/>Hi, I'm Humberto C. I live in Oklahoma. Craig "The Water Guy" Phillips asked me to share my homeowner experience with local tap water and the SoftPro® Elite HE Water Softener for City Water (Industry's Best Softener & Filter Combo) that I purchased. This is how my adventures played out, and I hope this helps you in your decision.
Did you know that even "treated" city water can contain enough hardness minerals and contaminants to wreak havoc on your home?
I learned this the hard way after moving into our Oklahoma home three years ago. What started as minor annoyances—chalky residue on dishes, stiff laundry, and that metallic taste in our morning coffee—gradually escalated into costly appliance repairs and a constant battle against soap scum buildup.
After eighteen months of living with the SoftPro Elite HE system, I sold the house that had this unit and immediately bought a new one for the new place. That decision alone should tell you everything about my experience, but let me walk you through exactly why this water treatment system earned a permanent spot in my life.
The Hard Water Reality That Pushed Me to Act
Our municipal water supply in Oklahoma carries approximately 12 grains per gallon of hardness—not the worst I've encountered, but definitely enough to cause problems. The calcium and magnesium minerals were leaving white, crusty deposits on every surface they touched.
My wife first noticed the issues with our dishwasher. Despite using premium detergent and rinse aids, our glassware emerged cloudy and spotted. Within six months, the heating element developed a thick scale buildup that reduced efficiency noticeably. Our energy bills reflected this decreased performance.
The real wake-up call came when our tankless water heater started showing signs of mineral accumulation. Have you ever had to flush a tankless system because of scale buildup?
The service technician explained that hard water was reducing the unit's lifespan significantly. At $3,200 for replacement, this wasn't a problem I could ignore.
Beyond appliance damage, daily life became increasingly frustrating. Soap wouldn't lather properly, requiring twice the amount for basic cleaning. Our skin felt dry and irritated after showers, and my wife's hair looked dull despite expensive shampoos. Laundry emerged stiff and dingy, even with fabric softeners.
I tested our water with a TDS meter and found readings consistently around 340 parts per million—not terrible for city water, but high enough to cause the issues we experienced. The chlorine taste was particularly offensive in the mornings, making our coffee barely palatable.
Research Phase: Finding the Right Solution
>Initially, I considered basic water softening systems from big box stores. Most units in the $500-800 range used standard ion exchange technology but lacked the filtering capabilities I needed for chlorine and other contaminants.
The SoftPro Elite HE caught my attention because it combines water softening with comprehensive filtration in a single system. This dual functionality appealed to me since I didn't want separate units taking up space in our utility room.
I spent considerable time researching the SoftPro Valve technology. Unlike generic control valves, SoftPro designs their own valves specifically for their resin beds and regeneration cycles. This integration promised better efficiency and reliability than systems cobbled together from various manufacturers' components.
Why choose a combination system over separate units?
Space efficiency played a major role in my decision. Our utility room measures only 6x8 feet, shared with the washer, dryer, and HVAC equipment. A single unit made much more sense than installing separate softener and filter systems.
The NSF certification for both softening and filtration gave me confidence in the system's capabilities. I verified that it meets NSF/ANSI 44 standards for water softening and NSF/ANSI 42 standards for chlorine reduction. These certifications aren't just marketing claims—they represent rigorous third-party testing.
Capacity calculations showed the Elite HE could handle our household of four with significant reserve. At 48,000 grain capacity and our water hardness of 12 grains per gallon, we could process approximately 4,000 gallons between regeneration cycles. With average daily usage around 300 gallons, regeneration every 13-14 days seemed reasonable.
Unboxing and Initial Impressions
The system arrived via freight delivery in excellent condition. SoftPro's packaging impressed me immediately—heavy-duty foam protection and clear labeling showed attention to detail. The main tank measures 54 inches tall and 13 inches in diameter, larger than I expected but manageable.
Build quality exceeded my expectations from the start. The fiberglass tank felt substantial and well-constructed, with smooth gel coat finish that resists scratches. The SoftPro Valve housing appeared robust, with thick-walled construction and quality fittings throughout.
All necessary components arrived complete: bypass valve assembly, drain line fittings, salt efficiency disc, and comprehensive installation manual. The documentation quality particularly impressed me—clear diagrams, proper torque specifications, and logical step-by-step procedures.
Pre-installation inspection revealed high-grade resin media and what appeared to be premium internal components. The distributor tube and screens looked much more substantial than those I'd seen in budget systems. This attention to internal quality suggested the unit was built for longevity.
Installation Experience and Setup
> I opted for professional installation through SoftPro's dealer network, mainly because our main water line required relocation for proper bypass valve placement. The certified installer arrived punctually and demonstrated impressive knowledge of both plumbing and SoftPro-specific procedures.
Installation took approximately four hours, including relocating the main shutoff and installing dedicated electrical for the SoftPro Valve. The technician explained each step, showing me the bypass operation and drain line requirements. This education proved valuable for future maintenance.
What surprised me about the installation process?
The system requires a dedicated 110V outlet and specific drain line sizing that wasn't obvious from preliminary research. Our utility room needed minor electrical work to accommodate the SoftPro Valve's power requirements.
Initial programming involved setting our water hardness level, household size, and regeneration preferences. The SoftPro Valve offers multiple regeneration options: time-based, demand-initiated, or hybrid scheduling. I chose demand-initiated to maximize efficiency and salt conservation.
The first regeneration cycle began automatically after installation completion. This process takes approximately 90 minutes and consumes about 65 gallons of water plus 8 pounds of salt. The sounds were minimal—much quieter than I anticipated based on experiences with older softener systems.
Water flow resumed with normal pressure throughout the house. I measured 45 PSI at fixtures compared to 48 PSI municipal supply—an acceptable 3 PSI reduction that didn't impact daily usage noticeably.
Performance Analysis and Real-World Results
> Within 48 hours, the difference became unmistakable. Water felt noticeably softer, with soap creating rich, creamy lather using half the previous amount. Our morning showers became more enjoyable as skin irritation decreased significantly.
I conducted formal testing one week post-installation using both test strips and a digital hardness meter. Incoming water measured 12 grains per gallon hardness as expected. Post-treatment water consistently tested at zero hardness—complete removal of calcium and magnesium minerals.
Chlorine reduction proved equally impressive. The strong chemical taste and odor that characterized our tap water disappeared entirely. Coffee and tea preparation improved dramatically, with flavors becoming cleaner and more vibrant. My wife noticed the difference immediately in her morning routine.
How does the filtration component perform alongside softening?
The integrated carbon filtration effectively addresses chlorine, chloramines, and organic contaminants without creating separate maintenance requirements. TDS readings dropped from 340 to approximately 280 PPM, indicating successful contaminant reduction while maintaining beneficial mineral content where appropriate.
Dishwasher performance transformed completely. Glassware emerged spotless and crystal clear without additional rinse aids or special detergents. The heating element remained scale-free during subsequent inspections, protecting our investment in kitchen appliances.
Laundry results exceeded expectations significantly. Clothes emerged softer and brighter, with colors remaining vivid through numerous wash cycles. Fabric softener became unnecessary, reducing both costs and chemical exposure for our family.
After six months of operation, our tankless water heater service revealed zero scale accumulation—a stark contrast to the previous buildup issues. This protection alone justified the system's cost through extended appliance lifespan.
