Cheapest Way to Remove Iron from Well Water Naturally in 2023
Nowadays, the high iron content in well water seems to be an essential point of consideration. Many people claim that their water is affected by an abundance of iron, which may cause them severe health issues and water-borne diseases.
Don’t worry, if you’re also dealing with much iron in your water, the solution is here in this article. Based on our team’s research and experience, I have compiled some of the cheapest ways to remove iron from well water to make it healthy for use.
Some of these include installing a sediment filter, water softeners, and iron filters.
These will not only help you to make your drinking water clear but also increases the shine of the cooking utensils and clothes you washed with iron-affected water.
Although these methods make it easier to get rid of excess iron in the well water, they are not always simple. This is due to the fact that not everyone can afford a high-quality water treatment system for iron removal from their supplies.
So, scroll down and find out the detailed answer to “What are the affordable ways to reduce or eliminate iron from the water well?”
Why Iron Metal is Lethal to Health?
Firstly, we need to understand why iron is dangerous for our health. Basically, iron is a mineral, that is the 4th most common metal which is abundant in our nature.
Although it’s a helpful metal as many of the useful elements are prepared using it, if the iron levels in the water are high, the water from your well is not safe to provide clean drinking water.
It has been observed that a lot of people are severely affected by excess manganese and iron found in well water.
The results of bad water are not only limited to humans but also to animals and other living elements. Having iron water in your supplies can be the reason for stains on your taps, tubs, sinks, and clothes.
Although by using some ways, it’s easy to eliminate iron in well water, the question is how to know about them.
Down here, you will be able to learn the effective ways to examine, know the types of iron in the water, and whether it is helpful to remove them from the water or not.
Let’s first know the types and details and then move towards a solution.
What are the different Types of Iron found in Well Water?
There are many different types of iron present in the water that we need to understand so that we can work on the solution accordingly.
These different types are classified based on the iron charges and their effects on water.
The most common types of organic iron are ferrous, ferric, and bacterial iron.
1. Ferrous Iron
Ferrous iron is an essential and common type that has no oxygen and is more lethal. It is completely dissolved in water, and it needs an iron removal system to remove it from the water.
Moreover, it leaves a reddish-brown or yellow color on the water which is sometimes very difficult to remove.
2. Ferric Oxide
Ferric Oxide is one of the other essential forms of iron that have some amount and residues of oxygen, due to which it’s less harmful.
Ferric iron leaves orange and brown colors on the water.
3. Bacterial Iron
There is a 3rd type of iron called bacterial iron due to some iron-releasing bacteria. It is not much harmful as the above two iron types. It’s easy to remove by using water filters and purifiers.
Iron Contamination in Drinking Water: How do I know that my Well Water is Affected by Iron?
These are some simplest ways to know whether your water is affected by iron or not.
Smell and Taste
It’s a simple and easy way to examine iron water as there is no need to buy any product. Simply, smell the water and see if it has an acidic smell or not.
If yes, it means water is affected by iron.
You can drink some amount of water and see if the iron quantity is increasing as a routine.
If you are getting water with a high level of iron, it’s for sure that the well water is affected by iron, and it needs to be filtered.
Look Color
Usually, water is colorless and this is a known fact. But if you see that the water has a reddish or yellow color, then you should know that it’s due to ferric iron present in the water, which is a less harmful type of iron.
On the other hand, if you see that the healthy water is clear for some minutes and then upon pressure, it releases red or brown water, then it’s affected by ferrous iron, which is a dangerous type.
In this case, you need to seriously look for options to remove iron from your water supply.
Corrosion at Pipes and Other Elements
Corrosion of iron or steel well casing or the water pipelines changes the watercolor to brownish.
Check your water supply lines, sink, and other iron and steel elements; if they are affected by corrosive material, its means your water is contaminated by iron.
How does Iron enter Into Well Water?
Now another important point that is raised is how iron enters your well water. All of you know iron is the 4th most abundant metal on the earth’s crust and has a 5% portion.
It can enter the water in the following ways:
✔️ Cheapest Ways to Remove Iron from Well Water Naturally – Proven Iron Filter Methods
Here are some of the simplest and most affordable ways to remove iron particles from water. Check the methods to learn how they help to remove iron in your water.
Method#1: Install an Oxidation Filter
An oxidation filter is an essential and versatile device that removes excess iron in your well water and adds oxygen particles.
Usually, it’s more valuable than a softener and is also helpful to remove some other harmful chemicals from water than only iron. These filters also remove bad smells from your healthy water.
The steps to install and use an oxidation filter are as follows:
Step#1: Buy and Install an Oxidation Filter
The first and essential step is to buy and install a filter. Check the quality of water and figure out which filter is best for you accruing to the amount of iron it absorbs.
You can also check our review article for the Best Whole House Water Filtration Systems.
You can call a plumber or an expert for the installation of the filter as it’s better than doing it yourself for perfect results and avoiding hurdles.
Step#2: The Filtration System should not be based on Chlorine Chemical
Some filtration systems require the usage of chlorine which is very harmful to health.
They release chlorine particles while absorbing oxidized iron particles. These chlorine particles have detrimental effects on human health.
So, make sure that the filter you are going to buy is not working on the chlorine released method principle.
Step#3: Taste and Test Your Water
The last step is to assure the accuracy of your oxidation filter for the removal of iron present in your well water in the cheapest way.
Here check out the water and look that it does not have iron particles after installing an oxidation filter.
If the water is clear of iron particles and its taste is good, you must be happy because the filtration system is working fine.
Method#2: Using a Water Softener
A water softener is a device that helps to soften hard water and remove iron, calcium as well as other minerals from tap water through different salt reactions.
It attracts negative iron ions toward its sodium or any other salt ion.
Using a water softener is the best option for those who can’t afford a lot to buy an expensive water treatment system.
This system is affordable to purchase and has highly positive results. You can easily get a Whirlpool Water Softener for under $600.
Steps to Install and use a Water Softener are as follows:
Step#1: Test your Water and Buy a Softener
The first step is to take water to a nearby laboratory center and see which softener they recommend based on iron contamination in the water.
I recommend Tap Score as the best laboratory for water testing.
It’s necessary to check to avoid health issues later because some filters extract a large amount of water and sodium along with water.
As a result, they release some other salts into the healthy water, which is not good.
Step#2: Install Water Softener
Now install the softener carefully. You may call a plumber or a professional who is an expert in a specific field.
The best way is to read the complete guide and steps available in the precautions manual and the product itself.
Step#3: Check that It Does Not Extract Too Much Amount of Sodium
Sometimes a softener when absorbing iron compounds and particles, it’s evident that it will also absorb some amount of sodium along with oxygen.
For this sake, check your water to not have a meager amount of sodium.
It’s preferable to check this because sodium is necessary for your life to make you healthy and active.
On the other hand, a softener passed water is also a reason to remove and extract sodium from your body.
Note: It is found that in some cases, even after treating the water with a softener, a small amount of iron may still be available. In this case, if the water contains high content of iron, you might need to install an additional water filter for 99% purification and to remove the effects of iron.
Method#3: Use Activated Charcoal
If you are wondering how to remove iron from well water without a water softener, then using activated charcoal is another option to lower the iron levels in your well water to negligible.
It’s an easy DIY task for everyone to use charcoal, it’s just like a filtration system made to remove iron from water at home.
Only spending $25 now, it’s easy to remove iron and other impurities in the water that are harmful to your health.
Here are some steps to follow:
Step#1: Grind Charcoal
It’s best if you have some amount of charcoal at your home. In other cases, you need to buy it from the market or any nearby shop. Now grind it into small pieces just like powder.
You can use anything to grind this charcoal.
Step#2: Find a Dense Space and Place Charcoal There
The following steps are to find a denser space at your home and place grinder charcoal on the way to healthy water.
This charcoal will attract iron particles itself, and hence the final water at your tap is neat and free of iron metal.
Method#4: Reverse Osmosis
A reverse osmosis system is a unique and advanced way to remove chlorine, iron, and other minerals from water using a semipermeable membrane.
This membrane works to leave behind the iron particles from the final water opening and make it clean.
It’s a simple process based on a water filtration system. Get an osmosis water filter that releases iron from water and makes it fit in a specific place.
Install it where water pressure is at the highest peak so that it can filter iron from the water supply fast. In this way, you can enjoy pure and iron-free water for drinking and washing purposes.
Must Read: Best Whole House Water Filter Cartridges
Frequently Asked Questions
How to remove iron from water naturally?
Eliminating iron from the water is not easy enough but implementing the correct procedure is a great choice.
Using charcoal or chlorination is one of the best ways to remove iron from water naturally.
On the other hand, using iron water filters for well water is the best solution and works the same as a natural process.
Does the Water Purifier remove iron from the water?
Yes, water purifiers work on the same principle as water softeners. These products allow you to remove iron from water in a safe way without harming any other elements in your home.
Can I use a water softener to remove iron bacteria?
Although a water softener can remove iron from your well water, it cannot be used to filter iron bacteria.
In this condition, instead of eliminating bacteria, it can create a smell on a softener and all other elements near it, including taps and sinks.
So, it’s recommended to use a quality iron filter to get rid of bacterial iron in well water.
Can I remove iron from the water using a magnet?
The magnet can attract iron particles towards itself. Removing iron from the water is complicated, and using a low-value solution can filter iron out of the water.
Does boiling water remove iron?
No, boiling water can’t remove iron from drinking water.
Removing it will harden the iron or magnesium particles which are even more harmful than the simple iron compounds found before boiling it.
Can a refrigerator remove iron molecules from water?
No, a refrigerator filter can’t be used to remove iron molecules from water because it’s not designed to do this task.
Its main purpose is to eliminate some particles in the water other than iron.
Final Verdict
So, I have covered the complete detail of the cheapest ways to remove iron and manganese from well water.
Some of these methods are very easy to implement while some of them take some time. It’s recommended to buy a new product for the removal because of the guarantee and overall working quality.
In the end, if you face any health issues from iron water usage, then don’t wait even for a second to visit a doctor. Take a healthy diet, and don’t use iron-affected water until you implement a way to get rid of it.
Hopefully, now you must be able to understand well how to remove iron from well water naturally in the cheapest possible way.
For more information about water filters and water softeners, keep reading our latest blogs.
