Best Iron Filters For Well Water

Best Iron Filters For Well Water: Reviews and Guide (2020)

Once your well has been contaminated by iron, it could become impossible to treat the well itself. However, you can still get rid of it. If you are in a similar position, or you just have supplied water with iron, you will love this article.

I will cover everything about iron, from the very beginning to the very end. I will also include my recommendation on the best iron filters for well water. The advice applies to anyone who has issues with iron in water and not just the well owners.

In case, you know everything about the iron, and just want to see the best options, here is a quick list:

  • AFWFilters AIS10-25SXT
  • Durawater Iron Eater
  • iSpring WGB32B
  • Home Master
  • APEC ROES 75

Now, let’s kick it off with talking about what types of iron are commonly present in water.

Yes, iron could be present in various forms; in fact, there are four common types.

Types of Iron In Well Wateriron in water

I know what you think right now.

Iron, how difficult it could be?

Well, let me tell you that as simple as it sounds, iron can cause a lot of headaches. Especially when you want to detect it.

The problem is that different types of iron require a slightly different approach of treatment, but more on this later.

Let’s talk about the four primary iron forms that are often found in water.

  1. Ferrous iron
  2. Ferric iron
  3. Organic iron
  4. Colloidal iron

Let me briefly introduce them to you, so you can examine your own water source and determine the type and required treatment.

Difference between Ferrous and Ferric Iron

Ferrous and ferric iron are the top common forms of iron for the majority of households. Both of these types are classed as inorganic irons.

The main difference between them is that ferrous iron is actually dissolved in water and doesn’t discolor water unless it’s been in contact with oxygen, in other words, oxidized.

Because of this, you can often hear the term clear-water iron, amongst professionals.

Once water with ferrous iron has been in contact with air, the iron starts to react with water and form sediment that could actually be filtered.

Hold this thought as it is directly related to the later section about iron removal.

The ferric iron, on the other hand, is already oxidized ferrous iron in the water. It is also known as red water iron, because of the reddish shade it makes.

The bottom line:

When iron is dissolved in water and didn’t come in contact with air, it is ferrous iron, and your options to remove it from water are pretty limited.

However, when water gets in contact with oxygen, ferrous iron turns into ferric iron, also called iron oxide. The iron oxide is visible in the water as red-brown colored flakes.

Unlike ferrous, iron oxide flakes (ferric) are much easier to filter, and there are many more options to do so.

Organic and Colloidal Iron

Organic iron is the type of iron that mixes up with other organic matter in the water. It is called pink water iron.

The truth is, it doesn’t always discolor water unless there is a high enough concentration.

When organic iron starts to oxidize, it creates yet another form of iron called colloidal iron.

This type of iron could be often confused with ferric iron as it has a similar red-brown color. The difference between these two is that unlike ferric iron, colloidal is not as simple to be filtered.

The cause of that is colloidal iron particles do not stick together to form solid sediment and settle on the bottom. Particles are much smaller and float around.

Now, the other issue that is directly related to iron is called iron bacteria. Let’s explain what it is and why is it a problem.

Iron Bacteria

Iron bacteria is a tiny organism that lives naturally in soil, groundwater and other moist places. I want to tell you right now that this bacteria is not known to cause any harm to your health, so this is good news.

Essentially, it is a bacteria that consume iron and manganese nearby and mix it up with oxygen to create iron deposits or in other words, rust deposits. These deposits form sticky material that attaches to well pumps and plumbing. Eventually, it clogs them.

There is also bad news.

Although iron bacteria is not harmful to health, because of the deposits it creates, it makes a perfect breeding environment for other bacteria. This includes health hazard bacteria.

This is the reason why simply treating the iron itself is not enough.

Fortunately, there are plenty of hints you could use to recognize whether you have iron bacteria.

Often the bacteria leave this oily or slimy feel on the plumbing and the well pump; also, it discolors them into orange-brown shades. Of course, this is just a hint and the real lab test will tell you much more.

These are the most common iron forms that are found in water, but how do they get there?

Keep reading to find out.

How Does Iron Get Into Well Water?

Iron is a natural metal that exists in the ground, and water. Often there are iron deposits in the soil.

It is very easy to dig a well and during digging reach the deposit, which could then leak into the water.

However, if your well water was clean before, and suddenly you are experiencing iron in water, don’t panic.

There are various options for why this is happening.

First of all, see whether there was heavy rain or even floods in your neighborhood. Often well gets contaminated when heavy rain has flushed the soil, and metals like iron ended up in your water.

In this case, it often goes away in a couple of days or weeks once the water has settled.

Other issues are more problematic as they might affect your well water quality long term.

For example, there could have been some engineering work done nearby, and they have dug into the iron deposit, which then started to leak into your well.

It is also not uncommon that iron leaks into the water from industrial waste.

I mean, you can do something about this, fight with these companies. But let’s be honest, it is like fighting a goliath.

It will be tough to prove that the company has leaked iron into your well. You will need so much evidence, which of course costs money, and the company will deny anyway.

I am not saying you shouldn’t fight for your rights, but it could be a very tough and often unfair fight.

Conduct a Water Test

If you read some of my other articles, you will see that other heavy metals like lead are impossible to detect in water without the help of testing kits.

The good news is that you can often tell the presence of iron by using your senses.

Of course, if you want to be 100% sure, you still need to use the kit. But it is not necessary as iron is prominent enough.

So let’s see how you can check the water on the presence of iron.

Visual check

You might not be able to see the iron straight in the container or glass, because ferrous iron is dissolved in water.

To conduct a visual check, fill the clear glass or container with water, and let it rest for a while.

When dissolved ferrous iron gets in contact with air, it will start to oxidize in water and turn into ferric iron, which will settle.

This process will create tiny flakes in water and also will discolor it after a while.

Sometimes the concentration is not big enough to see the prominent discoloration. In this case, you can use a bright light and paper to help yourself.

Put a white paper behind the glass with water and use the light to create a very bright scenery. Now check the difference in shade through the lens.

If the paper behind the glass has a brownish shade, this could be a good indicator of ferrous iron presence.

Another great tip people have shared with me is the use of the flashlight.

Just shine the beam through the glass and see whether there are any flakes in water.

If you let water to rest and flash the beam through it again, and you see the beam itself in the glass, it might indicate the presence of colloidal iron.

This is because colloidal iron does not settle in water. The fact that after the water has settled and you can still see the beam suggests colloidal iron presence.

Taste and Smell

Often, when the iron concentration is high, you can taste and smell the iron in well water. It will have a metallic aftertaste.

If you smell the water and it has this musty smell, it might be an indicator of an iron bacteria. In this case, I would suggest you do further testing.

I know I have covered a lot about conducting a water test, and you might feel overwhelmed. But if you need any help or advice, don’t be afraid to reach out in the comments below.

Ways To Remove Iron From Water

By now, you know what the different types of iron are, and how to recognize them. So I think it is time to talk about ways of removing it from water.

Based on the type of iron, the different options could be used, so let’s break them down.

Chlorination and Carbon Filtration

This option is not very efficient to remove a high concentration of iron, but here is how it works.

Chlorine is injected into the water, and ferrous iron starts to turn into a ferric. The role of chlorine is to speed up the process, mostly the more chlorine you feed into the water, the quicker the reaction is.

Once the iron has turned into a ferric, it is removed with chlorine by the carbon filter.

Reverse Osmosis

There is no need to introduce reverse osmosis systems (RO). These are the most efficient types of filters on the market and take care of most of the contaminants.

This includes all types of iron and iron bacteria.

The only problem with these is that a high concentration of iron can clog the RO membrane.

So although it is highly efficient to remove iron, you might find yourself replacing cartridges often.

Ion Exchange

This method works only with ferrous iron before it has been oxidized.

The exchange resin is often used in water softeners, so it will replace ions of iron and manganese with ions of sodium. But I will talk more about this in a minute.

Air Injection

This method uses oxygen to turn ferrous iron into ferric.

Now, you can do this by simply letting the water in a glass to oxidize, but this is just a one-off solution.

If you don’t want to spend a lot of money, there is a cheap way to remove iron, but remember that it is not near as efficient or scalable like having a proper filter installed.

If you need to treat a large volume of water, you might want to consider air injection filters that will protect your whole house.

Let me just briefly introduce them to you.

How Do Air Injection Iron Filters Work?

The method is fairly straightforward.

As I said before, ferrous iron needs to be 100% oxidized to be removed.

What the filter does is it uses the nozzle to inject water into the tank with granular filtration medium. Often Birm or Filox are used as the medium.

As water passes through the nozzle, it injects air, and then the water goes into the tank.

It is designed in a way that water should have enough time to oxidize while in tank and iron to be removed by the granular filter.

Often people get confused about air injection filters and think that they are water softeners because of their appearance.

But despite the similar look, these are two separate systems.

The only thing they have in common is the controller and the tank.

The controller is the same, but it is adapted to work with air and water rather than water and brine tank.

The tank also looks the same, but on the inside, it’s filled with granular filtration rather than ion exchange resin.

Selecting the Correct Size of Iron Water Filter

Mostly when we are talking about the water filter sizing, we consider the volume of water that needs to be treated.

In the case with air injection filters, check this with the manufacturer too. Still, it is better to pick the unit based on the amount of iron it is capable of removing and the required flow.

Both of these things are up to you to check in your house. Obviously, the bigger the household, the bigger the flow rate should be for the filter.

Most of the manufacturers will give you the maximum number their filter is capable of removing.

The average air injection filters can remove anywhere between 10-15 ppm of iron, up to 10 ppm of sulfur, and up to 2 ppm of manganese.

Although don’t commit to these numbers and check the product page or contact the manufacturer for more info.

Iron Filter vs. Water Softener: Why I Wouldn’t Use a Softener To Filter Iron?

I have briefly mentioned that people confuse softeners and iron filters because of their appearance.

I would like to take this a bit further and explain why I wouldn’t use a softener as the method to remove iron despite its capability.

I have two main arguments to back up my preference, and here they are.

First of all, the softener is not designed to remove iron intentionally. The fact that softener does that is because it is a nature of ion exchange resin. Look at this as a nice additional bonus rather than something that softener should be doing.

The second argument is that using softener to treat more than 2 ppm of iron in water will significantly reduce the lifespan of the resin.

The thing is, ferrous iron in water can potentially get in contact with air, and some of it will turn into a ferric. Ferric iron will then clog the resin. Despite backwashing and recharging, ferric iron will eventually create iron build up inside.

At this stage, we are not only talking about the reduced performance of the softener due to the resin capacity decrease but also about the damage to the softener itself due to the build-up inside.

TIP: If you decide to install both units, iron filters should be installed before water softener, and regeneration cycles should not collide.

Best Iron Filters For Well Water

I think enough has been said about iron itself.

It is a time to have a look at the best selection of filters to treat iron in your well water.

First of all, I will talk about air injection filters, followed by the whole house and reverse osmosis filters.

But if you are tired of reading, that’s okay, and here is a brief summary with my picks.

Last update on 2024-11-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Air Injection Iron Filters

Just to give you a brief reminder.

Air injection filters are removing ferrous and ferric iron out of the water as well as some sulfur and manganese.

If your water smells like rotten eggs, I have some good news. Iron filters do remove hydrogen sulfide that is responsible for the odor. So the smell should go away.

I just want to make it clear that these filters don’t remove iron bacteria or any other type of bacteria.

Also, because ferric iron is known to make deposits, these filters require regular maintenance to ensure that they will last for years to come.

Check with manufacturers on what and how often they require maintenance and potentially see if they offer maintenance service for you.

AFWFilters AIS10-25SXT

AFWFilters AIS10-25SXT AFW Air Injection Iron, Sulfur, and Manganese Removal Oxidizing Water Filter,...
  • Air Injection System for Iron and Sulfur Removal: The AFWFilters AIS10-25SXT is a silver 10 air injection system designed to remove iron and sulfur from your water...
  • Complete Whole House System: This system is designed for an average-sized home and provides whole house filtration, removing iron, sulfur, manganese, and other impurities...
  • Chemical-Free Water Treatment: The AFWFilters AIS10-25SXT uses the principle of oxidation to remove impurities from your water. The system forces the impurities into...
  • Efficient and Low Maintenance: The system features a patented piston that keeps the oxidation process inside one tank, reducing maintenance costs and downtime. The system...
  • High-Quality Components: The AFWFilters AIS10-25SXT is designed with high-quality components that ensure long-lasting performance. The system includes a tank riser tube,...

Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This air injection unit comes from the manufacturer AFWFilters. It is a lesser-known brand but has received some great feedback. So let’s explore it together.

This particular unit is Silver Series 10, which is the smallest one from the whole range.

The difference between series is the water flow and the amount of media inside the tank. But if I am honest, this size should be more than enough for most households.

The filter is capable of removing up to 10 ppm of iron, so it falls into the average range. To be honest, most households won’t have more than 10 ppm iron anyway.

It could process water flow up to 7 GPM, and when you need more, it can handle 10 GPM for about 10 minutes.

Remember when I said air injection filters are sharing the same controller as softeners?

Well, this unit shares the same controller as the softener Fleck 2510SXT.

So, if you have ever set up things like hardness and regeneration cycles on the softener, AFWFilters will be a piece of cake for you.

I am not questioning your abilities or anything, but do me a favor, quickly check the manual before you start setting it up.

Now, in terms of the granular filter, it supposes to last about 5 years. It is similar to a medium used in the Aquasana Rhino series.

But as I said before, give it the maintenance it requires to extend its lifespan.

Pros
  • Good performance
  • Easy to install
  • Great customer service
Cons
  • Regeneration can be loud
  • Instructions in the manual can be clearer

Conclusion

If you are looking for a reliable way to get rid of iron from your water, AFWFilters is definitely a great option to keep in mind.

It is straightforward to install and will get rid of iron and sulfur smell from your water.


Durawater Iron Eater

Durawater Air Injection Iron Eater Filter. Removes Iron, Manganese, H2S. Black Series
  • DuraWater, Black Series HD Digital air injection system
  • Black Series system, for best removal iron 12 ppm,
  • Remove iron up to 12 ppm, Sulfur up to 10 ppm, Manganese up to 2 ppm
  • Easy to install yourself with our instructions and some basic plumbing skills
  • Air injection creates pocket of air to super oxidize your water for optimal filtration

Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Durawater has the same capacity size to the AFWFilters with the capacity of the granular filter of 1 c ft.

The main difference is that Durawater reports removing higher amounts of iron up to 12 ppm, compared to the 10 from the previously mentioned.

I am not entirely sure what is the reason behind it. I suspect that they use a different filtration medium.

I have done quick research, and the manufacturer reports to use Filter-AG media inside the tank, but there is no reported performance for it. So it is hard to confirm.

Durawater shares the same controller as Fleck 5600SXT softener, so no surprises there in setting up.

What I want to point out, though, is that if you are using aeration filter with softener, make sure you set up recharging cycles that they don’t overlap.

This is because regeneration of the iron filters can reduce the water pressure in plumbing. So the regeneration of the softener might not be sufficient enough to flush the resin.

Durawater uses about 10 gallons of water for regeneration.

Here is a video to see the product and how to install it as some users had problems that the product didn’t arrive with the manual.

TIP: Make sure to backwash the unit first before you use it.
Pros
  • Iron treatment performance
  • Slightly cheaper than AFWFilters
  • Easy installation
Cons
  • No manual included

Conclusion

Many customers seem to be happy with the Durawater unit, and you could be one of them with iron-free water. The only downside so far is the lack of manual in the package, but I got you covered with a video.

For better performance and longer lifespan, I would suggest you consider sediment filter for well water. These will pre-treat water before it gets into the iron filter, so you will benefit from the longer lifespan of your unit and lesser maintenance.

So you can spend more time with your family, rather than clearing the clogged filter.


Whole House Iron Filters

The difference between these filters and air injection filters is that whole house filters are using carbon block or coconut shells to remove iron, both ferrous and ferric.

They will be great at removing rust that gets into water from old plumbing or external sources. The problem occurs when the concentration of iron is high.

Iron can quickly clog the carbon block, so you will have to replace it often.

But I want to include these as an option for people who don’t have that much iron in water, but at the same time, they have issues with other sediments and heavy metals.

iSpring WGB32B

Sale
iSpring Whole House Water Filter System, Reduces Iron, Manganese, Chlorine, Sediment, Taste, and...
  • Whole house water filter that protect your family and household appliance from iron, manganese and more: Our 3rd stage iron water filter (FM25B) is specially designed for...
  • DIY installation and maintenance - refer to our manual and our helpful YouTube videos for easy DIY installation. With 1 in. NPT inlet / outlet and 20 in. x 4.5 in. water...
  • Top-notch quality - the first stage high capacity polypropylene sediment filter achieves filtration down to 5 microns. The second stage carbon block filter is made of...
  • Peace of mind customer service - register online to activate your 1-year manufacturer warranty and life-time free tech support from U.S. local support team. We stand...
  • Please note - this whole house water filter is installed at the main water supply line in order to treat all the water in your home; unlike an RO system, this whole house...

Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

iSpring is one of the traditional manufacturers of water filtration systems. This US company has been around for a long time and proven to sell quality filters.

This particular whole house filter is the biggest unit that iSpring sells. You could also find smaller units, but let me explain why I have chosen this particular one.

The main reason is water pressure.

The iSpring is capable of delivering up to 15 gallons per minute, and you won’t find many households that would require more than that at any time.

Additionally, if you are thinking about getting a softener or already use softener, iSpring won’t reduce the flow coming into the softener.

Starting with simple sediment filtration, followed by the coconut shell filter. The last stage is designed to eliminate iron and manganese specifically.

Let’s talk about performance.

The last stage removes up to 3 ppm of iron and up to 1 ppm manganese. The stage lasts roughly 50,000 gallons if the iron rate is 3 ppm.

Obviously, the more iron there is in water, the shorter the lifespan will be.

But 50,000 gallons means roughly 3-6 months of usage, based on the size of your household.

Other than that, you will enjoy water free from other contaminants such as sediment, herbicides, and pesticides, VOCs, etc. You won’t have such wide removal range by air injection filters, which are specifically designed to remove mainly iron and manganese.

The iSpring comes with 30-days money-back policy and 1-year limited warranty.

Pros
  • Removes range of contaminants
  • High water flow
  • Great customer service
  • Easy installation
  • Significantly improves water taste
Cons
  • Water spillage when replacing the filter – no pressure release button
  • Plastic threads could get damaged – I would prefer metal

Conclusion

iSpring definitely won’t let you down. If iron is not the major issue for your house, this unit is well rounded to remove other contaminants alongside it.


Home Master

Sale
Home Master Whole House Three Stage Water Filtration System with Fine Sediment, Iron and Carbon,...
  • Optimal Performance for Well Water: Specifically engineered to tackle well water contaminants, this system excels in removing up to 95% of iron, manganese, sediment,...
  • High Flow Rate and Pressure: Features massive filter housings with 1-inch ports that maximize water flow across your entire home. Experience strong, consistent water...
  • Advanced Filtration Technology: Includes a 4-layer 25-10-5-1 micron replaceable sediment filter that not only provides finer filtration but also boasts a greater dirt...
  • Comprehensive Contaminant Removal: Achieve superior purification that removes up to 95% of various contaminants, including iron, manganese, and sediment, plus chemicals...
  • Reduced Maintenance Frequency: The oversize filters improve flow rate and significantly decrease the need for maintenance, making this system both effective and...

Last update on 2024-11-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

I would class Home Master as the premium level of water filters, and consider their reverse osmosis filters to be one of the best in the industry. Naturally, I was curious about how well their whole house filter will do and what it has to offer.

Similarly to iSpring, it comes with three stages.

Realistically, the difference between these two units is minimal.

Apart from color, both units remove up to 3 ppm of iron.

The only reported difference is the filter’s lifespan. Home Master claims that their unit lasts 100,000 gallons before it needs to be replaced.

Of course, the more iron you have in the water, the shorter the lifespan would be.

So with the iron capacity of 5 ppm, the unit will last approximately 16,000 gallons. But as I mentioned before, you shouldn’t exceed the level of 3 ppm for this unit to be efficient.

Also, unlike iSpring, Home Master comes with a 2-years warranty.

These are the factors that determine whether you should go for one or the other, as even from the pricing perspective, they are in the same range.

Pros
  • Easy to install
  • Great customer service
  • High quality materials
  • Long warranty
  • Improves water taste
Cons
  • No vent button
  • Leaks if not properly installed

Conclusion

All in all, I was expecting more from their whole house filter, because their RO unit is fantastic.

I know they give you a 2-years warranty and use high-grade materials, but something tells me that for a premium brand, it is not enough. However, overall, this unit does its job.


Reverse Osmosis

I have decided to pick one reverse osmosis system as well since they are very efficient in iron removal.

The only problem with these is that they won’t protect your whole house against iron.

This being said, they could serve on tap in the house. But this can be a great option if you live in a small apartment and don’t have many choices.

APEC

Sale
APEC Water Systems ROES-PH75 Essence Series Top Tier Alkaline Mineral pH+ 75 GPD 6-Stage Certified...
  • Supreme quality – Designed, engineered and assembled in USA to guarantee water safety & your health.
  • This 75 GPD 6-stage system ROES-PH75 is guaranteed to remove up to 99% of impurities such as Chlorine, Taste, Odor, VOCs, as well as harmful Fluoride, Arsenic, Lead,...
  • Premium made filter cartridge uses premium-grade calcium from trusted source for safe, proven water ph enhancement. Enjoy ultra-pure drinking water with added calcium...
  • WQA certified system. Premium long lasting filters used to treat tap/well water. Provides unlimited clean drinking water.
  • America's no.1 rated water filter brand with 20 years of success guaranteeing trouble free, noise-free system for long lasting, dependable, pure drinking water.

Last update on 2024-11-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

APEC will outlast your girlfriend or boyfriend!

Got your attention there? Good, let me explain.

When I was scrolling through reviews, I found a particularly funny one.

The guy said that he has learned about RO from his girlfriend, who has left him later.

But he is happy about it because she is gone, but his filter is not.

I have found it really funny, and I think it is a great introduction. It could almost serve as the slogan itself.

But let’s talk about the filter now.

APEC is one of the top manufacturers alongside iSpring, Home Master and Aquasana and primarily specializes in RO treatment.

This particular unit is a good compromise between a high-end and lower-end segment of RO.

Usually, RO units are quite slow at filtering water. Don’t expect them to provide you with hundreds of gallons per day. Unless they are equipped with a pump to push water through the membrane.

This unit only uses the pressure from your water supply and can provide you with 75 gallons per day.

This should be more than enough for a small apartment with one or two people.

It also comes with the sixth stage that puts minerals back into the water. Now, this is not an uncommon thing with RO units, but the thing is most manufacturers will ask a lot of money for this feature. You have it there by default – Yay to amazing tasting water!

What I like about this APEC is despite additional stage, it still has a reasonable price.

In terms of water efficiency, APEC is not the most efficient unit on the market. You will probably end up somewhere at the wastewater ratio of 1:3 or 1:4.

It is worth mentioning that the filter is made in the USA and comes with a 1-year warranty.

Pros
  • Remineralization stage
  • 75 GPD
  • Crispy tasting water
  • Outlasts your partner
  • Easy to install
  • Performance
Cons
  • Will start to leak overtime, make sure to take care of o-rings often
  • Pressure problems

Conclusion

You will enjoy crispy tasting water with extra added minerals for the price of the standard RO unit from other manufacturers without remineralization stage.

The bottom line is that APEC is probably the best value RO unit you will find for the money.

 

TIP: Check out my other article with all necessary accessories to make the most of your reverse osmosis filter.

FAQ

How Long Do Iron Filters Last?

The more iron you have in the water, the lesser the lifespan of the filter. With this in mind, standard whole house filters can go down to 10-20,000 gallons for about 5 ppm of iron.

Air injection filters last much longer, and you should expect to have a lifespan of granular filter to be roughly 5-7 years. Again, if you use the filter to remove more iron than the maximum capacity, the lifespan goes down significantly.

What Other Contaminants Air Injection Filters Remove?

This is quite individual for each filter, here is why.

The air pocket itself doesn’t remove any contaminants, but only oxidize the iron. What actually removes the iron is the granular media inside the tank. Because each manufacturer uses a different brand of granular media, they will have slight adjustments in terms of contaminants removal.

Although the primary contaminants these filters remove are iron, manganese, and sulfur. They will also remove some of the sediment, and to some extent VOCs, but as I said, it is not their primary function.

It is worth mentioning that some of these media like Birm are chlorine intolerant, so if your water is chlorinated, you might check out Filox media instead.

Can Iron Filters Soften Water?

No, although they look very similar, iron filters are completely different. They do not remove magnesium and calcium minerals that cause water to be hard.

Therefore, for water softening, you need to look at softening systems specifically.

How to Change Air Filtration Filter Medium?

First of all, you need to disconnect the unit. I would recommend you to take the unit outside and do the maintenance on your garden.

Lay the tank on the side on a flat surface like a table. Use the garden hose and blow water inside the tank and slowly lift the bottom up. This way, you will flush the medium from the inside.

Once you reach marble rocks at the bottom, rinse them too, but don’t get rid of them. Now, rinse an empty tank and put rocks back to the bottom. Make sure they are evenly spread.

Now you can start adding the new medium into the tank. The critical thing to remember here is that the tank will become very heavy as you fill it with the medium.

So I would recommend you to move the tank back to your basement, or wherever you have it installed and fill it there.

This way, you won’t need to carry the heavy tank back all the way.

Conclusion

Although iron could be very annoying to get rid of, it is worth doing it in the long term.

You will protect your plumbing from iron sediments that will damage plumbing over time as well as make water safe to consume again.

Plus, you won’t have to clean the toilet and taps from the orange build up again.

I know you might still be on edge between bottled water and the filter. I have created a simple calculator that shows your impact on the environment, and also how much money filter saves in the long term compared to bottled water.

You can read it here.

I want you to share with me your experiences with removing iron from well water.

  • What was the iron concentration in your water?
  • What type of filtration did you use?
  • What is your take on air injection filters?

Share your thoughts below, and I will speak with you soon in the next article.

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