/>Hi, I'm Frank T.. I live in Orlando.
Craig "The Water Guy" Phillips asked me to share my homeowner experience with local tap water from the city and the SoftPro® Elite HE Water Softener for City Water (Industry's Best Softener & Filter Combo) I purchased.
This is how my adventures played out. I hope this helps you in your decision.
My Hard Water Nightmare: Why I Desperately Needed a Solution
Living in Orlando for the past eight years, I thought the chalky white residue covering every faucet, showerhead, and glass surface in my home was just part of life in Florida. My morning routine included scrubbing mineral deposits off the coffee maker, and my wife constantly complained about her hair feeling like straw after every shower.
What really pushed me over the edge?
Our three-year-old dishwasher started leaving spots so bad on our glassware that we were embarrassed to serve guests. I tested our water and discovered we had 18 grains per gallon of hardness – that's considered "very hard" by any standard.
The real wake-up call came when our plumber showed me the inside of our water heater during a routine maintenance check. Calcium buildup had reduced the heating elements' efficiency so much that our energy bills had crept up by nearly 30% over two years. He estimated we'd need a complete water heater replacement within the next year if we didn't address the hard water issue.
I calculated the costs: premature appliance replacement, excessive cleaning product usage, increased energy bills, and the constant frustration of dealing with soap scum and mineral deposits. Something had to change, and fast.
Research Phase: Finding the Right Water Softening Solution
>I spent three weeks researching water softening systems, diving deep into ion exchange technology, salt-based versus salt-free options, and capacity calculations. The more I learned, the more I realized that not all water softeners are created equal.
Most standard water softeners on the market use outdated technology with inefficient salt usage and wasteful regeneration cycles. I needed something that could handle our family of four's daily water consumption – approximately 300 gallons – while minimizing salt waste and water consumption during regeneration.
The SoftPro Elite caught my attention because of its high-efficiency design and dual-tank configuration. Unlike single-tank systems that leave you with hard water during regeneration cycles, this system promised continuous soft water delivery. The fact that it combined water softening with comprehensive filtration was exactly what our situation demanded.
After comparing flow rates, efficiency ratings, and customer testimonials, I decided the SoftPro Elite Basic model would be perfect for our 2,400 square foot home with two and a half bathrooms.
Unboxing and Initial Setup: First Impressions Matter
When the SoftPro Elite Basic arrived, I was immediately impressed by the professional packaging and component quality. The control valve felt substantial – not like the plastic components I'd seen on cheaper units. The resin tanks were clearly built for longevity, with thick walls and quality fittings throughout.
The installation manual was surprisingly thorough, with clear diagrams and step-by-step instructions. Even though I consider myself handy, I appreciated that SoftPro includes detailed plumbing specifications and electrical requirements upfront.
What surprised me most was the compact footprint. Despite being a dual-tank system, it fit perfectly in our utility room corner where I'd planned to install it. The dimensions were exactly as advertised: 54 inches tall and requiring only a 24-inch by 18-inch floor space.
The digital control head looked modern and intuitive, with a clear LCD display showing system status, remaining capacity, and regeneration schedules. This was a significant upgrade from the mechanical timers I'd seen on older systems.
Installation Experience: Easier Than Expected
> I decided to tackle the installation myself, partly to save money and partly because I wanted to understand exactly how the system worked. The entire process took me about six hours over a weekend, including the time spent learning proper pipe fitting techniques.
The most challenging aspect was cutting into our main water line to install the bypass valve system. SoftPro's installation kit included everything needed: bypass valve, fittings, unions, and even the pipe cutter. Having all components included eliminated multiple trips to the hardware store.
Connecting the drain line for regeneration discharge was straightforward – I ran it to our utility sink about eight feet away. The electrical connection required only plugging into a standard 110V outlet; no special wiring needed.
Programming the control head was intuitive. I entered our water hardness level (18 grains per gallon), household size (4 people), and the system automatically calculated optimal regeneration timing. The learning mode adjusts regeneration frequency based on actual water usage patterns, which I found fascinating from an efficiency standpoint.
Initial startup involved sanitizing the resin bed and running several regeneration cycles to flush manufacturing residues. Within 24 hours, we were enjoying consistently soft water throughout our home.
Performance Results: The Transformation Was Immediate
> The difference in water quality was noticeable within the first day of operation. Our morning coffee tasted cleaner – no more metallic aftertaste that I hadn't even realized was there before. My wife mentioned that her shampoo was creating more lather with less product, and her hair felt noticeably softer after the first week.
I conducted water hardness tests weekly for the first month to verify performance. Pre-treatment readings consistently showed 18 grains per gallon, while post-treatment water tested at zero to one grain per gallon – essentially perfect softness.
The soap scum that had built up in our shower over years began dissolving away without aggressive scrubbing. Our dishwasher started producing spotless glassware again, and the white film on our faucets disappeared entirely.
What impressed me most about the efficiency?
The system uses approximately 40% less salt than conventional softeners I researched. Regeneration cycles occur every 4-5 days with our usage pattern, consuming about 8 pounds of salt per cycle. This translates to roughly one 40-pound bag of salt every month – very reasonable for a family our size.
Water waste during regeneration is minimal compared to older technology. Each regeneration cycle uses approximately 25 gallons of water, which occurs during low-usage hours (typically 2 AM) when it doesn't impact our daily routine.
