Hi there! I'm Oliver Garrett, and I call Denver home. Craig "The Water Guy" Phillips reached out asking if I'd be willing to share my real-world experience with the SoftPro Fluoride & Chlorine SUPER Filter (Whole House Catalytic Bone Char Carbon Filter) that I installed in my house. I'm happy to walk you through exactly how everything went down - the good, the challenging, and everything in between. Hopefully, my journey can help guide your own decision-making process.
The Water Problem That Started It All
Did you know that Denver's municipal water, while meeting federal standards, can still carry noticeable chlorine taste and potential fluoride concerns that affect daily life?
I certainly learned this the hard way.
For months, I'd been noticing our tap water had this persistent chemical taste that made drinking it unpleasant. My wife started buying bottled water for coffee, and even our kids complained about the "pool water" smell when filling up their water bottles.
The breaking point came last spring when I was watering my vegetable garden and realized I was hesitant to use the same water I was giving my plants that we were drinking every day. That's when I knew I needed to do something serious about our whole-house water quality.
I tested our water with a basic TDS meter qualitywatertreatment.com and found levels around 180 PPM, which isn't terrible, but the chlorine smell was unmistakable at 2.1 PPM - well within city standards but definitely noticeable to our family. The fluoride levels, according to the city's quarterly report, hovered around 0.8 PPM, which got me researching removal options.
Research Phase: Why I Chose Catalytic Carbon Plus Bone Char
I spent about three weeks diving deep into water filtration technologies. Initially, I looked at simple carbon filters, but learned they're not particularly effective for fluoride removal. Reverse osmosis was an option, but the water waste and mineral removal seemed excessive for whole-house application.
That's when I discovered the combination of catalytic carbon and bone char technology. Catalytic carbon excels at chlorine and chloramine removal through enhanced adsorption, while bone char (made from animal bones heated to high temperatures) has a unique affinity for fluoride ions.
The SoftPro system caught my attention because it combined both media types in a single upflow design. The upflow configuration prevents channeling and extends contact time, which translates to better contaminant removal. Plus, the 1.5 cubic foot capacity seemed right-sized for our 2,400 square foot home with four family members.
What sealed the deal was learning about the catalytic carbon's ability to handle chloramines, which Denver Water occasionally uses during summer months for disinfection. Regular carbon can struggle with chloramines, but catalytic carbon breaks them down more effectively.
Unboxing and Initial Setup Experience
The system arrived in two boxes - the main tank assembly and a separate box with the control valve and media. I was pleasantly surprised by the packaging quality; everything was well-protected with foam inserts and plastic wrapping.
The 10-inch diameter tank felt substantial but not overwhelming. The Fleck 5600SXT control valve looked more sophisticated than I expected, with a clear LCD display and intuitive button layout. The build quality impressed me - the tank material felt thick and durable, and all the fittings were brass rather than plastic.
Documentation was thorough, including installation diagrams, programming instructions, and maintenance schedules. I appreciated that they included a water testing guide explaining what to look for before and after installation.
One minor surprise: the system was larger than I'd visualized. Make sure you measure your installation space carefully - I had to rearrange some storage in our utility room to accommodate the 48-inch height with proper clearance.
Installation Reality Check
I'll be honest - I considered DIY installation but ultimately hired a local plumber for $380. Best decision I made in this whole process.
The installation required cutting into our main water line, installing a bypass valve system, adding a drain line for backwashing, and connecting electrical for the control valve timer. While not impossibly complex, getting the bypass valves positioned correctly and ensuring proper flow direction was crucial.
Our plumber, Mike, spent about 3.5 hours on the installation. Most time went to fitting the system into our tight utility room layout and running the drain line to our floor drain. The electrical connection was straightforward - just a standard 115V outlet.
One challenge we encountered: our municipal water pressure runs around 75 PSI, which required installing a pressure-reducing valve upstream of the filter to prevent damage to the control valve. This added about $150 to the installation cost but was necessary for long-term reliability.
Initial startup involved programming the control valve for our water hardness (8 grains per gallon in Denver) and setting the backwash frequency. The system defaulted to backwashing every three days, but based on our usage patterns, we adjusted it to every four days.
Performance Testing and Real-World Results
I tested water quality both before installation and at regular intervals afterward using TDS meters, chlorine test strips, and taste comparisons.
Chlorine Removal: Outstanding
Pre-installation chlorine levels averaged 2.1 PPM. Post-installation, I consistently measure 0.0 PPM with test strips. The chemical smell disappeared completely within 24 hours of startup. Our coffee tastes dramatically better, and the kids stopped complaining about "pool water."
Fluoride Reduction: Significant
Using fluoride test strips (admittedly not laboratory-precise), I measured incoming fluoride around 0.8 PPM dropping to approximately 0.2 PPM post-filtration. The bone char is clearly doing its job, though I'd recommend professional testing for precise measurements.
Overall Water Quality: Improved
TDS levels dropped from 180 PPM to around 165 PPM - not a dramatic change, but the water tastes cleaner and feels softer. We stopped buying bottled water for drinking and cooking, which saves us roughly $40 monthly.
Flow Rate Impact: Minimal
I was concerned about pressure drops, but with our 1-inch plumbing, flow reduction is barely noticeable. Shower pressure remained strong, and we can run multiple fixtures simultaneously without issues.
Daily Life Impact and Family Observations
The most immediate change was taste. Within two days, even my teenage son commented that the water "doesn't taste weird anymore." We went from consuming maybe 2-3 glasses of tap water daily per person to drinking it regularly throughout the day.
Cooking improvements were notable too. Rice and pasta seemed to taste cleaner, and my wife swears her homemade bread rises better with the filtered water. Whether that's scientifically valid or placebo effect, I can't say, but she's happy with the results.
Our coffee maker stopped developing that white mineral buildup around the heating element. I'm not sure if that's related to the slight TDS reduction or something else the system removes, but it's been a nice side benefit.
One unexpected discovery: our houseplants seem more vibrant since I started using filtered water for them. The chlorine removal probably helps, since chlorine can stress plant roots over time.
Guests have commented on the water quality without prompting. My brother-in-law, who's particular about water taste, actually asked what system we installed after trying our tap water during Thanksgiving dinner.
Maintenance Reality and Operating Costs
Eight months in, maintenance has been straightforward but requires attention to detail.
Backwashing Schedule:
The system backwashes automatically every four days, consuming about 150 gallons per cycle. At Denver's water rates ($3.89 per 1,000 gallons), that's roughly $7 monthly in backwash water costs.
Media Replacement:
Bone char typically lasts 2-3 years depending on fluoride levels and usage. Catalytic carbon lasts 3-4 years. I'm budgeting $300 for media replacement in year three, though actual timing depends on performance testing.
Monitoring and Adjustments:
I test chlorine levels monthly and fluoride quarterly. The LCD display tracks gallons processed and backwash cycles, making system monitoring simple. Programming changes (like vacation mode) are intuitive through the control valve interface.
Total Operating Costs:
Between backwash water, electricity for the control valve, and amortized media replacement, I estimate $25-30 monthly operating costs. This easily offsets our previous bottled water purchases with superior convenience.
Final Assessment: Worth Every Penny
After eight months of daily use, I'm genuinely satisfied with this investment. The combination of catalytic carbon and bone char delivers on its promises - dramatically improved taste, reduced chlorine and fluoride, and peace of mind about our family's daily water consumption.
What I'd tell someone considering this system:
If you're dealing with chlorine taste, fluoride concerns, or general municipal water quality issues, this technology works as advertised. The upflow design and quality components justify the price point. Professional installation is worth the cost unless you're experienced with plumbing.
Who this works best for:
Families wanting whole-house contaminant removal without the complexity of reverse osmosis. Households with moderate to high water usage where point-of-use filters become inconvenient. Anyone prioritizing fluoride reduction alongside standard filtration.
Honest limitations:
It won't solve hard water problems - you'd need a separate softener for that. The backwashing does use water, so it's not zero-waste. And like any carbon-based system, performance gradually declines until media replacement.
Would I purchase this again? Absolutely. The daily quality-of-life improvement, combined with knowing we're providing cleaner water for our family, makes this one of our better home investments. It simply works well, and that's exactly what I was hoping for when I started this journey.