Last Updated on July 7, 2022 by Ava
Calcium and magnesium are good for your bones, but they’re not beneficial for your home. Too many hard minerals in well water — a problem 60-percent of American households live with — can harm clothing, appliances, bathroom fixtures and even your skin.
If you own a well and are experiencing any of these signs —
- Faded darks
- Filmy residue on dishes
- Limescale stains on tubs and showers
- Itchy skin
- Brittle hair
- Higher-than-average utility bills
- Unexpected appliance breakdowns
— chances are you have hard water. Fortunately, there’s a simple solution.
Quality Water Treatment, a US company with 30 years experience treating hard water, sells the SoftPro Elite — perhaps the industry’s best water softener for well water. It’s salt-stingy, low-maintenance and expandable — if you’re water’s less than perfect, adding one of several filtration options will give you your best water ever. Ready to learn more?
| SoftPro Iron Master Price | $$ |
| Process | Air Injection Oxidation |
| Targets | Iron 30 PPM |
| Flow Rate | 12 GPM |
| Filter Capacity | 8-10 years |
| Annual Cost | ~$150 |
| Warranty | 7 years |
| Our Rating | 4/5 |
SoftPro Elite – Water Softener for Well Water
The SoftPro Elite is a salt-based water softener with features that make it ideal for well water. It’s fine-mesh resin filters iron up to 3 PPM — double that of similar models — using a fraction of the salt and water.
It’s high-efficiency upflow technology outperforms comparable models — and the list of features keeps growing.
A backlit digital head offers push-button control — backwashes are automatic. Super-capacity, wide-mouth brine tanks are easy to load and need refilling less often — each is lined with a brine grid to prevent salt from clumping at the bottom.
A safety float keeps the tank from overfilling if the softener malfunctions. Finally, a black neoprene jacket helps insulate the tank, so there’s no condensation to collect on the floor, and the unit is protected from freezing.
SoftPro systems are straightforward to install, and technical support is standing by — resin is preloaded. Quality Water Treatment backs the SoftPro Elite with a lifetime warranty and premium customer service. You won’t be disappointed.
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Pros
- Available in sizes up to 80,000-grain
- Easy-to-read backlit digital interface
- Automatic refresh feature prevents build-up of bacteria
- Safety float prevents water damage
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Large brine tank utilizes more floor space
Top Q & A
Q: Should I be worried about too much sodium in my water?
A: No, the amount is negligible and safe for low-sodium diets.
Q: Can I use potassium chloride instead of salt?
A: Yes, the SoftPro Elite is compatible with both, but use only products labeled for water softeners.
Q: How does limescale affect appliances?
A: Hard minerals in water cling to pipe walls, narrowing their diameter. Water-using appliances, including dishwashers, refrigerators and water heaters, are carefully calibrated for a specific amount of water — receiving less through a clogged pipe makes them work harder. The result is higher-than-expected utility bills and premature breakdowns.
My Take
Water softeners have an unwarranted reputation for complexity — they’re not. If they go wrong, it’s because of design flaws. SoftPro softeners are top sellers for one reason — they’re engineered for ultimate performance and their features make them simple and safe to use.
While comparable models have flimsy tanks, SoftPro’s are durable and user-friendly. The LCD panel is easy to read — there are no confusing symbols. Programming offers a full range of options, but with enough automatic features to eliminate user errors. Safety features and lifetime warranty are icing on the cake. Few comparable models give you more for your money. SoftPro deserves a round of applause.
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Key Features of the SoftPro Elite Well Water Softener
Choosing the best water softener for well water requires understanding about its features. Let’s clarify the jargon.
Contaminants Filtered
The SoftProElite removes:
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Iron
Optional KDF 55, reverse osmosis or catalytic carbon filters transform it from a simple softener to a complete water filtration solution — the choice is yours.
Capacity
Salt-based water softeners use negatively charged resin beads to trap positively charged hard minerals. When they reach their saturation capacity — reported as grain rating — salt water from the brine tank breaks the bonds between the resin and the minerals. Calcium and magnesium ions go down the drain, and the resin beads are “regenerated.”
The SoftPro Elite is available in sizes from 24,000- to 80,000-grain. A 48,000-grain capacity is usually plenty for a family of four, but factors from usage to your well’s flow rate can impact sizing. Quality Water Treatment has a grain calculator on its website, and their technical support specialists are happy to help guide you.
Resin
Water softeners use different types of resins. Eight-percent cation resin is the industry standard — but iron can damage it permanently. The SoftPro Elite not only removes more iron than average softeners, its fine mesh resin is damage-resistant. A water test can tell you how much iron is in your water. Under average conditions, the resin in the SoftPro Elite never needs changing.
Footprint
The ideal place to install a water softener is near the main water inlet and within reach of a power outlet and drain — allow ten feet between the softener and your water heater. The SoftPro Elite requires roughly 4 square feet of space plus additional area for comfortable maintenance. Picture yourself adding salt to the system.
Regeneration Control
Some water softeners regenerate on a timer, whether they need it or not, wasting both salt and water. The SoftPro Elite tracks usage and regenerates only when necessary or a minimum of every seven days to prevent bacterial growth in the tank.
Safety Features
Water softeners are reliable, but if they malfunction, water in the brine tank can overflow, damaging wood, drywall and concrete. The SoftPro Elite features a safety float similar to the type in your toilet that turns the water off if the level gets too high. Overflow control systems are a valuable feature for homeowners who spend significant time on the road.
Design and Installation
The SoftPro Elite comes complete with a resin tank, brine tank and electronic control head. The oversized brine tank has a larger footprint than most, but it holds more salt so you’ll spend less time on maintenance — your back will thank you.
A handy homeowner can install it in a morning — the resin tank is heavy, so round up help. Salt-based softeners are restricted in some ecologically sensitive areas, so check local code before ordering. Or hire a plumber to do it for you — it’s a budget-friendly project.
Help & Support
Quality Water Treatment backs SoftPro Elite series softeners with a lifetime warranty and an unwavering commitment to customer care. Installation guides with videos are available on their website, and technical support representatives are ready to assist.
Final Thoughts
Hard water minerals aren’t bad for your health, but why suffer with dingy clothes, haystack hair and costly appliance repair bills? The SoftPro Elite water softener is the feature-packed, affordable, low-maintenance solution you’ve been waiting for.
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