Iron Filters for Southeast Wisconsin Homes – Stop Rust, Smell, and Stains at the Source

Over 85% of the United States has hard water. Since hardness is really dissolved rock, the average family of four will have more than 15 pounds of rock per year in their water for each grain of hardness.

These mineral deposits in your home from hard water can:

• Ruin water bearing appliances (cutting the life of washing machines, dishwashers, and hot water heaters by up to 50%)
• Increase energy costs for water heaters by 33%
• Destroy faucets and fixtures (costing hundreds of dollars to replace)
• Buildup scale on fixtures and shower doors
• Clog plumbing (re-piping your home costs thousands of dollars)
• Produce cloudy ice cubes
• Make unsightly rings in the toilet and bathtub (soap scum)
• Dry out skin and hair
• Leave spots and stains on dishes and silverware
• Turn white fabrics gray, fade colored laundry, and cause towels to feel hard and stiff
• Require additional cleaning time and the use of environmentally unfriendly cleaning products with phosphates/water softening agent

The cloudiness you’re seeing is simply trapped air being released in tiny bubbles. Iron filters use air to oxygenate your water and remove iron particles. In the process, some air is left in the water and can come out of the faucet, temporarily making water appear cloudy. It’s more common for newer filtration systems, which use more air while the system “breaks in.” This is an expected, harmless effect of the filtration process and doesn’t require any special service or corrective action.

When Daylight Saving Time arrives in spring and fall, it’s smart to check on your water softener’s clock to ensure that it’s set to the correct time. This not only makes the equipment “spring forward” or “fall back” with you but also helps you catch accidental changes due to power outages. If your single tank system has the wrong time, it might end up regenerating in the middle of your morning shower! To adjust your softener’s clock, check out your owner’s manual for instructions, or give us a call and we can walk through it together. Every softener is slightly different, so yours might use an app, a digital display, or even an analog clock to set the time. Or if it’s been a while since you’ve had your equipment serviced, schedule a visit from the Water Doctors team!

If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg smell when you’re using hot water but cold water has no odor, it’s likely an issue with the anode rod in your water heater. (Your softener and treatment system are fine!) The simplest, least expensive fix is to replace the anode rod with a new or different style rod. Your usual water heater service technician can diagnose and fix the problem.

You most likely have a problem with Hydrogen Sulfide in your water. Water absorbs this gas as it passes through the ground. When you turn on your faucet, you actually vent the gas from your tap water.

Hydrogen sulfide can be treated with oxidation and filtration. Oxidation turns the gas into elemental sulfur which can then be removed via filtration. Normally, an aeration system injects air into the water to oxidize the gas. The water then passes through a filter that removes the sulfur. The result is water free of the “rotten egg” smell you describe.

Iron in your water is the most likely culprit. It stains faucets, sinks, bathtubs, countertops, appliances and even clothing. You can usually remove the iron with a home water conditioner.

In some instances, iron is present in such large amounts that a multi-stage filtration system is necessary to remove it. But don’t fret; your problem may appear worse than it really is. Iron in even small amounts can cause staining.

Explore the tap water database to learn more about what pollutants have been found in your local tap water, just search by zip code: Visit ewg.org/tapwater/