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Iron filter for well water

mach158

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Joined
Dec 22, 2013
Messages
236
Location
Marion, IA
Our water has approx. 4 ppm of iron with the staining and we also have the rotten rgg small at times. Looking for a system to handle these issues. We currently have a water softner so that part is covered.

What does everyone use for iron filtration?

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matt_i

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Mar 14, 2008
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SE Michigan
I had your same issues and solved them over ~5 years of messing with it. I have a potassium permanganate system that oxidizes the iron from the water. Same concept (backflush and recharge) as an ion replacement water softener with different chemistry. This works very well, I just have to supply a small amount of permanganate. This solved the staining problem for good. I bought the unit over the internet, plumbed it myself ahead of the water softener, and tuned it by trial and error, until i figured out a reliable cycle rate and amount of permanganate to add.

Next up was the hot water smell. I solved this by removing the water heater's anode rod and replacing it with a titanium-element "powered anode" that came from a manufacturer in Canada. I found this on Amazon. I had tried bleaching and tried the "low odor" anode but these were just temporary fixes.
 

drewsifer714

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Mar 27, 2013
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70
Location
Grand Rapids, Ohio
Not meaning to highjack but, Matt, can you give me some more details about your system? I actually have the same issue as the OP with iron plus a little sulfur every now and again.

I'm familiar with some common water issues in your area. (we're practicality neighbors as far as the internet goes)
Did you have elemental iron, or iron bacteria?
 

ng8264723

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Aug 28, 2006
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732
Location
Oakham MA
I have the same type of smell from my pump frpm time to tme. I have a whole house filter from home depot. It costs about $60. The filters can be paper or a cartridge. The paper are $15 and do not filter the smell. The cartriges are $30 and the smell is filtered
 

ng8264723

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Oakham MA
Water softeners cannot handle a ton of iron. You also need an air injection unit. They are a bit expensive. I think 7-800 plus install
 
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mach158

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Dec 22, 2013
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236
Location
Marion, IA
I have a rope filter and carbon filter already.

I have looked at a few various filters online, one being the system with the pot perm in it and not sure I want another system I need to add stuff too.

I did find a few that are basically a set it and forget it type system. Also looked at air injection but not sure on that either.

The one system that did intrigue me was the terminox system but the system has a resin material that only that company has so not sure if thats good or bad.

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6768rogues

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Nov 28, 2007
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Western NY
I had a shallow well with iron bacteria. When the house was empty and no water was being used, I put in a bucket of chlorine briquettes from a pool supplier. The next day I pumped the hell out of the well until the water didn't smell like chlorine any more. Fixed it for about a year.
 

Showkey

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Aug 9, 2014
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Wausau WI
Solving Iron issues is going to vary by location and concentration and type of iron. Disloved Iron is different than iron bacteria.

After a certain point an iron filter is used that is similar to a softener but the media is for iron and the regen is done with potassium permanganate.

Testing is the only way to know what the issues are............after that the solutions will vary and then get educated on the pricing and beware of the sales guy. DIY solutions without testing is foolish.
 
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chaosracing

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Nov 14, 2015
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Kutztown, Pa
The simplest option (but can be pricey as well) is a Reverse Osmosis system for under your faucet....but that only handles one faucet and not the whole house. Another option is to get salt for your softener that helps to remove iron from the water.https://www.homedepot.com/p/Morton-...tect-Plus-Rust-Defense-Pellets-1470/100351741 As for the sulfer smell, thats bacteria in the water.

If it were me, before throwing money at it and not really knowing whats going on, I would test the water. You can for around $30 buy a home test kit at Home Depot and it covers quite a few areas including iron and bacteria. How accurate they are, no clue, but any test is better than none. Another option is to contact a company that sells/installs water systems. They will test your water for free and then recommend a system for you. A third option is to look for testing labs in your area and take them a sample yourself. I like that option because you are paying for a service and not having to deal with "false or fake" results just to sell a system.

Where I live I have acidic water, which in turn makes the water hard and it also has iron in it as well. I had a water softener and acid neutralizer installed about 10 years ago. Have not had as many issues, but one day I plan on putting a RO system in our kitchen that does both the faucet and ice maker.

I do have a similar water situation as the OP, at my wifes families cabin near the Pocono's. We knew for years not to drink the water, and I always hated when her aunts would use the water for washing dishes. So this year I got one of those $30 test kits. Results came back PH of 5 (acidic) has iron in it, bacteria (sulfer smell) which also means iron bacteria. My first solution is to raise the well head to above ground. Next is to shock it with bleach. We do not have room for a full on system, but I am also going to install a sediment filter and UV light as well.
 
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MagKarl

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Oct 15, 2012
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684
Location
Olympia, WA
I have a very similar water situation and equipment setup.

My system evolved over time as I learned and added equipment to it.

Current configuration last 5 years or so is chlorine injection using bleach with a Stenner pump, contact tank to oxidize, carbon to remove excess chlorine, softener.

I did a lot of reading/research online before buying anything. This was a good forum at the time, can't say as I haven't been there in years.
https://terrylove.com/forums/index.php?forums/water-softener-forum-questions-and-answers.22/
 

Bretny

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Jul 31, 2017
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Location
Dutchess county NY
Sulpher is bacteria. And you guys fixing it with chlorine or bleach are treating the bacteria. A UV light does this with no smells or material to buy every month.

I have a Trojan UV system just because it came with the house. There all basicly the same. A stainless tube, a light inside and a balist box. You just hook up an inlet, outlet and plug it in. You need to filter the water before the light.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Vitapur...Water-Disinfection-System-VUV-S645B/302366765
 
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crucible

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Apr 15, 2012
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927
Location
Northern Virginia
Copied from a well thread in Free Parking:

I have fairly hard water that is well taken care of with a softener. However, as confirmed by my the test results I sent to a lab, I also have iron, manganese and a bit of hydrogen sulfide smell that sneaks by my filters and softener.

So, I've done a bunch of research in the last few months (obsessing really), and determined that I needed a separate full-size iron filter, based on my water testing results. I have one on order that is a full size and ozone based (filters iron, etc. to the internal media which is then flushed out every few days, and kills bacteria at the same time).

You need a lab test here IMO; the store bought tests do some simple testing, but you won't get exact measurements and it won't test for quite a few other things too that a lab test will.
 

kj_mustang

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Feb 9, 2011
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Location
Harrisonburg, VA
Showkey is giving great advice. You need the water tested to determine what is causing the smell. Mine had the rotten egg smell and a brown layer of junk on the interior of the toilet tank and I thought it would be sulfur and iron too. It was Manganese and small amount of iron. I bought a system online with a Fleck 2510SXT Oxygen Chamber digital control and it uses Katalox media. It has worked excellent and didn't cost a mint.
 

Falcon67

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Jun 11, 2009
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Location
Merkel, TX
Sulpher is bacteria. And you guys fixing it with chlorine or bleach are treating the bacteria.

Maybe - unless there are oil/gas wells in the area. Our well in Wise County was a "sulfer" well - eventually that was traced by subsequent owners to drilling operations. (this was way prior to all the fracking) We did the same - shoot a gallon of bleach down the well, spend a day elsewhere, then come home and run the taps till free of bleach smell. After doing that a while, we installed a Culligan water softener which took care of all the problems. The water there was about 21 grains IIRC.
 

ssdave

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Apr 11, 2015
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Eastern Oregon
MattJ nailed it. That is the best fix that you can come up with. Bleach, ozone, UV light, filters all are just treating symptoms. Removing the iron and fixing the anode problem will treat the source of the problem, not just mask it. After that, water softening and filtration clean up any residual problem that the iron removal didn't do.
 

ard

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Feb 16, 2015
Messages
4,391
Location
Sierra Foothills... California
Solving Iron issues is going to vary by location and concentration and type of iron. Disloved Iron is different than iron bacteria.

After a certain point an iron filter is used that is similar to a softener but the media is for iron and the regen is done with potassium permanganate.

Testing is the only way to know what the issues are............after that the solutions will vary and then get educated on the pricing and beware of the sales guy. DIY solutions without testing is foolish.

This.


People telling you 'do this' simply cannot know what YOUR issue is!

Iron Bacteria can be an unholy mess... do a google search. Look at some images.....
 
OP
M

mach158

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Joined
Dec 22, 2013
Messages
236
Location
Marion, IA
Looks like ill be doing a more in depth test and going from there.

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annabesy

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Joined
Sep 29, 2021
Messages
3
Our well water smelled like rotten eggs and was horrible. After installing DuraWater black series the water is much clearer and tastier, no strange smell and we are completely satisfied with this water filter.
 

Blk88GT

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Joined
Mar 16, 2009
Messages
1,076
Location
Manitoba
I battled iron at my place for years. I installed sediment filters, messed around with softener settings etc. I finally took samples in to get tested. We started by treating my softener with ResCare via autofeeder as it appeared to be iron logged. This worked for a week or two at a time, but it always came back.

After another round of tests and the advisement of the local water treatment folks, I installed an Ironbreaker 3 in front of my softener. No more iron issues. I should have done it years ago.

I have an RO system for drinking water.

My iron was testing at 2.5ppm, for reference.

Find a local expert and get your water tested IMHO.
 

Skooterj

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Joined
Mar 11, 2021
Messages
752
Location
Indiana
Replacing the anode rod in my water heater with an zinc rod eliminated my rotten egg smell.
 
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