Puronics Defender whole-home softener installed in a garage next to a water heater by Hydrology

Whole-home · city water · softener + chloramine filter

Defender
iGen C

Puronics’ flagship Chlorostatic softener-and-filter combo — hardness and chloramine handled in one tank, certified to the same standards as the Hydronex, backed by the same manufacturer limited lifetime warranty.

NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 44NSF/ANSI 372Limited lifetime warranty2,000,000 gal media
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Garage install · our job
WQA Gold Seal certifiedManufacturer limited lifetime warranty2,000,000-gallon media warrantyPuronics · Franklin ElectricOur own techsWQA Gold Seal certifiedManufacturer limited lifetime warranty2,000,000-gallon media warrantyPuronics · Franklin ElectricOur own techs

What this means for you

If you’ve noticed any of this,
this is the fix.

Spots on glasses, film on the shower doorThat’s hardness. The softener side handles it, at every tap.
That pool smell in the showerThat’s chloramine. The filter side is built for it — standard carbon isn’t.
Dry skin, dull hair, stiff towelsHardness again. One root cause, one tank.
Scale in the water heater, slow fixturesHardness. This stops new scale from forming.

What’s actually in your water

Manatee County / City of Bradenton. a blend of Lake Manatee surface water and Floridan aquifer groundwater, disinfected with chloramine. 6–16 grains hard at the tap (county-reported range). No PFAS detected in the county’s UCMR5 round. This system handles the hardness and the chloramine.

Want your exact address? Type your zip — 30 seconds. Or skip it — the free in-home test measures it for you.

WHAT IT REDUCES — AND WHAT PROVES IT

Every claim,
with its paperwork.

“Certified” means a third party tested it to a numbered standard and audits the factory every year. Here’s which rows are certified, which are the manufacturer’s design claims, and which are neither.

ReducesYou’d noticeBasis
Hardness mineralsSpots, scale, soap scum, dry skin & hair, stiff laundryCERTIFIED · NSF/ANSI 44
Barium · radium 226/228No taste, no smell — a test finds themCERTIFIED · NSF/ANSI 44
Chlorine, taste & odorPool smell in the shower and the glassCERTIFIED · NSF/ANSI 42
Lead-free materialsThe system adds no leadCERTIFIED · NSF/ANSI 372
ChloramineThe lingering taste standard carbon missesDESIGN CLAIM · media warranted 2,000,000 gal
StrontiumNo taste, no smellINDEPENDENT TEST DATA
Iron & turbidity (low)Faint orange tint, cloudinessDESIGN CLAIM · well iron needs its own system
PFAS · lead · nitratesDrinking-water contaminantsNOT THIS SYSTEM → Micromax 8500 / 7000
CERTIFIED — WQA Gold Seal, on wqa.orgDESIGN CLAIM — manufacturer states itNOT THIS SYSTEM — we’ll tell you what does
💳 Flexible financing — 0% and low monthly options
Synchrony & Wisetack · 2-minute pre-approval · checking won’t affect your credit
See my options →
Hydrology technician installing a Puronics whole-home systemOur tech · our install

THE EDGE · WHAT THE 30C IS AND ISN’T

Same media.
Same seal.

The Defender iGen C uses the same ChloroShield Clearess media and iGen valve as the Hydronex — carbon in front of the resin so chloramine never wears the softener down.

The certifications are per model. Look up “Defender” on wqa.org and you’ll see 42, 44 and 372 next to it — that’s the record we sell on.

Which one is mine? Take the free test

What your neighbors say

4.7★ from 212 Google reviews.

★★★★★
“I cannot say enough amazing things about this company and system! We had three companies come out and Hydrology stood out on every level.”
— Denise W. · Google review
★★★★★
“We’ve had our system now a month and absolutely love it. My wife is a hair beautician with over 30 years of experience and definitely can tell the difference with the water.”
— Charles P. · Google review
★★★★★
“Wow, I can definitely feel a difference in my hair, skin, and when I wash my hands. I knew getting a water softener was a priority and I’m so glad I decided to go with Hydrology.”
— Renee C. · Google review

Every review is on our Google profile — read all of them there. We don’t cherry-pick; we just answer the phone.

Do I need this or just a softener?

If you’re on Manatee County or Lakewood Ranch city water, the chloramine is there whether you taste it or not, and it shortens a softener’s life. This is the longevity answer. If you like a little chlorine in your water and want the lowest price, a softener alone is a fair call — we’ll say so at the test.

Reduce or remove — which is it?

We say both, on purpose. On most tests after an install we don’t see any of those residuals at all. But a certification measures reduction to a standard — not a promise of zero on every drop — so we say “reduce or remove” to make sure we never over-promise. If a company tells you “removes 100%,” ask to see the test.

Can I check the certification myself?

Yes. wqa.org, find products, search Puronics, find the model. If a company’s equipment isn’t there, it isn’t certified.

Does the warranty need a service plan to stay valid?

No. Register the card within 30 days and it’s yours for the life of the product. Platinum Care is our optional service plan — not a condition of the warranty.

Why not just regular carbon?

Standard activated carbon handles free chlorine well but barely touches chloramine — and chloramine is what Manatee County and most local utilities use now. Chloramine takes media built for it and enough contact time. That’s the ChloroShield Clearess bed ahead of the resin here, warranted to 2,000,000 gallons.

How is this different from a big-box softener?

A big-box softener is a softener. This is a softener with chloramine-rated media in front of the resin, an iGen valve that regenerates on your actual use instead of a timer, a WQA Gold Seal listing you can look up by model, and a manufacturer limited lifetime warranty — sized to your test and installed by us, not a boxed unit you set up yourself.

Do I need a sediment pre-filter?

Usually not. The system backwashes itself on a schedule — flushing sediment and refreshing the media — so a separate pre-filter is usually redundant: one more cartridge to buy, change, and clog. We add pre-filtration only when your water calls for it. If you’re comparing two quotes and one adds a pre-filter, it’s fair to ask why.

What does it cost?

It depends on your water and your home, which is why we start with the free in-home test — you’ll have a number before we leave, and it’s the same number for everyone. Financing through Synchrony and Wisetack, with 0% and low monthly options.

What’s the warranty?

A Puronics manufacturer limited lifetime warranty on the system — not an in-house plan you pay to keep current. It’s handed to you at install, registered in your name, and because we’re local, service comes from the same team that installed it. Read the warranty page.

SPECIFICATIONS

The numbers.

From the Puronics spec sheet and warranty — nothing from memory.

LifetimeManufacturer limited warranty
2,000,000Gallons · media warranty
3NSF/ANSI standards · look them up
0%Financing available*
TypeWhole-house softener + Chlorostatic filter, single tank
Control valvePuronics iGen computerized valve · 1″ corrosion-resistant
Intelligence60 days of usage history to time regeneration · diagnostics · auto reserve
RegenerationDownflow brining · double backwash
MediaChloroShield Clearess · S-759 monospheric resin · silica gravel clarifier
Media lifeChloramine media warranted to 2,000,000 gallons at 1 ppm · no filter changes
TankPolyethylene liner · fiberglass wrap · stainless steel cover
SaltSodium chloride or potassium chloride
SizingSet to your hardness and household at the free test
CertificationWQA Gold Seal · NSF/ANSI 42, 44, 372 · factory audited annually
ManufacturerPuronics / Franklin Water Treatment LLC (Franklin Electric) · Livermore, CA

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Everything,
in writing.

  • 01Free in-home water test and sizing before you buy
  • 02Installation by our own technicians — no subcontractors
  • 03Manufacturer limited lifetime warranty, registered in your name at install
  • 04The warranty document and your model/serial, handed to you
  • 05Certification you can look up yourself on wqa.org
  • 06Our phone number — the installers answer it

Straight talk: the manufacturer warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship. It doesn’t cover flood or freeze damage, misuse, normal wear, or replacement media. Labor on non-factory repairs is separate — or covered for Platinum Care members. We’ll show you the page it’s written on.

Manufacturer literature

The full Puronics brochure for this system — specifications, dimensions and certifications, unedited.

Download the PDF →Every brochure we have: Product Brochures
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“I cannot say enough amazing things about this company and system! We had three companies come out and Hydrology stood out on every level. This company is very professional, answered every question we had and even gave us time to think without “pressuring” us to buy! Our water is fabulous the taste and feeling it leaves on skin I am wondering how I have went so long without this system! ”

- Denise W.

“Wow I can definitely feel a difference in my hair, skin, and when I wash my hands. I knew getting a water softener was a priority and I’m so glad I decided to go with Hydrology. I’m thoroughly impressed with the company and the product!”

- Renee C.

“We’ve had our system now a month and absolutely love it and we can see and feel the difference immediately. My wife is a hair beautician with over 30 years of experience and definitely can tell the difference with the water which is important for hair and skin. Highly recommend this company and look forward to many years of clean, soft and healthy water!”

- Charles P.
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