Iron filter for well water: no more orange stains
Iron out before it hits your sinks, tubs and laundry.
Orange stains, a metallic taste and clogged fixtures usually mean iron. An iron filter removes it before it reaches your taps. [Partner to confirm iron filter models.]
- Free well test
- Licensed install
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Want the answer for your well?
Get a free well test, or tell us your ZIP and a rep calls you within 5 minutes to answer every question.
You're probably on this page because:
- The orange stains come back no matter how much you scrub
- Your laundry is turning yellow
- Your water tastes metallic
That's iron. Here's how to get rid of it.
Well water, by the numbers
- About 43 million people in the US get water from private wells, and nobody tests a private well but its owner.
- Once a year: how often the CDC recommends testing a private well.
- Nearly 2 in 3 people have never had their water tested.
Sources: CDC private well guidance; WQA 2025 Consumer Insights via WCP.
Signs you have iron
- Orange stains in sinks and toilets
- Yellow laundry
- Metallic taste
- Black stains (manganese)
How an iron filter works
It traps the iron in the filter, then flushes it out on its own. [Confirm media, e.g. Katalox Light.]
Don't ask if it pays for itself. Ask how many times.
Soft water protects your water heater, cuts soap costs and saves your appliances. Every year.
Savings in year one, and every year after
$414
- 10-year total
- $4,136
- Pays for the City Water System
- 1.4 times over 10 years
- Water heater energy
- $130
- Detergent and cleaning
- $144
- Appliances and fixtures
- $140
- Bottled water (with RO)
- $0
An estimate, not a guarantee. Your numbers depend on your water, your home and your habits. Enter your ZIP code to use your local hardness; until then it assumes 10 grains.
Sources: Water heater efficiency: WQRF and Battelle (gas tank heaters lost up to 48% efficiency on hard water; the calculator uses a conservative middle value). Detergent: WQRF laundry and dishwasher studies (about 30% less at 10 gpg, nearly 70% less at 25 gpg). Fixtures: Battelle (low-flow shower heads clogged in about 18 months on hard water). Appliance figures are our own conservative estimate until customer data replaces them.
Part of the Well Water System
$3,750 installed, with everything it takes to put it in.
Schedule a Call
Life with it vs. without
| Without it | With it |
|---|---|
| Orange stains everywhere | Stain-free sinks and laundry |
How we work, start to finish
- 1
You reach out or book online
- 2
A rep calls you, usually within 5 minutes, to confirm your system and answer questions
- 3
We schedule a licensed local plumber, usually within a week
- 4
Install day: a few hours, plus a before-and-after water test
- 5
After that: new filters every 6 months if you subscribe
Our take
Not all iron is the same
Working directly with our manufacturers, and holding our own patents, has taught us exactly where filters succeed and fail.
When we test well water, we're looking for three kinds of iron, because each one needs a different fix.
Clear-water iron (ferrous): the water comes out of the tap clear, then turns orange after it sits. It's dissolved in the water. An oxidizing iron filter handles it well. Red-water iron (ferric): the water is already cloudy or orange coming out of the tap. The iron is already in particles, so it needs good filtration. Iron bacteria: a slimy, reddish buildup in the toilet tank and a swampy smell. This needs the well disinfected first, or the filter just gets coated.
Manganese often comes along with iron and leaves black or brown stains instead of orange. Many iron filters handle both, but only if they're sized for it.
Two other numbers matter just as much: pH, because many iron filter media only work well in the right pH range, and the iron level in parts per million, which decides how big the filter needs to be. That's why our free well test checks more than just iron. Buying an iron filter without those numbers is guessing.
We've fixed iron water for 20+ years
Our lab checks your levels so the filter is sized right the first time.
- 20+ years in water
- Our own patents
- We supply other water companies
- [Thousands] of systems sold
- Licensed installers
Related Pages
Questions people ask
How do I know if I need an iron filter?
Orange stains, metallic taste, or yellow laundry. A free well water test tells you exactly how much iron you have.
Can a water softener remove iron?
Small amounts of dissolved iron, yes. More than that fouls the softener resin, so you need a dedicated iron filter in front of it.
What's the difference between iron and manganese stains?
Iron leaves orange and rust-colored stains. Manganese leaves black or dark brown ones. Many iron filters handle both.
Does an iron filter remove sulfur smell?
Many do, depending on the media and setup [confirm]. Your test shows if you need it.
How often does an iron filter need maintenance?
It backwashes itself automatically. The media lasts years before it needs replacing [confirm].
Will the stains I already have go away?
New stains stop. Existing ones need a good clean, but they won't come back.