Rust/Iron in water...help!

[Bucks45]

I need some help. My wife and I just finished a complete remodel on a house we bought. It's in the country and has a lot of rust/iron. I have a softener (it's working), I use pellets that are supposed to help remove rust, and a filter (I'm using filters that are supposed to remove rust). I've also shocked the system a couple of times with "Rust Out". I can't get rid of it. Showers feel like crap and it's starting to stain clothes. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[rbh]

Re: Rust/Iron in water...help!

Open up the outside tap and let it run til thing clear up if you have enough GPM.
Do you have a iron filter on the system/
How many inline filters do you have to collect the bigger pieces (5-10 micron)

 

[dingbat]

Re: Rust/Iron in water...help!

Getting your water tested to find out what your dealing with is the first step. After that, it just a matter of the right filtration system for the job. To do it right is not going to be cheap

 

[Bucks45]

Re: Rust/Iron in water...help!

Should have mentioned that we've lived in the house for almost 3 weeks. We've let all of the faucets (inside and out) run. There is only one inline filter (before it hits the softener).

Open up the outside tap and let it run til thing clear up if you have enough GPM.
Do you have a iron filter on the system/
How many inline filters do you have to collect the bigger pieces (5-10 micron)

 

[Bucks45]

Re: Rust/Iron in water...help!

Where do I take it to get it tested? Don't want to say money isn't an object, it definitely is, but new clothes aren't cheap either!

Getting your water tested to find out what your dealing with is the first step. After that, it just a matter of the right filtration system for the job. To do it right is not going to be cheap

 

[rbh]

Re: Rust/Iron in water...help!

Should have mentioned that we've lived in the house for almost 3 weeks. We've let all of the faucets (inside and out) run. There is only one inline filter (before it hits the softener).

Iron in water is usually suspended in the water and you really do not notice it till you go to wash (Waters clear) this is hard water.
If you have orange water (rust colour) this would be because the lines were never flushed and the iron in the water settled over a long period of time and is now letting go slowly, when you shocked the well (with bleach I hope), the bleach cleaned (sorta) the well and the line, now you have to flush it out. (use outside tap only)
How old is your softner and does it have an iron filter built in?
You can plug up a softner with to much iron and could need new ion/resin balls or try and use a good shot of iron out straight into the salt tank to clear.

 

[Bucks45]

Re: Rust/Iron in water...help!

Rbh..... I really appreciate the help! Again, didn't give enough info. The house sat empty for over a year. I haven't hit the well with bleach, but I have put an "iron out", water combo straight in the brine well twice. The faucets have probably ran a total of 1 1/2 hours since. I'm not sure if the softener has a rust filter or not. I had a plumber out. He said its a good softener and told me to use the "rust out", but it didn't work. What's the bleach in the well process? Again, thanks a ton for the help.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Rust/Iron in water...help!

Put 3 gallons of clorox in well. Let set 3 days with no water used, after brought to each tap, flush well till smell of bleach is gone using each faucet.

You rust removing salt is part of your problem by cleaning it off you pipes.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Rust/Iron in water...help!

check the yellow pages (or google) for water conditioning in your area. They can send someone out to test the water. There are many different brands out there but they basically work the same. Many of the farm supply stores sell water softeners but you really need someone who knows what they're doing to select the types of conditioning needed and to size the unit. You may need an additional "green sand" filter and a potasium permanganate flush for it if you have a lot of iron. If you don't get the right system or if it's udersized, you're wasting your money.

 

[rbh]

Re: Rust/Iron in water...help!

Put 3 gallons of clorox in well. Let set 3 days with no water used, after brought to each tap, flush well till smell of bleach is gone using each faucet.

You rust removing salt is part of your problem by cleaning it off you pipes.

I would go with 1 gallon for every 100 foot (maybe a bit more for this one as it sat for a year) in depth for the well and after I had poured in the bleach run all the taps till you smell bleach at each one, then let sit for about 48 hrs and see if the bleach does its job.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Rust/Iron in water...help!

Tread very carefully Bucks45. Iron, in it's various forms, is often not very well understood. Even people who are in the business (to sell equipment, I add) do not understand everything about it. You can spend a fortune trying to solve iron issues based on the ignorance of those trying to sell you equipment.

All iron is not created equal. There are ways and procedures to determine what you are up against.

BTW, contrary to many comments, pouring bleach into the well for anything related to iron is about the worst thing that you can do.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Rust/Iron in water...help!

If you've got galvanized pipes, you've got iron in your water.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Rust/Iron in water...help!

Tread very carefully Bucks45. Iron, in it's various forms, is often not very well understood. Even people who are in the business (to sell equipment, I add) do not understand everything about it. You can spend a fortune trying to solve iron issues based on the ignorance of those trying to sell you equipment.

All iron is not created equal. There are ways and procedures to determine what you are up against.

BTW, contrary to many comments, pouring bleach into the well for anything related to iron is about the worst thing that you can do.

A++ Chlorine bleach will oxidize and precipitate the iron in clear water and turn it red.....been there,I have been fighting iron well water for over 40 years in my home. Potassium permagenate works but filters are short lived.....get used to cleaning rust stains. Do NOT use bleach in washing machine unless you want yellow clothes! Rust stains will etch into porcelain fixtures if not removed right away. I know this is not what you want to hear but about all you can do is learn to live with it.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Rust/Iron in water...help!

call your well person. he/she may be able to do the test there, however they are in the business and probably can tell you what will work for your area.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Rust/Iron in water...help!

call your well person. he/she may be able to do the test there, however they are in the business and probably can tell you what will work for your area.

Scott, well drillers drill wells. They are usually the last people that you want to ask advice for treatment.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Rust/Iron in water...help!

A++ Chlorine bleach will oxidize and precipitate the iron in clear water and turn it red.....been there,I have been fighting iron well water for over 40 years in my home. Potassium permagenate works but filters are short lived.....get used to cleaning rust stains. Do NOT use bleach in washing machine unless you want yellow clothes! Rust stains will etch into porcelain fixtures if not removed right away. I know this is not what you want to hear but about all you can do is learn to live with it.

There are undoubtedly solutions for your dilemma. All that is necessary it to understand what the circumstances are.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Rust/Iron in water...help!

my well guy is multi-faceted not only did the test, he took care of the iron bacteria and a couple of problems I had with the well pump when I was 1500 miles away. he also does water softeners, sprinkler systems, septic systems. and in his spare time, is lead in a band.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Rust/Iron in water...help!

my well guy is multi-faceted not only did the test, he took care of the iron bacteria and a couple of problems I had with the well pump when I was 1500 miles away. he also does water softeners, sprinkler systems, septic systems. and in his spare time, is lead in a band.

I did say 'usually' Scott. I am sure there are exceptions but methinks they are far and few between. After 20+ years in this business I have found that Jacks of All Trades are usually masters of few.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Rust/Iron in water...help!

There are undoubtedly solutions for your dilemma. All that is necessary it to understand what the circumstances are.

Understanding the circumstances is one thing,finding a PRACTICAL soulutions is another. Unfortunately there is no simple solution for hard well water with a high iron content especially if your daily usage is high.

 

[rbh]

Re: Rust/Iron in water...help!

Robs problem solving solution-

Ideas are like azzes, we all got one!

Kiss principle- keep it simple stupid!!

Start with the basics and work up from there.