now.
We've eliminated our bottled water purchases entirely, saving about $80 per month. My daughter, who refused tap water before, now drinks it without complaint and even comments on how much better it tastes.
I've also noticed improvements in our shower water. My wife's hair feels softer, and our skin doesn't feel as dry after bathing. The chlorine smell that used to linger in the bathroom after showers is completely gone.
Even our coffee and tea taste significantly better with the filtered water.
Operating Costs and Maintenance Reality
Six months in, I have a clear picture of what it actually costs to operate this system. The automatic backwash cycles occur weekly, using about 100 gallons each time. At Los Angeles water rates of roughly $8 per 1,000 gallons, that's about $4.50 monthly in backwash water costs.
The system uses minimal electricity - maybe $3-4 monthly to power the control valve and timer. So operational costs run about $8-9 per month, not including media replacement.
The bone char and catalytic carbon media should last 3-5 years with our usage patterns.
SoftPro estimates media replacement cost at around $350-400, which works out to roughly $8-12 monthly if you amortize it. Combined with operational costs, we're looking at about $20 monthly total cost of ownership.
Compared to our previous $80 monthly bottled water habit, this system pays for itself in under 3 years. Even accounting for the initial investment, we'll save money starting in year 4.
Maintenance has been minimal so far. I check the system monthly to ensure it's cycling properly and occasionally test water quality, but there's really nothing else required. The self-cleaning backwash cycles handle media maintenance automatically.
The only surprise was how much space the system requires - make sure you have adequate room before ordering.
What I Wish I'd Known Before Purchasing
While I'm happy with the system overall, there are a few things I wish someone had told me upfront. First, the system is large - much bigger than I anticipated from the specifications. Make sure you measure your installation space carefully.
The backwash cycles can be noisy if installed near living areas.
Our garage location works fine, but I can understand why some people might want the system in a basement or utility room away from bedrooms. The backwashing sound lasts about 45 minutes and sounds like water running through pipes.
Water pressure did drop slightly after installation. We went from about 65 PSI to 58 PSI at fixtures throughout the house. It's not dramatic, but noticeable if you're used to high pressure showers.
The system occasionally cycles during peak usage periods. If we're running the dishwasher, washing machine, and someone's showering simultaneously, the demand can trigger a backwash cycle. It doesn't affect water availability, but the timing can seem random.
I also underestimated how much better our water would taste - I wish I'd installed this system years ago.
Installation costs vary significantly by region and complexity. Get quotes from multiple certified installers if you're not comfortable doing the work yourself. The plumbing connections aren't overly complex, but proper integration with your home's water system is important.
Finally, this system works best with municipally treated water - well water applications may need additional pre-treatment.
Six Months Later: Final Verdict and Recommendations
After half a year of daily use, the SoftPro Fluoride & Chlorine SUPER Filter has exceeded my expectations in most areas. The water quality improvement is dramatic and consistent. Our family's satisfaction with tap water has completely transformed our drinking and cooking habits.
The financial case is compelling too.
Between eliminated bottled water costs and improved appliance longevity (less chlorine means less corrosion), the system will pay for itself within 3 years. After that, we're saving money while enjoying better water quality.
Performance has been rock-solid reliable. The automatic cycles work as advertised, water quality remains consistent, and I haven't experienced any operational issues. The digital control head provides useful information without being overly complex.
This system makes sense for families concerned about chlorine, fluoride, and general water quality who want a comprehensive whole-house solution. It's particularly valuable if you're currently buying bottled water or dealing with heavily treated municipal water supplies.
However, it's not right for everyone.
The upfront cost is significant, and the space requirements rule out some installations. If your main concern is water hardness rather than chemical contaminants, a traditional water softener might be more appropriate.
For our situation - a family wanting to reduce chemical contaminants in Los Angeles municipal water - this system hits the sweet spot of effectiveness, reliability, and long-term value. Six months in, I'd absolutely make the same purchase decision again.
The peace of mind knowing our family is drinking cleaner water is worth the investment.