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 Changed Everything
Eight months ago, I never gave much thought to what was coming out of my taps. Living in Los Angeles, I assumed our municipal water was fine—after all, it passed city standards, right?
That assumption crumbled when my neighbor, a retired chemistry teacher, tested my water with some fancy strips she'd ordered online. The chlorine levels were through the roof, and she mentioned something about fluoride that honestly went over my head at first.
But here's what really got my attention: my morning coffee tasted like I was drinking from a swimming pool.
I'd been buying bottled water for drinking, but cooking pasta, making ice cubes, even brushing my teeth—everything involved this heavily treated municipal water. My skin felt dry after https://www.softprowatersystems.com/products/whole-house-upflow-catalytic-bone-char-carbon-water-filter showers, and I noticed white residue on my dark clothing after washing.
The breaking point came when my 12-year-old daughter complained that her hair felt "weird and sticky" after shampooing. That's when I realized this wasn't just about taste—this was about our daily health and comfort in our own home.
I started researching water treatment options, diving deep into municipal water reports, and learning about contaminants I'd never heard of. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power adds chlorine for disinfection and fluoride for dental health, but the concentrations felt overwhelming for everyday use.
My Research Journey Into Whole House Filtration
I'll be honest—the world of water filtration felt overwhelming at first. Carbon filters, reverse osmosis, ion exchange, catalytic media—it was like learning a new language.
My initial instinct was to just get an under-sink filter for drinking water, but then I realized that missed the bigger picture. We shower in this water, wash dishes, do laundry, and fill humidifiers. A point-of-use solution would only address a fraction of our exposure.
I spent weeks researching whole house systems, comparing technologies and reading reviews. Most carbon filters I found claimed to remove chlorine effectively, but fluoride removal was much trickier. Standard activated carbon doesn't touch fluoride—I needed something more specialized.
That's when I discovered catalytic carbon combined with bone char media. The catalytic carbon handles chlorine, chloramines, and organic compounds through enhanced surface area and chemical reactions. The bone char specifically targets fluoride through a unique adsorption process that regular carbon can't achieve.
The SoftPro Fluoride & Chlorine SUPER Filter caught my attention because it combined both technologies in a single whole house system.
I researched the company's background, checked their certifications, and compared their specifications to similar systems costing twice as much. The 1.5 cubic feet of catalytic carbon and 0.5 cubic feet of bone char seemed like solid capacity for my household of four.
The system's upflow design also appealed to me—it prevents channeling and ensures better contact time between water and media, maximizing contaminant removal efficiency.
Unboxing and First Impressions
When the SoftPro system arrived, I was immediately impressed by the packaging quality. Everything was wrapped securely, with foam inserts protecting the tank and control head during shipping.
The fiberglass tank felt substantial—not flimsy like some budget systems I'd seen online. At roughly 150 pounds when filled with media, this clearly wasn't a lightweight solution. The Clack WS1 control head looked professional, with clear markings and solid construction.
Opening the manual, I appreciated the detailed installation diagrams and specifications. The pre-filter requirement was clearly explained, along with minimum flow rate requirements and backwash drain specifications.
One pleasant surprise was the quality of included fittings and bypass valve. Many companies skimp on these components, but SoftPro included professional-grade brass fittings that matched what my plumber normally sources separately.
The media itself arrived pre-loaded, which saved significant time and mess. I could see the distinct layers of catalytic carbon and bone char through the tank's transparent sections—a nice touch that lets you monitor media condition over time.
Installation Experience and Initial Setup
I hired a local plumber for installation, mainly because of permit requirements in Los Angeles and my comfort level with major plumbing modifications. The process took about four hours, including running a new drain line for backwash.
The system required 1-inch plumbing connections and adequate space for the 10-inch diameter tank. We installed it in my garage, with easy access to the electrical outlet needed for the control head timer.
My plumber mentioned that the bypass valve configuration was well-designed, making future maintenance straightforward. The control head programming took about ten minutes, setting backwash frequency based on water usage and hardness levels in my area.
During initial startup, we flushed the system for about 20 minutes to remove any loose carbon particles. The water ran slightly gray at first, then cleared to crystal transparency.
First taste test: the difference was immediately obvious.
The chlorine taste and smell were completely gone. Water felt softer on my tongue, without the sharp chemical edge I'd grown accustomed to over the years.
We tested the system at various flow rates—shower pressure remained excellent, and even running multiple fixtures simultaneously didn't create noticeable pressure drops.
Performance Testing and Real-World Results
I invested in a TDS meter and chlorine test strips to track performance objectively. Before installation, my tap water measured 0.8 ppm total chlorine and 1.2 ppm fluoride (based on municipal water reports).
After installation, chlorine levels dropped to undetectable on my test strips. The catalytic carbon's performance exceeded my expectations—even during peak usage times, chlorine removal remained consistent.
Fluoride testing required sending samples to a lab, since accurate home testing is difficult. Results showed fluoride levels reduced from 1.2 ppm to 0.3 ppm—about 75% reduction. While not complete elimination, this brought levels down to what I felt comfortable with for my family.
Over the first month, I conducted weekly tests to ensure consistency. Performance remained stable, with no breakthrough or declining effectiveness.
The most noticeable change was in daily activities.
Showers became more pleasant—my skin felt less tight and dry afterward. My daughter stopped complaining about her hair feeling weird, and I noticed our shampoo seemed to lather better.
Coffee and tea brewing improved dramatically. The subtle flavors that chlorine had been masking came through clearly. Ice cubes no longer had that faint chemical taste that I hadn't even realized was there.
Cooking with the filtered water made a difference in pasta and rice preparation. Foods seemed to have cleaner, more natural flavors without the background chemical notes.
Daily Living Impact and Family Benefits
The transformation in our daily water experience has been remarkable. What started as addressing taste and odor concerns evolved into improvements I hadn't anticipated.
My husband, who was initially skeptical about the investment, became a convert within weeks. As someone who drinks coffee throughout the day, he noticed the taste improvement immediately and started brewing at home instead of buying coffee during his commute.
Our daughter's skin seemed less irritated after bathing. She has mild eczema that flares up occasionally, and we noticed fewer incidents in the months following installation. While I can't definitively attribute this to water filtration, the timing was encouraging.
Laundry results improved subtly but noticeably. Colors seemed brighter, and fabrics felt softer without increasing fabric softener usage. Chlorine can fade colors over time, so protecting clothing made financial sense.
Houseplants thrived with the filtered water.
My orchids, which had been struggling, started producing new growth within six weeks of switching to filtered water. Chlorine can stress sensitive plants, and removing it clearly made a difference.
Even our cat seemed to prefer the filtered water. We fill her bowl from the kitchen tap, and she drinks more consistently now than when we lived with heavily chlorinated water.
Guests frequently comment on the water taste when visiting. Several neighbors have asked about our system after trying our coffee or simply drinking tap water during dinner parties.
Operating Costs and Maintenance Reality
Understanding the true cost of ownership was important for my decision-making process. The system backwashes automatically every three days, using approximately 150 gallons per cycle.
In Los Angeles, where water costs about $5 per thousand gallons, each backwash costs roughly $0.75. Monthly backwash costs run around $22.50—manageable compared to our previous bottled water purchases.
Electricity consumption for the control head timer is minimal—probably $3-4 annually based on my calculations. The system operates only during backwash cycles, so ongoing electrical costs are negligible.
Media replacement represents the major long-term expense. Catalytic carbon typically lasts 3-5 years, while bone char may need replacement every 2-3 years depending on fluoride levels and usage.
Based on current media prices, I estimate $400-500 for complete media replacement every three years. Compared to buying bottled water or installing multiple point-of-use filters, this seems reasonable for whole-house protection.
The system has eliminated our bottled water purchases entirely.
We were spending $40-50 monthly on drinking water, cooking water, and coffee brewing water. The filtration system pays for itself through eliminated bottled water costs within the first year.
No major maintenance issues have occurred during my eight months of ownership. The control head operates reliably, and media appears to be performing consistently based on my periodic testing.
Long-Term Assessment and Final Thoughts
Eight months into ownership, I'm genuinely satisfied with this investment in our home's water quality. The SoftPro Fluoride & Chlorine SUPER Filter has delivered on its primary promises while providing benefits I hadn't fully anticipated.
The system handles our family's water usage without any performance degradation. Flow rates remain excellent, and contaminant removal stays consistent even during high-usage periods like weekend mornings when everyone showers within an hour.
Would I purchase this system again knowing what I know now?
Absolutely. The combination of chlorine elimination and significant fluoride reduction addresses my primary concerns about Los Angeles municipal water. The whole-house approach means every drop we use is filtered, not just drinking water.
Installation was straightforward with professional help, ongoing costs are manageable, and the quality-of-life improvements justify the investment. Our family's daily relationship with water has improved in ways both obvious and subtle.
For families dealing with heavily chlorinated municipal water, especially those concerned about fluoride levels, this system offers a comprehensive solution. The catalytic carbon and bone char combination targets the specific contaminants that standard carbon filters miss.
The peace of mind factor shouldn't be underestimated. Knowing that our shower water, cooking water, and drinking water all receive thorough filtration removes a background worry I didn't even realize I carried.
This system represents excellent value for whole-house water treatment, particularly for households prioritizing fluoride reduction alongside standard contaminant removal. After eight months of real-world use, it continues exceeding my expectations for performance, reliability, and overall family benefit.