Most American homes prefer having private wells in their compounds as a primary or secondary water source. Other families may also choose to move to neighborhoods with shared wells as a backup for municipal water supplies. Wells will never run, giving you access to an unlimited supply of water. The only expense that you’ll probably incur is the initial and maintenance costs.
However, there are many dangers of using untreated well-water for drinking, cooking, or cleaning applications. Most underground water sources experience heavy iron, magnesium, sulfur, bacteria, and pesticide pollution. These pollutants may expose your loved ones to various ailments such as diarrhea and vomiting.
We reviewed six products and found SpringWell WSSF-1 Water Filter and Salt-Free Water Softener to be the best iron filter for well water.
We tested and reviewed tens of products before bringing you a formidable buying guide you can trust to point you to the best iron filter for well water. We leverage reviews and direct recommendations from industry experts with years of experience and testing these products since their flagships. We also spent over 24 hours on each product, trying their efficiency and installation processes. You’re looking at a resourceful buying guide that contains everything you would want to know before buying the best iron water filter for well water.
You can buy our best product overall if you want a water filtration system that lasts up to a lifetime without requiring a replacement. It also makes an ideal choice if you want financing terms with flexible monthly installments. The other products in our list include the best runner-up, the best efficiency, the best budget, and the best whole house application.
Here is more in-depth information on product mini-reviews, buying considerations, and where to purchase the water filtration systems in our review list.
Best Iron Filter for Well Water Products
- SpringWell WSSF-1 Water Filter and Salt-Free Water Softener– Best Overall
- Aquasana Whole House Water Filter– Best Runner-Up
- SoftPro Iron Master AOI Water Filtration System– Best Efficiency
- Pelican WF4 Iron and Manganese Water Filter– Best Whole House Water Filter
- iSpring WGB32BM 3-Stage Whole House Water Filtration System– Best Budget
- Home Master HMF3SDGFEC Whole House 3-Stage Water Filtration System– Best Easy to Use
Best Iron Filter for Well Water Reviews
1. SpringWell WSSF-1 Water Filter and Salt-Free Water Softener
SpringWell WSSF-1 Water Filter and Salt-Free Water Softener is the best product overall in our list, thanks to its unique template-assisted crystallization filtration technology.
Unlike salt-based purification, this filtration technique ensures that you enjoy natural-tasting water.
It is ideal if you have a private well contaminated with excess iron, sulfur, or manganese. It removes up to 1ppm of manganese and up to 8ppm of hydrogen sulfide.
The manufacturer gives a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee backed up with a six-month risk-free return policy. These buying terms protect you as the buyer against quality defects that a filtration system may suffer from the manufacturing and supply lines.
Moreover, you get to enjoy free shipping costs right to your doorstep. This incentive covers the relatively high price tag.
You’re looking at a water filter that prevents and cleans existing scale buildup in your plumbing system. This water will likely help you enhance the lifespan of your other home appliances such as showerheads, ice makers, coffee makers, and countertop water heaters. It also means an end to using chemicals and salt-based scrubbing agents.
You can purchase SpringWell WSSF-1 Water Filter and Salt-Free Water Softener through Affirm Financing if you’re unable to pay in cash. The payment terms may include flexible monthly or quarterly installments.
Specs:
- Warranty – Lifetime warranty
- Filtration Type – Template Assisted Crystallization
- Filter Life (Till replacement) – Lifetime
- Filter Stages – 3
- Capacity – 1 to 3 bathrooms
- Certifications – NSF/ANSI certified
- Micron Rating – 5
Pros
- Lifetime warranty
- Removes up to 7ppm of iron
- Quick installation process
Cons
- It may add salt to your water
- Relatively high initial price
2. Aquasana Whole House Iron Filter
Our Runner up for Best Iron Filter for Well Water is the Aquasana Whole House Iron Filter. It makes a good option if you’re dealing with heavily polluted hard water. The water can be from a private or shared well.
You can choose a UV filtration option (comes at an additional cost) to remove viruses and pathogenic bacteria from your water. Thus, you get an iron filtration system that guarantees the 100% safety of your drinking water.
This iron filter system has a superior filtration technology that reflects your money’s value. It removes hard water contaminants in three sequenced stages, each with unique high-potency formula filter media.
The dual tank comes in a unique up-flow design to increase water contact time with the filter media and prevent clogging.
This iron filter system comes with a salt-free water conditioner that naturally reduces scale buildup in your plumbing lines. This conditioner helps prevent clogging and improves the lifespan of your home appliances. Ice makers and showerheads will likely last longer if you use salt-free water to make your favorite beverages. You get appliances that last longer with optimal performance.
The manufacturer gives a 90-day guarantee to ensure 100% customer satisfaction. You can return the product for repair, upgrade, or replacement during this period if experiencing quality defects. It has a five-year limited warranty on parts.
Specs:
- Warranty – 5 year limited warranty
- Filtration Type – UV filtration
- Filter Life (Till replacement) – Five Years
- Filter Stages – Three
- Capacity – 500,000 gallons
- Certifications – NSF/ANSI-listed
- Micron Rating – 1.0
Pros
- It doesn’t require electricity
- Optional UV filtration
- It comes with a salt softener
Cons
- You may experience leaks
- You may require an additional softener
3. SoftPro Iron Master AOI Water Filtration System
SoftPro Iron Master AOI Water Filtration System is one of the most efficient products in the market, thanks to its AOI filtration technology.
That makes it a go-to iron filter if you need hassle-free maintenance throughout a system’s lifespan. Its certified performance by IAPMO guarantees the removal of up to 30ppm of iron, giving you ready-to-drink water.
This water filtration system makes a good product for testing iron concentration in your private well. It leverages the innovative Water Intelligence Engine™ to assess the iron concentration in your water before recommending the best treatment solution.
It eliminates guesswork when dealing with the safety of your drinking water. The other contaminants removed include up to 5ppm of sulfur and up to 7ppm of manganese.
Say goodbye to water filters that let you down with unsteady flow rates during on-demand applications. This product comes with a control valve that programs the filtration system for high flow rates to supply water in the entire household. Moreover, power interruption doesn’t interfere with the programmed settings. The system remembers your previous keyed settings once the power is back.
This iron filter system will last for about five to ten years before you need a replacement. However, the replacement time might be sooner, depending on the type of pollution and the manganese, iron, and sulfur concentrations in your private well.
Specs:
- Warranty – 5 year limited warranty
- Filtration Type – AOI technology
- Filter Life (Till replacement) – 5 to 10 years
- Filter Stages -Three
- Capacity – Depends on pollution and frequency of use
- Certifications – NSF/ANSI-listed
- Micron Rating – 5.0
Pros
- It is highly efficient
- It removes traces of iron
- It reverses iron bacteria growth
Cons
- Hard installation process
- Heavily-polluted water may need often filter replacements
4. Pelican Iron and Manganese Water Filter
You might want to consider Pelican WF4 Iron and Manganese Water Filter for whole-house applications, including upstairs water appliances. This iron water filter is ideal for families that need treated water in about four to six bathrooms. It has a relatively stable flow rate of 10 GPM to ensure no faucet lacks clean water, even in on-demand applications.
The construction hardware is of high quality as it comes with a 5-year performance guarantee. That is enough time to return your money’s value. Even so, most homeowners who bought this water filter a decade ago note that it can last up to two decades, especially if you’re dealing with relatively low iron pollution. The filtration technology is also ideal for high iron concentration.
Pelican brand offers two water filter models, including the WF4 for households with about one to three bathrooms. It is relatively affordable and is a go-to option if you drink from a small private well.
This system filters hard water in three stages: removing up to 10 ppm of iron precipitates after passing through a 5.0-micron rated sediment filter that traps dust and rust flakes.
This product has a carbon filter medium at the last filtration stage that traps chlorine and chloramines to eliminate bad taste and odor. The system has a self-priming pump for automatic backwashing after every three days. Thus, you get to enjoy hassle-free maintenance that enhances your system’s longevity. Everything need for installation comes with the packaging. Even so, it will help if you plumber” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener sponsored”>get a professional plumber to save time.
Specs:
- Warranty – 10 years limited warranty
- Filtration Type – Carbon filter
- Filter Life (Till replacement) – Up to 20 years
- Filter Stages – 4
- Capacity – 1 (WF4) to 6 (WF8) bathrooms
- Certifications – NSF/ANSI-certified and WQA Gold Seal certification
- Micron Rating – 5
Pros
- Long lifespan of up to 20 years
- It filters in four sequenced stages
- Little to zero maintenance costs
Cons
- Installation requires professional plumbing skills
- It doesn’t filter sulfur
5. iSpring 3-Stage Whole House Water Filtration System
iSpring 3-Stage Whole House water filter is the best budget product in our review list that removes iron and manganese contaminants from hard water. It is a suitable filter if your water source has iron contamination of up to 3.0 ppm and manganese contamination of up to 1.0 ppm.
It reduces all these contaminants to safe concentrations of up to 0.1 ppm. Thus, you can trust it for the whole family’s use. Moreover, the filtration media lasts longer than in typical iron filters since the process doesn’t corrode the catalytic medium.
This water filter also removes sediments, silt, VOC industrial solvents, chlorine, and rust. Thanks to the carbon filter media at the third filtration stage, the reverse osmosis filtration technology in the carbon filter is ideal for removing chemical solvents such as pesticides and herbicides.
The carbon filter medium features high-quality coconut shell construction material for high efficiency and longevity. The filtration stages also include water passing through a polypropylene sediment filter with a 5-micron rating.
The installation process is pretty simple. Thus, you don’t need to spend on a professional plumber. Everything you need for the installation process comes in the packaging, including a hard-copy user guide available in English. Other items include a 1-inch NPT inlet/outlet vent and 20-inch by 4.5-inch filter cartridges. You’ll need to remove cartridge wrappings before use. You can also refer to the manufacturer’s YouTube videos for DIY installations.
Even though this product comes with a one-year manufacturer warranty, you’ll still access reliable lifetime technical support if you register after your first purchase. However, the RO technology system in this water filter doesn’t remove Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) but retains all the essential minerals you need.
Specs:
- Warranty – One year manufacturer warranty
- Filtration Type – Iron and manganese removal
- Filter Life (Till replacement) – One year
- Filter Stages – Three
- Capacity – 100,000 gallons
- Certifications – NSF/ANSI-listed
- Micron Rating – 5.0
Pros
- Relatively affordable price tag
- It is relatively durable
- Lifetime free tech support
Cons
- It is not durable
- Not ideal for a large household
6. Home Master HMF3SDGFEC Whole House 3-Stage Water Filtration System
Lastly, you can purchase the Home Master HMF3SDGFEC Whole House 3-Stage Water Filtration System if you want a product that lasts for up to a year before replacement. This 95,000-gallon capacity is ideal for small households of about two to four people.
You’ll enjoy relatively steady flow rates of up to 9 GPM with this water filtration system unless you overload it with on-demand applications. The official supplier delivers it straight to your doorstep.
This system filters your hard water from a private well in three stages. The first stage has a multi-gradient sediment filter to trap large contaminants. The filtration media have sequenced micron ratings of 25, 10, 5.0, and 1.0 to remove silt and dust.
The next step leverages iron flow reducing technology to a concentration of less than 3.0 ppm. The last filtration stage has a granular-activated coconut shell carbon filter to trap herbicides and pesticides.
This water filter’s installation process doesn’t require professional plumbing skills. Connect it to the primary fixture, through the in and out vents, and you’re good to go. However, most customers complain that if you install it poorly, it doesn’t improve water taste. If you doubt your skills, hiring a technician sounds like the best plan.
You’ll get a free water bottle with every purchase. The merchandise bears the manufacturer’s logo. However, the manufacturer limits the gift to one per household, and it is available while supplies last. The sooner you get it, the higher your chances of winning.
Specs:
- Warranty – 2 year limited warranty on parts
- Filtration Type – Iron and manganese filtration
- Filter Life (Till replacement) – One-year
- Filter Stages – Three
- Capacity – 95,000 gallons
- Certifications – NSF/ANSI-certified
- Micron Rating – 1.0
Pros
- The price tag is relatively affordable for the specs
- Durable coconut shell filtration media
- Simple DIY installation
Cons
- Not ideal for on-demand applications
- It doesn’t remove Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
What is an Iron Water Filter?
An iron water filter is an innovative filtration media that captures iron residue from hard water, making it safe, iron-free, and ready to drink. A high-quality iron filter comes with self-cleaning backwash properties that remove the accumulated iron flakes for fresh oxidation in the air bubble.
How Does an Iron Water Filter Work?
Water from the main fixtures enters the iron water filter and passes through a bubble of compressed air. The air bubble has a higher oxygen concentration, which combines with the hard water.
The filtration medium is the catalyst that enhances a chemical reaction to separate iron from water through oxidation. In the form of insoluble flakes, the filtered iron gets trapped at the bottom of the filter media as iron-free water flows to other water fixtures through the main faucet.
After three days, the air bubble replenishes as it washes the accumulated iron flakes to begin a new cycle. Kindly note that the iron sediments don’t affect your system’s efficiency during the three days. The replenishing process often happens at night. The whole process is automatic, and you don’t need to tweak any settings.
Effects of Iron Water Filter on Your Health and Home
Installing a high-quality iron water filtration system is the best thing that could ever happen to your household. High concentrations of iron minerals in water are a possible trigger of chronic skin conditions such as acne.
Besides damaging the skin cells, taking a bath with iron-polluted water can clog your pores, leading to skin breakage. Moreover, contaminated iron can introduce harmful bacteria into the body system.
A high-quality iron filter in your home means safe, ready-to-drink water that promotes the general well-being of the household members. Moreover, frequent baths with pure water translate to better eye and hair health.
Buying Considerations for This Product
Price
Whatever may look expensive to you may seem relatively affordable to another homeowner with different needs and aesthetic preferences. Briefly, prices are relative and vary with what you can afford at the moment and filtration needs.
Don’t confuse expensive for high-quality or affordability for quality defects. Instead, go through the product’s features and specifications to ensure that its performance matches the price tag.
Filtration Target
Water fitters have varying capabilities, and manufacturers may design some models that target a specific contaminant. In that case, you would want your filtration system to specifically target iron and other elements such as manganese and sulfur impurities. Don’t for city water systems as their designs target prevalent piped water contaminants such as fluoride and chloramines.
Money-Back or Risk-Free Guarantee
Though not common, you may experience quality defects that come from the manufacturing and supplying chains. Since you wouldn’t want to repair or replace the parts of a filtration system that is barely a week old, what do you do? Watch out for manufacturers who give money-back or risk-free returning policies during a reasonable time frame. That way, you can ship back the product to the supplier or manufacturer during this period for an upgrade or a replacement.
Ongoing Technical Support
Finally, you may want ongoing technical support for as long as you’re using a particular water heater brand, even after the warranty period lapses. Some brands offer up to lifetime technical support for registered members.
Factors to Consider Before Buying an Iron Water Filter for Well Water
Even after going through the best buying guides, it can still be daunting to get a reliable iron water filter that reflects your money’s value. Have these factors in mind when shopping to get an iron filtration system that matches your needs and expectations:
Iron Filter Size/Capacity
What’s the filtration system’s capacity? That’s a question that should intrigue your mind before purchasing an iron water filter. The filter’s size or capacity will determine how often you’ll need a replacement or if you’ll need one in the first place.
The standard capacity for a high-quality iron filter is 500,000 gallons which should last for about a decade. Some water filters will also come with a capacity of up to 1,000,000 gallons, which can sustain you for a decade. We also have superior brands that offer lifetime capacity.
However, kindly note that the actual capacity of a hard water filter depends on the iron concentration in your water and the frequency of use.
Iron Filter Type
There are different types of iron filter media. The perfect choice largely depends on the concentration of iron contaminants in your well water. It may also depend on other contaminants present because most filtration media remove more than iron.
Even so, the prevalent options include filter media that remove iron using oxidation, template-assisted crystallization, and AOI filtration technologies. All the technologies will guarantee you safe, ready-to-drink water. However, it helps to analyze the contaminant concentration to determine the best iron filter for well water in your case.
Iron Filter System Maintenance
You don’t want to spend much at the initial buying price, only for the system to drain your pockets with endless repair and service needs. A high-quality iron filter should take up to five years before you experience any technical hitches, including replacing the filter media.
Thus, watch out for products that come with a lifetime or ten-year warranty to guarantee the quality of the components. Moreover, the manufacturer may give you profit-free parts and up to a year of free service during this period.
Another feature to watch out for that signals hassle-free maintenance includes a self-diagnostic system. You can run the error code through the system to determine the problem in your filtration system. You might need to run self-diagnostic tests if you experience a change in the water taste or unsteady flow rates.
Iron Filter System Information
Before purchasing any water filter, you would want to know how it operates and how you can run the diagnostic codes to reboot the system in case of an efficiency decline. This information will usually be available in the user manual issued by the manufacturer.
Some products will come with a hard copy user manual, while other brands may require you to download the same from the manufacturer’s website. Either way, it helps if you choose a brand that offers the user manual in multiple languages, including yours. The technical information should also include clear diagrams and chart illustrations.
Other helpful information that you’ll likely get in the user manual includes the installation process, replacement process (if applicable), the product’s specifications/features, and warranty information.
Water Testing
It is essential to determine the contaminants in your private well. It is pretty simple to tell that by taking samples to the local laboratory for scientific analysis. However, the process can be costly and time-consuming, especially if you have to wait in line for the laboratory technician to test other samples.
Moreover, a busy laboratory can mix up your samples with those from other homeowners to give you inconsistent results. Thus, you may end up investing in the wrong filter media for the rest of your life.
You would want a water filter that assesses the concentration of iron in your private well before beginning the filtration process. These water filters will then recommend the best treatment or filtration solution based on the analysis. That way, you get to enjoy accurate filtrations that guarantee safe, ready-to-drink water.
Wrapping It Up
Healthy water for drinking, cooking, and washing utensils should be a priority for every homeowner. Buying either of the above water filtration systems is the surest way of keeping your family safe from waterborne diseases that may emanate from heavy iron pollution. Other contaminants removed by these water filters include traces of manganese and sulfur.
Even though all products are of high quality, each one is unique and caters to various filtration needs and aesthetic preferences. For instance, you can buy a product upgraded with a UV filtration system if you’re dealing with heavy pathogenic bacteria pollution. Click the links on individual products to purchase directly from Amazon or the manufacturers’ websites.
