Hi, I'm Kenneth M.. I live in San Antonio.
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.
Why I Started Looking for a Whole House Water Filter
Living in San Antonio, I'd been dealing with water quality issues for years. The chlorine smell hit you the moment you walked into the bathroom, and I was increasingly concerned about fluoride levels in our municipal water supply.
My family had been buying bottled water for drinking, but we were still showering and cooking with treated city water. The monthly expense was adding up, and I kept thinking there had to be a better solution.
What really pushed me over the edge was when my neighbor mentioned that San Antonio's water contains fluoride levels that some families prefer to reduce.
I started researching whole house filtration systems that could handle both chlorine removal and fluoride reduction. That's when I discovered that bone char carbon filters were specifically designed for fluoride removal - something most standard carbon filters can't accomplish.
My Research Journey Into Bone Char Carbon Technology
I'll be honest - I had never heard of bone char carbon before starting this research. Learning about it was fascinating and a bit overwhelming.
Did you know that bone char carbon is one of the few filtration media that can effectively remove fluoride from water?
Regular activated carbon handles chlorine, taste, and odor issues brilliantly, but fluoride molecules are too small for standard carbon to capture. Bone char, which is made from animal bones heated to extremely high temperatures, creates a unique porous structure that can attract and hold fluoride ions.
The science behind it involves both physical adsorption and chemical ion exchange. The calcium phosphate in bone char has an affinity for fluoride, essentially swapping places with it as water flows through the filter media.
SoftPro's system combines catalytic carbon with bone char carbon in an upflow design. The catalytic carbon tackles chlorine, chloramines, and organic contaminants, while the bone char specifically targets fluoride removal.
Why I Chose SoftPro's Upflow Design
After comparing several manufacturers, SoftPro's upflow catalytic bone char system stood out for several reasons.
The upflow design means water enters at the bottom and flows upward through the media bed. This prevents channeling - where water finds the path of least resistance and bypasses portions of the filter media. Upflow also allows the media bed to expand slightly during operation, ensuring maximum contact time between water and filtration media.
Most importantly, the system was designed specifically for municipal water treatment.
The catalytic carbon component handles chlorine and chloramines more effectively than standard GAC (granular activated carbon). Chloramines are particularly stubborn - many water treatment plants have switched from chlorine to chloramines because they're more stable, but that also makes them harder to remove.
The bone char portion targets fluoride reduction, with the capacity to handle typical municipal fluoride levels of 0.7 to 1.2 parts per million. San Antonio's water typically runs around 0.8 ppm fluoride, well within the system's designed capacity.
Installation Experience and Initial Challenges
I decided to hire a professional plumber for installation, which turned out to be a smart decision - though it came with some unexpected learning experiences.
The first plumber who came out wasn't familiar with upflow systems and had to study the installation manual. The system requires a specific bypass valve configuration and proper drain line setup for the periodic backwash cycles.
Here's something I wish I'd known beforehand: the initial startup process releases a significant amount of loose carbon particles.
My plumber started the system and immediately plugged up the kitchen faucet aerator with carbon fines. We had to shut everything down and flush the lines.
That's when I called SoftPro (or actually, their manufacturer Canagra) to verify the proper startup procedure. They explained that you should open the bathtub faucet first during initial flushing - since bathtub faucets don't have aerators or built-in filters that can get clogged.
The second plumber who came back knew this trick already. He flushed the system properly through the tub faucet for about 20 minutes until the water ran completely clear, then gradually opened other fixtures. No more clogged aerators.
Product Quality and Initial Impressions
When the system arrived, I was impressed with the overall build quality. The tank construction feels substantial - it's a fiberglass vessel that's clearly designed for residential water pressure and long-term use.
However, I encountered something that initially concerned me: the filter media came with absolutely no labeling or identification marking it as a SoftPro product.
How much confidence does it give you when there's no name, phone number, or model identification on the actual filter media?
I had to call Canagra directly to verify that we'd received the correct bone char carbon media for fluoride removal. They confirmed it was the right product, but I found it odd that there was no product identification.
The included documentation was fairly basic. I would have appreciated more detailed information about what to expect during initial startup, especially regarding the carbon fines issue that caused my plumber problems.
That said, the price was competitive for a bone char system, and once I confirmed the media was correct, the quality appeared good.
Performance Testing and Real-World Results
After proper installation and flushing, I tested the system's performance across several parameters.
For chlorine removal, the results were immediate and dramatic. The chlorine smell that used to hit you when walking into the bathroom completely disappeared within 24 hours. Shower water felt noticeably softer on skin and hair.
I purchased TDS and chlorine test strips to measure the actual performance.
Incoming chlorine levels measured around 2.1 ppm, which is typical for San Antonio municipal water. Post-filtration, chlorine was undetectable on my test strips - essentially 0 ppm.
For fluoride testing, I sent water samples to a certified lab both before and after installation. Pre-filtration fluoride measured 0.82 ppm. Six weeks after installation, post-filtration water measured 0.31 ppm - about a 62% reduction.
The bone char carbon isn't designed to remove 100% of fluoride (and honestly, that might not even be desirable), but the reduction brought levels down to what many families prefer for their household water.
Water taste improved significantly. The chemical taste that San Antonio water sometimes has - especially during summer months when treatment levels increase - was completely eliminated.
Long-Term Performance and Maintenance Reality
I've been running this system for eight months now, and performance has remained consistent.
The system requires periodic backwashing to clean the filter media and prevent compaction. The control valve can be SoftPro Fluoride Filter System programmed for automatic backwashing based on time or water usage volume. I have mine set for weekly backwashing, which uses approximately 150 gallons per cycle.
One thing to consider if you're on a well system: backwashing consumes a fair amount of water.
Since I'm on city water, this isn't a major concern, but well users need to factor this into their water budget.
The catalytic carbon portion should last 3-5 years depending on water usage and contaminant levels. The bone char media typically lasts 5-7 years. Replacement media costs run about $400-500 when that time comes.
I've had no mechanical issues with the control valve or tank. The system operates quietly - you can hear water flowing during backwash cycles, but it's not disruptive.
Final Assessment and Honest Recommendations
Overall, I'm satisfied with the SoftPro upflow catalytic bone char carbon system's performance. It's delivering the fluoride reduction and chlorine removal I was looking for.
The system works as advertised, but the experience taught me that proper installation and startup procedures are critical.
If you're considering this system, here's my advice: make sure your plumber understands upflow filter systems and the importance of proper initial flushing. The carbon fines issue during startup is manageable if you know to expect it.
For San Antonio water specifically, this system handles our municipal treatment chemicals effectively. The fluoride reduction brings levels down to what many families prefer without eliminating it entirely.
Is it perfect? No system is. The lack of product labeling on filter media was concerning initially, and the documentation could be more comprehensive. But the actual performance has met my expectations.
Would I purchase this system again?
Yes, assuming I needed both chlorine removal and fluoride reduction. If you only need chlorine removal, a standard catalytic carbon system would be less expensive. But if fluoride reduction is a priority, bone char carbon is really your only effective whole-house option.
The investment has eliminated our bottled water purchases and provided the water quality improvements I was seeking throughout the house. For our family's situation in San Antonio, it's proven to be the right choice.