Dry and itchy skin or sinks riddled with stains tells you that it’s high time to remove excessive minerals from your water. But how to choose the best machine that can save you from all of the problems.
There are many different brands that offer a wide variety of water softener systems on the market. Each of those systems is designed to handle a certain type of water and hardness levels within a certain range. Within the scope of this article, we will feature the best water softeners for well water with iron.
- Iron Pro 2 Fleck 5600SXT (64,000) – Best overall
- iSpring WGB32BM 3-Stage
- Tier1 Digital Water Softener WS-165-150
- Home Master HMF3SDGFEC Water Softener
- Iron Pro 2 Fleck 5600SXT (80,000) – Highest capacity
Iron Pro 2 Combination water softener iron filter Fleck 5600SXT – Best overall
- 2-in-1 unit – iron filter & water softener
- Money and energy-saving
- Low and simple maintenance
- Money and energy-saving
- A little bit heavy
Instead of using a manual flow meter or timer, the control system of the Fleck 5600SXT comes with a digital metered valve offering a more accurate amount of gallons of water treated by this system.
That way, you can have a much more efficient rate of each regeneration cycle.
As part of the Fleck 5600SXT’s iron filtration process, it can remove not only calcium and magnesium ions but also sediment and rust.
The only tradeoff is the 200-lb weight requiring the help of 2 or 3 people in the installation step.
Product Specifications
| Grain Size | 64,000-grain capacity |
| Parts per million of iron removed | 6-8 ppm range |
| Filtration Capacity | N/A |
| Flow Rate | 16 GPM |
| Dimensions | 14 x 7 x 21 inches |
| Weight | 119.5 pounds |
| Highlight Features | Fine mesh resin, 4 modes of operation, 48-hour memory backup, Fleck 5600SXT digital metered valve for efficiency and ease of use. |
Iron Pro 2 Combination water softener iron filter Fleck 5600SXT is the best choice for those looking for an all-in-one unit for whole house use.
iSpring WGB32BM 3-Stage
- Knock out residual bad tastes and odors
- Easy to change with just a wrench and a bit of effort
- Last up to 3 times longer than greensand
- Minimum maintenance
- Sediments smaller than 5 microns seep through bedrocks quite comfortably
Unlike other models with the max 60 PSI, the PSI range of this model filters is from 40 to 90 PSI, which helps reduce the installation costs.
Meanwhile, the system that meets NSF/ANSI standards removes up to 95% of metallic elements, dirt, and many other contaminants.
We highly recommend the iSpring WGB32BM for manganese, iron, and arsenic removal from well water.
However, because iSpring designs their filters to remove sediments at least 5 microns, smaller contaminants can seep through bedrocks quite easily and comfortably.
Product Specifications
| Grain Size | 64,000 grain capacity |
| Parts per million of iron removed | Iron (3. 0 -> 0. 01 ppm) and manganese (1. 0 -> 0. 01 ppm) |
| Filtration Capacity | 100,000 gallon |
| Flow Rate | 15 GPM |
| Dimensions | 21 x 8 x 28 inches |
| Weight | 3.06 lbs |
| Highlight Features | Carbon block filter for maximum filtration efficiency and filter life, CTO carbon block filter, 1-inch input/output ports standard. |
Efficiently getting all the basics done to provide fresh, clean water at all points of output in your home, the iSpring WGB32BM 3-Stage delivers good value for your money.
Tier1 Digital Water Softener WS-165-150
- Easy to operate, precise, and reliable
- Everything included in your set
- Smart and space-saving design
- Energy-efficient
- Not a perfect combo for your money – pretty basic at a normal price
- Grain size could be much better
The Fleck digital meter control valve allows users to select the water pressure and the flow rate to get out of their faucet while the LCD display ensures not only added convenience but also optimal security.
But for its 48,000 grain capacity – an average number for a domestic model, the Tier1 Digital Water Softener WS-165-150 could get a higher rank on our list of the best water softeners for well water with iron.
Product Specifications
| Grain Size | 48,000-grain capacity |
| Parts per million of iron removed | Above 3ppm |
| Filtration Capacity | 34.3 gallon |
| Flow Rate | N/A |
| Dimensions | 10 x 10 x 62 inches |
| Weight | 141 pounds |
| Highlight Features | Digital meter control valve with manual bypass. |
The Tier1 Digital Water SoftenerWS-165-150 helps those living in a medium water hardness area and suffering from dry hair, skin, plumbing issues, or scaling pipes.
Home Master HMF3SDGFEC Water Softener
- Cost-effective
- Remove up to 95% of water contaminants
- Easy installation and maintenance
- Long life filters
- Able to filter down to 1-micron iron
- Not remove all iron
Featuring a 3-stage filtration which performs three specific tasks, this model coming with specialist oversized filters is excellent at removing sulfur, iron, and manganese from your water.
These filters can last for such a long time. Depending on the quality of incoming water, the pre-filter is the one with the shortest life running for 6-12 months against the 3-month life span of most other models.
Not to mention the oversized filters requiring less regular servicing while reducing water pressure drops.
As for this model’s shortcomings, the main one is that it cannot remove all iron when this chemical element heavily contaminates your water source.
Product Specifications
| Grain Size | 48,000-grain capacity |
| Parts per million of iron removed | 3 ppm |
| Filtration Capacity | 100,000 gallon |
| Flow Rate | 15 GPM |
| Dimensions | 25 x 24 x 9 inches |
| Weight | 48 pounds |
| Highlight Features | Massive filter housings, multi-gradient density replaceable sediment filter, excellent purification, high water flow rate, and oversized filters. |
If you don’t want to change the filters within a full year, then the Home Master HMF3SDGFECis your best bet.
Fleck IRONPRO2 Pro 2 5600SXT – Highest capacity
- Be able to handle extreme hardness
- Optimum efficiency and regeneration
- Sized for homes of no more than 6 people
- Resin can last for more than 5 years
- Directions excluded
Not only getting rid of iron in such a great amount, but it also prevents the presence of minerals from scale building up in your water. Rust, sand, manganese, sediment, as well as ferric and ferrous iron will be removed.
Also, this 2-in-1 unit boasts a meter-based regeneration process working based on each homeowner’s water usage. The highly-increased the water usage is the more repeatedly the system will be forced to regenerate.
What users complain most is the lack of directions in the user manual making it hard to program the system.
Product Specifications
| Grain Size | 80,000-grain capacity |
| Parts per million of iron removed | 6-8 ppm range |
| Filtration Capacity | N/A |
| Flow Rate | 16 GPM |
| Dimensions | 65 x 13 x 13 inches |
| Weight | 110 pounds |
| Highlight Features | Fine mesh resin design, Fleck 5600SXT digital metered valve, 18×40 round brine tank, DIY instructions, bypass valve. |
If you don’t mind spending much for a high-quality water softener, then you will not go wrong with the Fleck IRONPRO2 Pro 2 5600SXT.
How to choose the best water softener for well water with iron (buying guide)
Whole-house filtration vs. whole-house water softening
Whole-house filtration – Quite expensive yet pretty good at softening and purifying water. Not perfect for mineral removal but designed for algae, sediment, rust, and other harmful contaminant elimination.
Whole-house water softening – much cheaper than RO systems and highly efficient at removing hardness-related issues.
Water Flow & Capacity
Each whole house water filter can produce a distinct filtered water amount each minute. All the water going into your home is filtered, so there is the same amount of water getting to your faucets, sinks, toilets, dishwashers, washing machines, and showers.
Smaller households consuming small volumes of water at a time can rely on a water filter that can produce about 10 gallons of water each minute, but larger ones need a unit that can produce much better water flow.
Filters
Each type of filters can block a different type of contaminants. You should decide which unit to buy depending on your water tests’ results.
A normal water softener with a copper-zinc mineral filter comes in handy when your water has high heavy metal contamination. Meanwhile, a unit with a UV filter is the only unit to suffice if you have incredibly high bacterial contamination.
Space
A whole house unit occupies more space than an average filter system. So, make sure that your home is large enough for installation and maintenance.
Who makes the best water softener for well water with iron?
Fleck
Being part of Fleck Systems, Fleckenstein valve which was founded in 1955 has set the standards for other brands in water treatment. Go with them; then you will not be disappointed.
Home Master
With 17 years’ experience mastering water filtration system, Home Master has been standing out among zillion brands out there for its high-quality and excellent performance.
Not only focusing on building quality, but this American manufacturer also tries its best to reduce the costs.
FAQs
Is a water softener worth it?
Not only minimizing all the potential risks for your home but also positively affecting your family budget, a water softener is well worth your consideration.
How long should a water softener last?
On average, a water softener can last for 10-15 years. However, the lifespan of a higher-quality model can be more than 20 years as long as you treat it with care and frequent maintenance.
Can you drink water from a water softener?
Water softeners cannot make your water safe enough for drinking. So, you should use a filtration system to clean it before having it softened.
Is iron in well water bad for you?
Iron in well water will not have a bad effect on your health and skin, but it might result in costly damage as well as other issues.
How do I test my iron for well water?
To know exactly the iron amount in your water, you can get one of the various convenient testing options or water test kits offered by laboratories to test your iron for well water.
Depending on your desired lab’s location, you will have to collect samples and mail them to the lab or have these specialists come to test your water at your house.
Can I install a water softener myself?
Those with the right knowledge and enough needed tools can install the softener near their homes’ water supply line by themselves without any difficulties. If not, ask for a professional’s help.
Conclusion
Outstanding for their ease of use, installation cost, long expected life, maintenance requirements, and especially efficiency, all of the best water softeners for well water with iron reviewed above can be a good solution to any problems you might have with particulates, dirt, and metal contamination.
I’m James J. Decker, a hobbyist and DIYs and also a big of home improvement and gardening tools. I immensely enjoy how these amazing products improve productivity and efficiency, and allow me to do jobs for which I would’ve otherwise needed professional help.
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