Most South Florida whole-house water filter installs run 3-5 hours of plumbing work, plus permit retrieval if your municipality requires one. We arrive with Charger Water Kenai equipment sized to your home, run a full on-site water test, install at the main service line, program the controller, and walk you through operation before we leave. Typical day: 8 AM arrival, finished by early afternoon.
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A SoFlo technician walks the service line, tests your raw water for hardness, chloramines, TDS, sediment, iron, and pH, and gives you a fixed-scope install quote on the same visit. No deposit required to schedule.
Before the Install: The On-Site Water Test
Every Kenai install starts with a calibrated water test at the kitchen sink. South Florida tap water varies more than most homeowners expect: a Boca Raton condo and a Homestead single-family home can pull from different utilities, different wellfields, and different treatment chemistries. Sizing the system off a generic spec sheet guarantees you either overspend on capacity you do not need or undersize and shorten media life.
We measure six parameters in 20 minutes before any plumbing work begins. Hardness in grains per gallon sizes the softener resin bed. Chloramines (most South Florida utilities use chloramine, not free chlorine) determine whether catalytic carbon or standard GAC is appropriate. Total dissolved solids set a baseline for membrane decisions if a kitchen RO is part of the build. Sediment turbidity flags whether a pre-filter is needed before the main vessel. Iron readings matter for any well-water address. pH influences scale behavior and copper-pipe corrosion downstream.
The test result drives the equipment combination, the vessel size, and the bypass loop diameter. We document each reading on a printed worksheet and leave a copy with the homeowner. If you already have a water testing report from a recent lab visit, bring it; we will not duplicate paid lab work.
Equipment Selection: The Kenai Lineup at a Glance
SoFlo installs the Kenai Water Systems line by Charger Water, a US manufacturer with decades of residential water-treatment history. Four core platforms cover the South Florida water profiles we see most often: EcoProMax for combined hardness and chlorine reduction, FreshStream+ for tankless kitchen reverse osmosis, UVPro for bacterial disinfection, and AirOxPro for iron and hydrogen sulfide on well water. Each carries a Lifetime Manufacturer Warranty on the tank, valve, and electronics.
- Kenai EcoProMax. An upflow regenerating system that handles hardness, chlorine, chloramines, and KDF reduction in a single tank. Standard build for most city-water homes in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach.
- Kenai FreshStream+. A tankless under-sink RO with a vertical footprint and an LED smart faucet that alerts you to cartridge changes. Pairs with EcoProMax to deliver bottled-quality water at the kitchen tap.
- Kenai UVPro. An LED-based UV purifier (no mercury) that neutralizes bacteria, E. coli, and Giardia. Required on well-water installs and recommended any time microbiological safety is a concern.
- Kenai AirOxPro. A chemical-free oxidation system that uses a patented air-bubble process to drop iron and hydrogen sulfide out of solution. Standard component on well-water installs west of US-27 and in pockets of inland Palm Beach County.
Most city-water installs use the EcoProMax plus FreshStream+ pairing. Well-water installs typically add the AirOxPro and UVPro upstream of the main vessel. The full lineup with NSF certification details lives on our Kenai equipment product page.
Permit Requirements by Municipality
Whole-house filter installs in South Florida modify the service line between the meter and the house. That puts them under the jurisdiction of the local building department, and three counties means three different rule sets. We pull every permit your address requires before we shut off water. You should never have to chase a permit yourself.
Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department generally requires a plumbing permit for any modification to the potable service line, including new bypass loops, drain tie-ins, and pressure-regulating valves. Broward County and Palm Beach County both delegate plumbing permits to the municipal level, so the rule varies by city: Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and West Palm Beach each have their own thresholds, fee schedules, and inspection requirements. For municipal references, see Miami-Dade Water and Sewer permits.
Condominium addresses add an HOA approval step on top of the municipal permit. Most South Florida HOA boards approve whole-house filter installs within two weeks once the equipment cut sheet and installer license are submitted. We supply both as part of the quote, so you can hand them to your association without further back-and-forth. If your community requires an architectural review, we will hold the install date until the approval letter is in hand.
The Install Timeline: What a Day Looks Like
A typical Kenai whole-house install starts at 8 AM and finishes by early afternoon. The schedule below is what we run for a standard city-water EcoProMax plus FreshStream+ build at a Miami-Dade or Broward single-family home. Well-water builds with AirOxPro and UVPro add 60 to 90 minutes for the additional vessels and the UV electrical tie-in.
- 8:00 AM, arrival and water test. Confirm the service line location, run the six-parameter on-site test, and stage the equipment. We photograph the pre-install condition for the warranty file.
- 8:45 AM, water shutoff and pressure release. Close the curb stop, open a downstream fixture to relieve line pressure, and verify zero flow at the install location. Most South Florida homes have an accessible curb-side shutoff; older properties sometimes require a meter-side shutoff and a brief call to the utility.
- 9:00 AM, bypass loop and drain tie-in. Cut and fit the bypass valve assembly so the filter can be serviced without shutting off the house. Run the regen drain line to the nearest code-compliant location (sanitary sewer cleanout or condensate stack with an air gap). This is the longest single step, usually 90 to 120 minutes.
- 11:00 AM, equipment setting and tank programming. Position the EcoProMax vessel and brine tank on the pad, connect the head, load the resin and gravel underbed, and program the controller off the on-site hardness reading. The Kenai head remembers the program through power cycles.
- 12:30 PM, leak test and walkthrough. Slowly repressurize the line, watch every fitting under load, and verify zero leaks for at least 15 minutes. Walk the homeowner through the bypass, the brine fill schedule, and the regen cycle. Hand over the worksheet and warranty documentation.
Total time on site, 4 to 5 hours for a standard install. We do not leave until you have tested-soft water at a fixture and a clear understanding of how to bypass the system if a service call is ever needed. Full scope is documented on our whole-home filtration service page.
Recommended Method: Match Your Water Profile to a Kenai Build
Run your South Florida water profile against the table below to see the typical Kenai combination, install duration, and cost band. Bring your latest water test results or your utility CCR to your consultation and we will confirm the recommendation in 30 minutes.
| South Florida water profile | Recommended Kenai combo | Typical install + cost band |
|---|---|---|
| City water, moderate hardness, chloraminated supply (typical Miami-Dade, Broward, southern Palm Beach) | EcoProMax + FreshStream+ | 4-5 hours, mid four figures installed |
| Coastal address with TDS climb, intrusion concern east of US-1 | EcoProMax + FreshStream+ (RO sized for chloride load) | 4-5 hours, mid to high four figures |
| Private well, iron staining, rotten-egg odor at hot tap | AirOxPro + EcoProMax + UVPro + FreshStream+ | 6-8 hours, high four to low five figures |
| Condo or townhome with shared service line, HOA approval required | EcoProMax compact + FreshStream+ | 3-4 hours after HOA approval, mid four figures |
| Well water, microbiological concern after recent flooding or septic proximity | AirOxPro + UVPro + EcoProMax | 5-7 hours, high four figures |
Compare the Kenai lineup before you decide
Every Kenai unit ships with a Lifetime Manufacturer Warranty on the tank, valve, and electronics. Equipment spec sheets, NSF certifications, and the full residential lineup live on the product page so you can match capacity to your household before your consultation.
Post-Install: 30-Day Check and Annual Service
A Kenai install is not finished the day the truck leaves. The first 30 days are when small adjustments matter most. We schedule a no-charge 30-day check by default: a technician returns, verifies soft water and post-filter quality at a tested fixture, reviews the regen cycle log on the controller, and confirms the brine tank is drawing salt at the expected rate.
Annual service starts at the one-year mark. The visit covers brine tank cleanout (a year of salt leaves sediment at the bottom), cartridge replacement on the FreshStream+ if installed, valve regeneration program review, and a top-to-bottom inspection of the bypass loop and drain tie-in. We coordinate with your whole-home filtration service plan and remind you 30 days ahead by email and SMS so the visit does not get lost. Homeowners on our annual plan never have to track filter changes themselves.
For well-water installs, annual service also includes a UV lamp check on the UVPro and an air-injection chamber inspection on the AirOxPro. Both are five-minute checks built into the same visit. The combined annual plan costs less than a single emergency service call and keeps the Lifetime Manufacturer Warranty in good standing.
Call a Professional If Any of These Apply
Most whole-house filter installs are a clean, single-day job. A handful of conditions deserve a licensed professional from the first phone call rather than a DIY attempt.
- You are on a private well, especially west of US-27 or in unincorporated Palm Beach County. Well-water installs require microbiological testing, UV sizing, and oxidation chemistry that a homeowner kit cannot duplicate. The companion salty water diagnostic covers the testing side in more depth.
- You have a multi-zone home (irrigation loop, pool fill line, guest cottage, or detached workshop on the same meter). Each zone changes the bypass design and the drain tie-in routing.
- The service line shows pre-existing leaks, corrosion, or galvanized pipe segments. Working a filter into a fragile line can turn a 4-hour install into a 2-day repair without warning.
- Your HOA or condo association has not approved the equipment. Installing first and asking forgiveness later has cost homeowners fines and forced removals in South Florida. Get the approval letter first.
- The install requires structural retrofit (cutting through concrete block, rerouting through a finished wall, or relocating the water heater for clearance). These are licensed-contractor jobs.
- You live at a coastal address with active PFAS or chloride concerns and want the system sized for those contaminants specifically. The membrane and media selection differs from a standard build.
- You are in a barrier-island or hurricane-zone address and need the install hardened against storm surge or flood risk. Vessel anchoring and electrical placement change for these locations.
Our team handles all of the above as routine work. Read more on the SoFlo Water Pros team page or browse the frequently asked questions. Local-grid coverage is live for Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Coral Gables, and Pembroke Pines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a whole-house water filter install take in South Florida?
A standard city-water Kenai EcoProMax plus FreshStream+ install runs 3 to 5 hours from water shutoff to leak test. Well-water builds with AirOxPro and UVPro add 60 to 90 minutes. We schedule an 8 AM arrival and finish most jobs by early afternoon. The homeowner can stay home the entire time or step out after the bypass loop is fit.
Do I need a permit for a whole-house filter install?
In most South Florida municipalities, yes. Miami-Dade requires a plumbing permit for service-line modifications, and Broward and Palm Beach delegate to city building departments with varying thresholds. SoFlo pulls every permit your address requires before the install. You do not need to file anything yourself, and you get a copy of the closed permit for your records.
Which Kenai system is right for my South Florida home?
For most city-water homes the EcoProMax plus FreshStream+ pairing covers hardness, chloramines, and kitchen-tap RO. Well-water homes add the AirOxPro for iron and the UVPro for microbiological safety. The right answer depends on your six-parameter on-site test, which is part of the free install consultation.
What does an annual Kenai service visit include?
Brine tank cleanout, cartridge replacement on the FreshStream+ if installed, valve regeneration program review, bypass and drain inspection, and a fresh water test to confirm performance. Well-water systems also get a UV lamp check and an AirOxPro air-injection chamber inspection. The full visit is one to two hours and keeps your Lifetime Manufacturer Warranty in standing.
Can I install a whole-house filter in a condo or townhome?
Yes, with HOA approval. Most South Florida associations approve whole-house filter installs within two weeks once they receive the equipment cut sheet and the installer license. SoFlo provides both documents with the quote so the approval process moves quickly. Some communities require an architectural review committee sign-off, which we will wait on before scheduling.
What if my home is on well water rather than city supply?
Well-water installs are standard work for our team and use a different equipment lineup. The AirOxPro handles iron and hydrogen sulfide oxidation, the UVPro handles microbiological disinfection, and the EcoProMax follows for hardness and polish. Plan on a 6 to 8 hour install day and a slightly higher cost band, with the same Lifetime Manufacturer Warranty on every Kenai vessel.
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A certified SoFlo technician runs the on-site water test, recommends the right Kenai combination, and gives you a fixed-scope quote at the same visit. Call or book online and we will hold a date that fits your week.
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