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Quick answer from a licensed plumber: For most homes on hard, chlorinated city water, buy the Kenmore Elite 520 Hybrid. It is a softener and carbon filter in one cabinet, and NSF International lists model 625.385200 to NSF/ANSI 44 for hardness and to NSF/ANSI 42 for chlorine taste and odor. The GE GXMD30W does the same job with Wi-Fi alerts. For more carbon, the AFWFilters two-tank Fleck package fits if you have the floor space. None of these fixes lead or PFAS, and all of them have low iron limits for well water.
Our pick for most homes: the Kenmore Elite 520 Hybrid water softener and whole-house filter. Check the Kenmore Elite 520 on Amazon
A whole-house filter and softener combo treats two different problems at the main line. The softener removes hardness, the calcium and magnesium that leave scale and spots. The filter stage, usually activated carbon, reduces chlorine taste and odor. Some combos put both in one cabinet. Others are two or three tanks sold as a package. This guide covers systems that do both jobs in one purchase. If you only need one of them, our water softener picks and whole-house water filter picks cover each on its own. If you are on a well with iron, start with our well water softener guide instead. For the salt-free route, see salt-free water softeners.
Filter and Softener Combos Compared
| Combo | Layout | Softener capacity (maker) | Filter stage | Certification and where we found it | Clear-water iron limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenmore Elite 520 | One cabinet | 31,100 grains at 13.4 lb salt | Carbon, 570,000 gal at 2.0 ppm chlorine | NSF/ANSI 44 and 42 (NSF International listing) | 3 ppm |
| GE GXMD30W | One cabinet | 30,899 grains at 15.3 lb salt | 0.26 cu ft carbon, 570,000 gal; sediment screen | NSF/ANSI 44 and 42 (IAPMO R&T listings W-29819 and W-9755) | 3 ppm on the spec page; 5 ppm in the manual |
| AFWFilters 5600SXT combo | Two tanks plus brine tank | 48,000 grains maximum | 1.5 cu ft backwashing carbon tank | Fleck valve only: NSF/ANSI 44 through WQA, per Pentair’s spec sheet | None: for water free of iron, per AFW |
| PRO+AQUA PRO-E-S80E | 3-housing cartridge filter plus softener and brine tanks | 80,000-grain setting | 3-stage cartridge filter, up to 7 GPM | None found for the system | 2 ppm (manual) |
From the Kenmore, GE, AFWFilters, Pentair and PRO+AQUA documents and NSF International and IAPMO R&T listings below, read on October 4, 2026. The Kenmore and GE listings were sold by Amazon.com. The AFWFilters and PRO+AQUA listings were sold by each maker’s own Amazon storefront.
How to Choose a Filter and Softener Combo
Test the water first
A combo only makes sense if you have both problems: hard water and a chlorine taste or smell. City customers can read the utility’s annual water quality report for hardness and disinfectant. Well owners need a lab test that includes hardness, iron and bacteria. Kenmore, GE and PRO+AQUA all say not to use their systems on water that is microbiologically unsafe or of unknown quality without disinfection before or after the system. If hardness is your only problem, a plain softener does the job. For help reading the numbers, see our water hardness scale.
What NSF/ANSI 44 covers on a softener
NSF/ANSI 44 is the standard for cation exchange water softeners. On NSF’s listing, a hardness reduction mark means the published capacity ratings were verified. An efficiency rating means the softener removes at least 3,350 grains of hardness per pound of salt and uses 5 gallons or less of regeneration water per 1,000 grains. Kenmore and GE both note that the efficiency rating applies only at the lowest salt dose. Some units also carry barium and radium 226/228 claims under the same standard, as the Kenmore Elite 520 does on NSF’s listing and the GE GXMD30W does on IAPMO R&T’s listing.
NSF/ANSI 42 vs 53 for the filter stage
NSF/ANSI 42 covers aesthetic effects, such as chlorine taste and odor. NSF/ANSI 53 covers health effects; NSF’s 53 listings carry claims such as lead and cyst reduction. The filter stages in these combos carry NSF/ANSI 42 at most. The Kenmore Elite 520 is listed by NSF for chlorine taste and odor, and IAPMO R&T lists the GXMD30W for the same claim. NSF lists no NSF/ANSI 53 claim for the Kenmore, and none of the four makers lists one for these systems. So do not buy a combo to fix lead, PFAS or nitrate. For drinking water with those, look at our under-sink reverse osmosis picks. Our NSF certified water filter guide explains what each standard covers and how to look up a listing yourself.
One cabinet or separate tanks
A one-cabinet combo is the smallest install: one control valve, one plug and no cartridges. Kenmore and GE rate their carbon at 570,000 gallons. The limit is capacity. Both top out near 31,000 grains, and only at their highest salt dose. Separate tanks, like the AFWFilters package, hold more carbon and more resin but need room for three tanks, two drains and two outlets. A cartridge-filter bundle like the PRO+AQUA adds housings you open to change filters, and the filter can set the flow limit for the house.
Size it in grains, not bathrooms
Bathroom counts on product pages are marketing shorthand. PRO+AQUA’s own pages call the bundle right for 6 or more bathrooms and its filter right for 1 to 3. Size by grains instead. Test hardness in grains per gallon. PRO+AQUA says to divide a ppm or mg/L reading by 17.1. Kenmore and GE both say to add 5 to the hardness number for each 1 ppm of clear-water iron; Kenmore’s example turns 20 gpg with 2 ppm of iron into a setting of 30. PRO+AQUA’s worksheet holds back 75 gallons per person, and we use that as one day’s water use (our assumption). A family of 4 at 25 gpg then uses 4 x 75 x 25 = 7,500 grains a day (our arithmetic). The table below divides each maker’s rated capacity by that load.
| Maker capacity (salt dose) | Grains | Days between regenerations at 7,500 grains a day (our arithmetic) |
|---|---|---|
| Kenmore Elite 520, minimum dose (2.6 lb) | 11,000 | about 1.5 |
| Kenmore Elite 520, middle dose (7.8 lb) | 24,700 | about 3.3 |
| Kenmore Elite 520, maximum dose (13.4 lb) | 31,100 | about 4.1 |
| GE GXMD30W, middle dose (8.8 lb) | 27,207 | about 3.6 |
| GE GXMD30W, maximum dose (15.3 lb) | 30,899 | about 4.1 |
| AFWFilters softener, maximum | 48,000 | about 6.4 |
| PRO+AQUA PRO-S-80E, capacity setting | 80,000 | about 10.7 |
Capacities are the makers’ figures. Kenmore and GE rate capacity at specific salt doses, so the higher numbers cost more salt per regeneration. Kenmore and GE both say real-world efficiency runs below the lab rating. Plumber’s note: I would rather see a softener regenerate every 3 to 7 days than every day. If your number comes out near 1 or 2 days, move up in capacity. For more on sizing by tank, see resin by tank size.
Kenmore Elite 520 Hybrid Water Softener
Model 625.385200 · softener and carbon filter in one cabinet · NSF/ANSI 44 and 42, per NSF International’s listing · 31,100 grains at 13.4 lb of salt; 11,000 grains at 2.6 lb · 8.0 gpm rated service flow · up to 100 gpg hardness and 3 ppm clear-water iron · 20-125 psi, 40-120°F · single bypass valve and installation adaptors included · 1-year full warranty, 3 years on the control board, 10 years on the tanks; the manual gives it to the original purchaser when the unit is bought from an authorized dealer and installed and maintained per the instructions
The Kenmore Elite 520 is a single-cabinet softener with a carbon filter bed built in, so one control valve and one plug handle both jobs. It is the only pick here on NSF International’s public listings under both standards; the GE carries both through IAPMO R&T instead. The NSF/ANSI 44 listing for model 625.385200 covers hardness reduction, efficiency rating and barium and radium 226/228 reduction at 8 gpm. The NSF/ANSI 42 listing covers chlorine taste and odor reduction at 8 gpm with a 570,000-gallon service cycle. Kenmore’s guide rates the carbon at 570,000 gallons with 2.0 ppm chlorine and 1,140,000 gallons at 1.0 ppm, and it lists typical city water at 0.5 to 1.0 ppm. At 300 gallons a day, 570,000 gallons is about 5 years (our arithmetic). The Amazon listing says the carbon needs no filter replacements, and Kenmore’s parts list carries activated carbon as a part (7301619).
Know its limits before you buy. The top capacity is 31,100 grains, and only at the 13.4 lb salt dose. The efficiency rating is valid only at the 2.6 lb minimum, where capacity is 11,000 grains. Kenmore caps clear-water iron at 3 ppm and says the unit will not remove ferric (red water), bacterial or colloidal iron, or sediment. It needs at least 3 gpm of supply flow at the inlet. The carbon claim is chlorine taste and odor only. NSF lists no NSF/ANSI 53 health-effects claim for this model, so it is not a lead or PFAS filter.
- Listed by NSF International to NSF/ANSI 44 and 42
- One cabinet, one control valve and one plug for both jobs
- Carbon rated 570,000 gallons at 2.0 ppm chlorine, with no cartridge to change
- Single bypass valve and installation adaptors included, per Kenmore
- 31,100 grains maximum, and only at the highest salt dose
- 3 ppm clear-water iron maximum
- Chlorine taste and odor only; no NSF/ANSI 53 health claims
- Labor is covered for the first year only
Verdict: The pick for most city-water homes with hard water and a chlorine taste: one unit, with both claims on a public NSF listing.
GE Smart Water Softener with Integrated Filtration GXMD30W
Model GXMD30W · softener, 0.26 cu ft of carbon and a built-in sediment screen in one cabinet · NSF/ANSI 44 and 42, per IAPMO R&T’s listings · 30,899 grains at 15.3 lb of salt; 11,097 grains at 2.34 lb · 8 gpm service flow · up to 165 gpg hardness · 3 ppm clear-water iron per GE’s spec page (5 ppm in the manual) · 20-125 psi · Wi-Fi water-flow alerts · 1 in. connections with quick connectors for 3/4 in. and 1-1/4 in. pipe, per the Amazon listing · 1-year limited warranty, 3 years on the monitor, 10 years on the resin tank
The GE GXMD30W is the same one-cabinet idea with an app. The model is not on NSF International’s listings. IAPMO R&T’s public directory, current as of October 4, 2026, lists it to NSF/ANSI 44 for hardness and barium and radium 226/228 reduction, efficiency rated (file W-29819), and to NSF/ANSI 42 for chlorine, taste and odor with a 570,000-gallon capacity (file W-9755). GE’s manual states the same certifications and rates the carbon at 570,000 gallons. The Wi-Fi control sends alerts for continuous water flow. GE says it can shut the house water off remotely only with its RMVALVESFT valve, sold separately. GE also warns that the system cannot detect every small leak or stop a leak between the system and the shutoff valve.
Two install details are stricter than the Kenmore. GE says to plug the power supply into a 120V circuit protected by a GFCI, with no extension cord or surge protector. GE’s documents also disagree in places. The spec table gives 40 to 100°F, while the install section says the water must be under 120°F, so plan on 100°F. The manual’s table lists 5 ppm of clear-water iron, while GE’s spec page lists 3 ppm, so plan on 3 ppm. The spec page also gives a 10 x 44 in. resin tank and 5,090 grains per pound of salt, where the manual says 10 x 40 in. and 4,742 grains per pound at the minimum dose. GE says the built-in sediment screen is not meant to replace pre-treatment filtration.
- Handles up to 165 gpg hardness, per GE
- Wi-Fi flow alerts, with an optional shutoff valve
- Carbon rated 570,000 gallons with no filter changes, per GE
- Quick connectors for 3/4 in. and 1-1/4 in. pipe included, per the Amazon listing
- 30,899 grains maximum, and only at the highest salt dose
- Needs a GFCI-protected 120V circuit, per GE
- Spec table caps water temperature at 100°F
- GE’s manual and spec page disagree on several numbers
Verdict: The pick if you want the one-cabinet combo with app alerts and have a GFCI-protected outlet next to the main line.
AFWFilters Fleck 5600SXT 48,000-Grain Softener and Backwashing Carbon Filter
Package from AFWFilters (Abundant Flow Water) · two 10 x 54 in. tanks, about 62 in. tall with the valve · softener: 1.5 cu ft of 10% crosslink resin, 48,000 grains maximum · filter: 1.5 cu ft of activated carbon, backwashing · two Fleck 5600SXT valves, the softener’s metered, per AFW · brine tank about 14 x 14 x 36 in., 200 lb of salt · Fleck limits: 20 psi minimum, 125 psi and 110°F maximum · 5-year warranty on the Fleck valves, per AFW
This is the plumber-style setup: a separate carbon tank and a separate softener, each with its own Fleck 5600SXT valve. AFW says the carbon reduces chlorine, herbicides, pesticides, tastes and odors, and that the backwash rinses trapped particulates to the drain. The softener holds 1.5 cu ft of 10% crosslink resin, which AFW says lasts longer on chlorinated water, with a 48,000-grain maximum. AFW sizes the package for a household of 3 to 4 people with typical water use. For comparison, GE lists 0.26 cu ft of carbon inside its one-cabinet combo, while this package puts 1.5 cu ft in its own tank.
Two points to weigh. First, certification. Pentair says the 5600SXT valve is WQA-certified to NSF/ANSI 44 for softener performance, but that covers the valve. Nothing we read from AFW lists the assembled system or the carbon tank to NSF/ANSI 44 or 42. Second, AFW limits the package to city water, or well water free of iron, hydrogen sulfide and bacteria, and says to contact them if you have those. Each tank backwashes to the drain, so you need two drain connections with air gaps and an uninterrupted outlet for each valve. Pentair says the drain line should be at least 1/2 in. and the air gap at least 1 in.
- 1.5 cu ft of carbon in its own backwashing tank, per AFW
- 48,000-grain softener with 10% crosslink resin
- Fleck 5600SXT valves with a metered softener, 5-year valve warranty per AFW
- Sized by AFW for a household of 3 to 4 people
- Three tanks to fit: carbon, softener and brine
- Two drain lines and two outlets
- No system-level NSF/ANSI 44 or 42 listing in anything we read
- Not for well water with iron, hydrogen sulfide or bacteria, per AFW
Verdict: The pick for city water when you have floor space and want a full-size carbon bed instead of a carbon layer inside a softener cabinet.
PRO+AQUA PRO-E-S80E Elite Filter and 80,000-Grain Softener Bundle
Bundle of the PRO-100-E Elite 3-stage cartridge filter and the PRO-S-80E softener · softener: 80,000-grain capacity setting, 13 x 54 in. tank, 64 in. tall · brine tank 18 x 18 x 36 in. · 25-125 psi, 32-100°F · 2 ppm maximum for chlorine, chloramine and iron, per the manual · warranty: softener valve, electronics and resin 5 years (7 with registration), tanks 10 years; filter 1 year (5 with registration)
PRO+AQUA pairs its PRO-100-E 3-stage cartridge filter with its 80,000-grain PRO-S-80E softener, and the product page aims it at homes with 6 or more bathrooms. The owner’s manual shows how that capacity setting is used. It prints a worksheet that divides the grain capacity by your hardness, then holds back 75 gallons per person. The manual’s own example of 80,000 grains at 25 gpg for 4 people works out to 2,900 gallons between regenerations. PRO+AQUA says the softener comes pre-filled with NSF-certified resin. That is a material claim; we found no NSF/ANSI 44 or 42 listing for the system.
Read the documents side by side before you buy. The bundle page says the system eliminates iron and sulfur, but the softener manual caps chlorine, chloramine and iron at 2 ppm and says resin and valve parts are not covered when the system is used to remove iron or manganese. The PRO-100-E filter page lists up to 7 GPM in its description and 15 GPM in its spec table, and says the filter suits 1 to 3 bathrooms, while the Amazon listing gives the combo up to 20 GPM. Plan on the filter’s 7 GPM as the ceiling. The manual wants a 120-volt outlet within 6 feet of the softener, the brine tank within 15 feet of the resin tank, and a 1-1/2 in. air gap at the drain.
- 80,000-grain capacity setting, the largest here
- The manual prints a clear sizing worksheet
- 5-year softener warranty, 7 with registration
- 10-year warranty on the resin and brine tanks, per the manual
- Filter page lists up to 7 GPM, below the Amazon listing’s 20 GPM
- Iron claim on the product page conflicts with the manual’s 2 ppm limit and warranty exclusion
- No NSF/ANSI 44 or 42 system listing found
- Cartridge filter needs replacement filter sets
Verdict: The pick for a large household with very hard water, as long as your iron is under 2 ppm and 7 GPM through the filter is enough.
I send an occasional note when a new guide goes up — repairs worth doing yourself, and the parts that actually last. No spam, no course funnel; written by a licensed Georgia plumber.
Well Water and Iron: What the Makers Allow
Iron is where most combos fail on a well. Every maker here prints a limit, and every limit is low.
| Combo | Iron and water limits the maker prints | What the maker says about other iron |
|---|---|---|
| Kenmore Elite 520 | 3 ppm clear-water iron; 100 gpg hardness; at least 3 gpm supply flow | Will not remove ferric, bacterial or colloidal iron, or sediment; sediment filter goes upstream |
| GE GXMD30W | 3 ppm clear-water iron (spec page; the manual says 5 ppm); 165 gpg hardness; at least 3 gpm supply flow | Will not remove ferric, bacterial or colloidal iron; sediment screen does not replace pre-treatment |
| AFWFilters 5600SXT combo | City water, or well water free of iron, hydrogen sulfide and bacteria | Contact AFW for iron or hydrogen sulfide |
| PRO+AQUA PRO-E-S80E | 2 ppm chlorine, chloramine and iron | Resin and valve parts not covered when used to remove iron or manganese |
Kenmore and GE describe four kinds of iron. Clear-water (ferrous) iron is dissolved and comes out of the tap clear, then clouds up as it sits; a softener can take moderate amounts of it. Ferric (red water) iron is already rust-colored at the tap. Bacterial and organically bound iron needs filtration, and Kenmore and GE recommend chlorination for bacterial iron. Colloidal iron stays suspended and will not filter or exchange out. Both makers note that Wisconsin requires more treatment above 5 ppm of clear-water iron. If your well test is over the limit for the combo you want, put an iron filter ahead of the softener. See our iron filter picks and sediment filter picks.
Before You Buy
- Test hardness, iron and chlorine. Hardness in grains per gallon sets the size. Iron over the maker’s limit rules a combo out on its own. Chlorine is the reason to want the carbon stage at all.
- Measure the space. Kenmore’s drawing shows a 15 x 20-1/2 in. footprint with heights of 41-3/4 and 48 in. GE lists 51 x 15 x 26 in. The AFW tanks are about 62 in. tall with the valves, plus a 14 x 14 x 36 in. brine tank. The PRO+AQUA softener is 64 in. tall with an 18 x 18 x 36 in. brine tank.
- Find the drain and the outlet. You need a floor drain, laundry tub or standpipe close by, and a 120V outlet. GE wants a GFCI-protected circuit. A two-tank system needs a drain connection and an outlet for each valve.
- Check your pressure and flow. All four systems top out at 125 psi inlet pressure (Pentair’s figure for the AFW valves). Kenmore and GE say to add a pressure reducing valve if daytime pressure runs over 80 psi, and they need at least 3 gpm at the inlet. On a well, check that the pump can supply that flow.
- Plan the outside faucets. Kenmore, GE and PRO+AQUA all say to leave outside faucets on hard water, so the hose bib line has to tee off before the system.
Installing a Filter and Softener Combo
Where it goes
Kenmore and GE show the same order: the city supply, or the well’s pressure tank, then any sediment filter, then the softener, then the water heater. Kenmore says to install it close to where the supply enters the house. Both say to leave outside faucets on untreated water. GE says not to install it where it would block access to the water heater or the main shutoff. Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from freezing. For a two-tank system, AFW does not state an order. Kenmore, GE and PRO+AQUA all put other treatment ahead of the softener. Plumber’s note: I plumb a carbon tank ahead of the softener so the resin sees less chlorine.
Bypass valve
Every maker here wants a bypass so the house keeps water while the system is serviced. Kenmore and PRO+AQUA ship one. GE says to use a single bypass valve or build a 3-valve bypass. Pentair says to add a bypass if the Fleck valve does not have one. Kenmore and GE both warn not to solder with the plastic adaptors or bypass attached, because the heat damages them.
Drain line and air gap
Kenmore and GE want a 1-1/2 in. air gap between the end of the drain hose and the drain, never the hose pushed down into the drain, and runs under 30 feet. Kenmore also says not to raise the hose more than 8 feet above the floor. Pentair calls for an air gap twice the drain line diameter, at least 1 in., and a 1/2 in. minimum drain line, going to 3/4 in. past 20 feet or above 7 gpm of backwash. PRO+AQUA wants a 1-1/2 in. air gap and a 1/2 in. minimum drain line. Kenmore and GE both say flexible drain hose is not allowed everywhere, so check your local code before you run it.
Power and grounding
Kenmore runs on a 24V DC plug-in supply, and GE on a 12V DC one. Both want a grounded 120V outlet in a dry location, and GE adds the GFCI requirement. Pentair says the Fleck needs an uninterrupted supply, not a switched outlet. One more thing trips people up. A metal cold water pipe may be part of the house’s electrical ground, and a plastic bypass breaks that path. Kenmore says to jump the gap with #4 copper wire. GE says to use a 12 in. length of 6-gauge copper wire with bronze grounding clamps, not zinc clamps on copper. Plumber’s note: ask your electrical inspector which size your area wants, and never skip the jumper on metal pipe.
When to call a plumber
Call a plumber if there is no drain within reach, the main line is soldered copper in a tight spot, or your pressure is over 80 psi and needs a regulator. Kenmore and GE say Massachusetts requires a licensed plumber for this install. For typical labor on the job, see what a softener install involves.
FAQ
Is a filter and softener combo better than buying them separately?
Not better, just simpler. A one-cabinet combo like the Kenmore Elite 520 or GE GXMD30W puts a carbon bed inside the softener, so you get one control valve, one plug and no cartridge to change. The trade-off is a smaller carbon bed rated for chlorine taste and odor only. Separate tanks, like the AFWFilters package, take more floor space but hold more carbon. If you are still deciding whether you need both, see our softener vs whole-house filter guide.
Does the carbon in a softener combo need to be replaced?
Not on a set schedule. Kenmore rates its carbon at 570,000 gallons at 2.0 ppm chlorine, and GE rates its carbon at 570,000 gallons for chlorine, taste and odor. At 300 gallons a day, that is about 5 years (our arithmetic). A backwashing carbon tank like AFW’s rinses itself to the drain. A cartridge filter like the PRO+AQUA PRO-100-E uses replacement filter sets.
Can a filter and softener combo handle well water with iron?
Only up to the maker’s limit. Kenmore lists 3 ppm of clear-water iron, GE lists 3 ppm on its spec page and 5 ppm in its manual, and PRO+AQUA lists 2 ppm. AFW says its combo is for well water free of iron, hydrogen sulfide and bacteria. Kenmore and GE say a softener will not remove ferric (red water), bacterial or colloidal iron. Above those limits, put an iron filter ahead of the softener; see our well water softener picks.
What size filter and softener combo do I need?
Start with a hardness test in grains per gallon. If your report gives ppm or mg/L, PRO+AQUA says to divide by 17.1. Kenmore and GE say to add 5 to the hardness number for each 1 ppm of clear-water iron. Then multiply by 75 gallons per person, the figure PRO+AQUA’s worksheet holds back, which we treat as one day’s use (our assumption). A family of 4 at 25 gpg uses about 7,500 grains a day (our arithmetic), so a 31,000-grain unit at full salt lasts about 4 days between regenerations.
Does a filter and softener combo need a drain and an outlet?
Yes. Every pick here regenerates or backwashes to a drain and needs a 120V outlet for its control. Kenmore and GE want a 1-1/2 in. air gap between the drain hose and the drain, and Pentair wants at least 1 in. on the Fleck valve. GE wants the outlet on a GFCI-protected circuit. A two-tank system like AFW’s needs a drain and an outlet for each valve.
Why Trust Plumbing Picks
Plumbing Picks is written by a licensed Georgia journeyman plumber. Every spec here comes from the maker documents and the NSF International and IAPMO R&T listings below or the Amazon listings we link; nothing comes from hands-on testing. On October 4, 2026, all four linked listings were in stock. The Kenmore Elite 520 and GE GXMD30W were sold by Amazon.com, and the AFWFilters and PRO+AQUA systems by each maker’s own storefront on Amazon. If you buy through a link we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nobody pays to be included here. More on who writes this and how we pick.
Sources
- Kenmore: Elite Hybrid Water Softener use and care guide 7393315 Rev. C, model 625.385200 (specifications, install requirements, warranty)
- NSF International listings for model 625.385200: NSF/ANSI 44, NSF/ANSI 42 and NSF/ANSI 53 (no listing for this model)
- GE Appliances: water softener owner’s manual 49-6000319 Rev. 2 (covers the GXMD30W), GXMD30W product and spec page
- IAPMO R&T listings for the GXMD30W, current as of October 4, 2026: File W-29819 (NSF/ANSI 44), File W-9755 (NSF/ANSI 42)
- AFWFilters: Fleck 5600SXT 48,000-grain softener and backwashing carbon filter combo package (product page)
- Pentair: Fleck 5600SXT downflow service manual 42684, Pentair: Fleck 5600SXT spec sheet 42749 Rev. D
- PRO+AQUA: PRO-E-S80E filtration and 80,000-grain softener bundle (product page), PRO-S-80E softener page, PRO-100-E Elite 3-stage filter page, PRO+AQUA water softener owner’s manual (includes the PRO-S-80E and the warranty)
- Amazon listings for the Kenmore Elite 520, GE GXMD30W, AFWFilters 5600SXT combo package and PRO+AQUA PRO-E-S80E (linked above)
Bottom Line
A filter and softener combo is worth it when you have hard water and a chlorine taste, and your iron is under the maker’s limit. The Kenmore Elite 520 is the one we would buy first: both of its claims are on NSF International’s public listing, and the certified claims in its manual match that listing, while GE’s manual and spec page disagree on several numbers. The GE GXMD30W adds app alerts, the AFWFilters package puts full-size carbon in its own tank, and the PRO+AQUA bundle carries the most softener capacity. Size it in grains, check the iron limit against your test, and plan the drain, outlet and bypass before the day you cut the main.