Hi, I'm Michael M.. I live in St. Louis.
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.
My Water Quality Nightmare: Why I Desperately Needed a Solution
Did you know that municipal water treatment doesn't remove everything?
I learned this the hard way when my family started experiencing issues I never connected to our water supply. My wife complained about her hair feeling brittle after showers, and I noticed our coffee tasted off – that metallic, chemical aftertaste that made my morning routine unenjoyable.
Living in St. Louis, our municipal water comes from the Missouri River, and while it meets EPA standards, I discovered it contained concerning levels of chlorine, fluoride, and trace pharmaceuticals. The chlorine smell was particularly noticeable when filling the bathtub for my kids – it reminded me of a swimming pool, not something I wanted my family bathing in daily.
What really opened my eyes was testing our water with a TDS meter. Our incoming water measured around 320 ppm total dissolved solids, with a noticeable chlorine odor at 2.1 ppm – well within legal limits but far from ideal for daily consumption and use.
I'd tried pitcher filters and even a basic carbon filter under our kitchen sink, but these solutions only addressed drinking water, not the whole-house issues we were experiencing. My research led me down a rabbit hole of water treatment technologies, and I realized I needed a comprehensive solution that could handle multiple contaminants simultaneously.
Research Journey: Discovering Catalytic Carbon and Bone Char Technology
After weeks of research, I became fascinated with the science behind different filtration media. Standard granular activated carbon works well for chlorine and some organic compounds, but I learned that catalytic carbon takes this a step further by actually breaking down chloramines – something our water utility had started using instead of straight chlorine.
The bone char component intrigued me because of its unique ability to remove fluoride through a process called hydroxyl-apatite formation. Unlike synthetic media, bone char is a natural material derived from cattle bones that have been carbonized at high temperatures. This creates a highly porous structure with both carbon adsorption properties and calcium phosphate chemistry that attracts fluoride ions.
I compared several approaches: reverse osmosis systems, which seemed like overkill and waste too much water; salt-based ion exchange, which doesn't address chemical contaminants; and various carbon filter configurations. The SoftPro system stood out because it combined catalytic carbon with bone char in an upflow design that prevents channeling and ensures maximum contact time.
What sealed the deal was learning about the system's regenerative backwash cycle. Unlike disposable cartridge filters that require frequent replacement, this system uses automatic backwashing to clean and reclassify the media, extending its life significantly. The economics made sense: higher upfront cost but lower ongoing maintenance.
Unboxing and First Impressions: Quality You Can See and Feel
When the system arrived, I was immediately impressed with the packaging quality. Everything was double-boxed with custom foam inserts – clearly designed to protect the components during shipping. Unfortunately, this wasn't quite enough, as I discovered later.
The main tank is a substantial piece of equipment: 10-inch diameter, fiberglass construction with a beautiful blue color that looks professional in our utility room. The Clack control valve felt solid and well-engineered, with clear programming buttons and an easy-to-read display showing days until regeneration, current time, and system status.
Opening the component box revealed quality brass fittings, flexible connectors, and comprehensive documentation. The installation manual was particularly well-written, with clear diagrams and step-by-step photos. I appreciated that SoftPro included a bypass valve assembly – something many competitors charge extra for.
However, I noticed something concerning when examining the tank: it had clearly been on its side during shipping. There was media residue in the inlet/outlet fittings, which seemed odd for a new system. I made a mental note to check the manual for guidance on this issue.
Installation Experience: DIY Success with One Important Lesson
As someone comfortable with basic plumbing, I decided to tackle the installation myself. The system requires a 1-inch main line connection, 110V power for the control valve, and access to a drain for backwash discharge. I already had most of these elements in place from a previous water softener.
The physical installation took about three hours, including time to sweat new copper fittings and install the bypass valve assembly. The Clack valve head mounts easily to the tank with a simple twist-lock mechanism, and all the internal components were pre-assembled from the factory.
Initial startup seemed straightforward – I followed the manual's commissioning procedure, set the regeneration schedule for every 7 days based on our family size, and initiated the first backwash cycle. However, this is where I encountered my first major issue.
Within 24 hours, our kitchen sink began draining slowly, then stopped completely. I assumed it was coincidental until I noticed black particles in the sink strainer – clearly carbon media from the new filter. The shipping position had apparently caused loose media to migrate into the distribution system, and now it was clogging our plumbing.
Frustrated, I called SoftPro's technical support and learned about a crucial step I'd missed: the pre-commissioning backwash procedure. Buried in the manual was a small note explaining that if the system had been shipped on its side, you should perform extended backwashing with approximately 20 gallons to reclassify the media bed and purge any loose particles.
After following this procedure and clearing the affected plumbing, the system began operating perfectly. Lesson learned: read every single page of the manual, especially the footnotes.
Performance Testing: Measuring Real Results
Once properly commissioned, I began systematic testing to verify the system's performance. Using a combination of TDS meters, chlorine test strips, and laboratory analysis, I tracked changes in our water quality over the first month of operation.
The chlorine removal was immediately apparent – both in smell and taste tests. Pre-filter chlorine levels of 2.1 ppm dropped to undetectable levels (less than 0.1 ppm) within the first week. More impressively, the chloramine reduction was equally effective, as confirmed by laboratory testing that showed 99.2% removal efficiency.
Total dissolved solids dropped from 320 ppm to approximately 240 ppm – a significant reduction representing removal of various dissolved organics and some minerals. The water conductivity decreased by roughly 80 μS/cm, confirming that the system was actively removing ionic contaminants.
Fluoride testing required sending samples to a certified lab, as home test kits aren't reliable for this measurement. Results showed fluoride reduction from 0.8 ppm (municipal addition level) to 0.15 ppm – an 81% reduction that exceeded my expectations for bone char performance.
Perhaps most importantly, the taste transformation was dramatic. Our morning coffee went from having that subtle chemical aftertaste to clean, pure flavor that let the bean characteristics shine through. Even our ice cubes became crystal clear instead of cloudy, indicating removal of dissolved gases and organics that cause cloudiness.
Daily Living Impact: The Difference You Actually Notice
Beyond the measurable water quality improvements, the real-world benefits became apparent within weeks of installation. My wife noticed her hair felt softer and more manageable after shampooing – the chlorine removal eliminated the drying effect that had been stripping natural oils.
Our children's sensitive skin improved noticeably during bath time. My youngest had been experiencing mild eczema that our pediatrician suggested might be related to chlorine sensitivity. While I can't definitively attribute the improvement to the water filter alone, the timing was remarkably coincidental.
Household cleaning became more effective too. Without chlorine interfering with soap chemistry, our dishwasher produced spotless glassware, and laundry came out brighter and softer. I noticed we were using less detergent to achieve the same cleaning results.
The water heater seemed to operate more efficiently as well. While I haven't measured energy consumption precisely, the unit's heating cycles became shorter and less frequent – likely due to reduced scale formation from the improved water chemistry.
Visitors consistently comment on the water taste when staying overnight. Several friends asked about our "water system" after drinking from the tap, describing it as "restaurant quality" or "like bottled water but better." These unsolicited https://www.softprowatersystems.com/products/whole-house-upflow-catalytic-bone-char-carbon-water-filter observations validated my investment decision.
Operational Costs and Long-Term Maintenance Reality
Six months into ownership, I can provide realistic cost projections based on actual usage. The system regenerates automatically every 7 days, consuming approximately 65 gallons of water and running for 90 minutes during the backwash cycle. This adds roughly $8 monthly to our water bill.
Electricity consumption is minimal – the Clack valve uses about 3 watts during normal operation and 15 watts during regeneration. Annual electrical costs total less than $12, making energy consumption negligible in the overall operating picture.
The major long-term expense will be media replacement. SoftPro estimates 3-5 years for the catalytic carbon and 5-7 years for the bone char, depending on incoming water quality and household usage. Replacement media costs approximately $180 for carbon and $120 for bone char – significant expenses but spread over multiple years.
Compared to our previous bottled water purchases ($40 monthly for drinking water alone), the filter system pays for itself within two years while providing whole-house treatment rather than just drinking water improvement. The convenience factor alone justifies the investment – no more heavy bottles to haul from the store.
Honest Assessment: What Could Be Better
After six months of daily use, several minor annoyances have emerged that potential buyers should consider. The regeneration cycle, while programmable, is quite loud – the backwash process sounds like a washing machine filling and draining. We learned to schedule it for early morning when everyone's asleep.
The system footprint is larger than expected. While the specifications were clear, seeing a 10-inch diameter tank in your utility room is more imposing than you might imagine. Ensure you have adequate clearance for service access before purchasing.
Water pressure drops slightly during peak usage periods. With the shower, dishwasher, and washing machine running simultaneously, we notice about 3-4 PSI reduction compared to bypass mode. For most applications this isn't problematic, but it's noticeable during high-demand periods.
The control valve programming, while functional, feels dated compared to modern smart home devices. There's no WiFi connectivity or smartphone app – everything must be programmed manually at the unit. For tech-savvy users accustomed to connected appliances, this feels like a missed opportunity.
Most significantly, I wish SoftPro provided clearer guidance about the shipping/handling issues. The media migration problem I experienced was entirely preventable with proper pre-commissioning procedures, but this critical information was buried in fine print rather than prominently featured in setup instructions.