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.
The Water Quality Wake-Up Call That Started Everything
Living in Los Angeles, I thought our municipal water was pretty good. Sure, it had that faint chlorine smell when I first turned on the tap in the morning, but doesn't everyone's?
That assumption changed last spring when I started noticing things that bothered me more and more. The smell of chlorine wasn't just noticeable—it was strong enough that guests would comment on it. My morning coffee had this underlying chemical taste that I'd been unconsciously compensating for by adding extra cream. Even worse, my teenage daughter started complaining that her hair felt "weird and dry" after showers, despite using expensive conditioners.
What really opened my eyes was a conversation with our neighbor who works for the water department. She mentioned that our area has particularly high fluoride and chlorine levels, plus they'd been increasing treatment chemicals due to some infrastructure issues upstream. That explained why the taste and smell seemed to be getting worse over the past year.
I started researching water quality in our zip code and discovered that while our water meets federal safety standards, it contains levels of chlorine, fluoride, and chloramines that many families prefer to reduce. The more I learned about how these chemicals affect taste, smell, and even skin and hair health, the more I realized I wanted a solution.
Why I Needed More Than Just a Basic Carbon Filter
Did you know that regular carbon filters can't effectively remove fluoride?
I didn't either until I started my research journey. I initially thought a simple whole-house carbon system would solve everything, but I quickly learned that different contaminants require different filtration approaches.
Our water testing revealed chlorine levels of 2.8 ppm, fluoride at 0.9 ppm, and detectable chloramines. While these levels are considered "safe" by EPA standards, they were definitely impacting our daily water experience. The chlorine was causing that strong chemical smell and taste, while the fluoride and chloramines were contributing to skin dryness and hair issues.
Basic activated carbon handles chlorine well, but fluoride removal requires specialized media like bone char or activated alumina. Chloramines are even trickier—they need catalytic carbon that's specifically designed to break down these more stable compounds. I needed a system that could address all three issues simultaneously.
After weeks of research, I realized I needed a multi-stage approach: catalytic carbon for chloramines, bone char for fluoride, and high-quality activated carbon for chlorine and organic compounds. That's when I discovered SoftPro's Fluoride & Chlorine SUPER Filter system.
Research Phase: Finding the Right Technology Combination
I spent nearly two months researching whole house filtration options before settling on the SoftPro system. The market is honestly overwhelming—reverse osmosis, ion exchange, basic carbon, catalytic carbon, bone char, KDF media, and countless combinations of these technologies.
What I learned is that effective fluoride removal at the whole house level is actually quite challenging. Most point-of-use systems use reverse osmosis, but that's not practical for whole house applications due to water waste and flow rate limitations. Bone char emerged as the most effective whole-house fluoride reduction media, with removal rates of 85-95% when properly implemented.
The catalytic carbon component was equally important for our chloramine situation. Regular carbon can actually make chloramine problems worse by converting them to chlorine, but catalytic carbon breaks them down completely. The SoftPro system uses coconut shell catalytic carbon, which has superior performance compared to coal-based alternatives.
I also appreciated that SoftPro's system includes upflow design, which means better contact time between water and filtration media, plus automatic backwashing that keeps the media bed clean and effective. Many cheaper systems use downflow which can create channeling and reduced effectiveness over time.
The system is NSF certified for chlorine reduction and uses food-grade bone char, which gave me confidence in both performance and safety. After comparing specifications, certifications, and user reviews, the SoftPro Fluoride & Chlorine SUPER Filter offered the best combination of technologies for our specific water issues.
Unboxing and First Impressions
The system arrived in excellent condition via freight delivery. I was impressed by the packaging quality—everything was well-protected and clearly labeled. The main tank is substantial (about 150 pounds when empty), which actually reassured me about the build quality.
The fiberglass tank has a professional finish and feels very solid. The control valve is a Fleck 5600SXT, which I'd read good things about during my research. It's a proven design that's been used in water treatment for decades. All the fittings and connections appeared high-quality, with no plastic parts where you'd expect metal.
The documentation was thorough but not overwhelming. The installation manual was clear with good diagrams, and they included a separate sheet specifically about bone char media and its characteristics. I appreciated that they explained why the water might look slightly cloudy for the first few days (carbon fines) and how to properly start up the system.
One pleasant surprise was the inclusion of bypass valves and all necessary fittings. Some manufacturers make you purchase these separately, but SoftPro included everything needed for a complete installation. The only thing I needed to buy was additional copper pipe and fittings to connect to my existing plumbing.
Installation Experience and System Setup
I hired a local plumber for the installation since this required cutting into my main water line and I wanted everything done properly. The installation took about 4 hours total, including running a new electrical circuit for the control valve.
The system needs to be installed after your water meter but before any other equipment like water heaters or softeners. In my case, we installed it in the garage near where the main line enters the house. The space requirements are reasonable—about 3 feet by 2 feet of floor space, plus clearance above for servicing.
One challenge we encountered was that the existing water pressure in our area (65 PSI) was right at the upper limit for the system. We ended up installing a pressure reducing valve upstream, which was an additional cost I hadn't anticipated (about $150). This is something to check before ordering—the system operates best between 25-60 PSI.
The initial startup process involves several backwash and rinse cycles to clean the carbon media. This took about 2 hours and used roughly 200 gallons of water. The control valve handles this automatically once programmed, but you do need to be home to monitor the first startup cycle.
Programming the control valve was straightforward once I understood the logic. You set the service flow rate, backwash frequency, and regeneration timing based on your water usage and quality. SoftPro provides recommended settings based on average household size, but you can adjust based on your specific needs.
Performance Results and Water Quality Improvements
The difference in water quality was noticeable within 24 hours of installation. The chlorine smell completely disappeared, even when running hot water where the odor used to be strongest. Coffee and tea taste dramatically better—I actually had to reduce the amount of coffee I was using because I could taste it properly for the first time in years.
I conducted before and after testing using both test strips and a TDS meter. Chlorine levels dropped from 2.8 ppm to undetectable (below 0.1 ppm). Fluoride reduction was harder to test at home, but professional testing after 30 days showed a reduction from 0.9 ppm to 0.15 ppm—about an 83% reduction, which aligns with the manufacturer's specifications.
The improvement in shower experience was remarkable. Within a week, both my daughter and I noticed that our hair felt softer and more manageable. The dry, brittle feeling disappeared, and we both reduced our conditioner usage. My skin felt less tight and dry after showers, particularly in winter when the air is already dry here in LA.
Cooking improvements were subtle but real. Rice and pasta cook more evenly without chlorine interfering with the process. Ice cubes from our refrigerator maker taste clean and clear instead of having that faint chemical background taste. Even our houseplants seem to be responding better to the filtered water—the leaves look more vibrant and healthy.
Flow rate through the system is excellent. Even with multiple showers running simultaneously, I haven't noticed any pressure drop. The upflow design and proper sizing mean we get full flow rates throughout the house.
Daily Living Impact and Long-Term Observations
After eight months of use, the improvements have become part of our normal daily experience, but I still appreciate them regularly. Guests consistently comment on how good our water tastes, especially those who live in areas with heavily chlorinated municipal water.
The system operates completely automatically. The control valve handles all backwashing and regeneration cycles during programmed times (I set it for 2 AM twice per week). The only thing I hear is the water running during backwash, which lasts about 12 minutes. It's quieter than our dishwasher, so it doesn't disturb sleep.
Maintenance has been minimal so far. I check the system monthly to ensure everything looks normal, but there's really nothing that needs regular attention. The control valve displays show normal operation, and water quality has remained consistently excellent.
One unexpected benefit is the reduction in soap and shampoo usage. Without chlorine drying out skin and hair, we need less Fluoride Filtration product to achieve the same results. Over time, this creates modest cost savings that help offset the system's operating expenses.
Our water heater also seems to be performing better. The heating elements aren't being exposed to chlorine and fluoride constantly, which should extend their lifespan. While I can't quantify this yet, our plumber mentioned that filtered water significantly reduces mineral buildup and corrosion in water heaters.
Cost Analysis and Value Assessment
The initial investment was $1,847 for the complete system, plus $650 for professional installation including the pressure reducing valve. This puts the total first-year cost at about $2,500, which is significant but reasonable compared to other whole house solutions I researched.
Operating costs are modest. The system uses about 50 gallons of water per backwash cycle, and with twice-weekly regeneration, that's roughly 400 gallons monthly or about $3 in water costs. Electricity consumption for the control valve is minimal—probably $2-3 per month.
The media bed should last 5-7 years according to SoftPro, depending on water quality and usage volume. Replacement cost is approximately $400 for both catalytic carbon and bone char media, making the annual media cost roughly $60-80 per year.
Compared to bottled water (which we used to buy for drinking and cooking), the system pays for itself in about 3 years. But the real value is in the comprehensive improvement to all household water—something you can't achieve with bottled water or point-of-use filters.
When I factor in the reduced soap and shampoo usage, potential water heater longevity benefits, and the convenience of great-tasting water from every tap, the value proposition is strong for our family's situation and priorities.