What Makes An Iron Filter Different? The AIO Technology That's Changing Everything

Written by Craig "The Water Guy" Phillips

Getting to Know Iron in Water

Iron in water is a thorn in the side for lots of folks using well water. Knowing different types of iron in your water and how they might affect you helps in figuring out how to tackle this issue wisely.

Types of Iron Blockages

Iron in water wears many masks, each with its own downsides and quirks:

• Ferrous Iron (Fe²⁺): Sneaky like a ninja, this iron is see-through in water. But let it breathe some air, and it turns into the rusty-looking ferric iron. Ferrous iron messes with your plumbing and leaves stubborn stains.

• Ferric Iron (Fe³⁺): This one's caught red-handed—literally! It’s the reddish-brown stuff you sometimes find floating in your water. Gets there when ferrous iron takes in some air. Its visible marks make it a nuisance.

• Organic Iron: When iron hooks up with organic bits, you get sticky, gooey mud that's hard to filter. It usually rides with tannins in water, making iron removal a real headache.

• Colloidal Iron: Think of this as sparkly dust in water. The little particles make your water look cloudy. Getting them out takes some serious filtering skills.

What Iron in Water Means for You

Though our bodies need a little iron, having too much in your drinking water can stir up trouble:

• Getting Too Much Iron: Drinking iron-rich water isn’t good, especially for pregnant women and kids. You might feel sick, get stomach aches, or worse off, even vomiting.

• Plumbing and Gadgets: Too much iron means dealing with rusty pipes, leaky taps, and expenses piling up for fixes and replacements.

• Taste and Smell: A mouthful of metal isn't exactly pleasant, and iron can also leave stains that make you feel like you’re trying to clean a rust factory.

• Skin Hassles: It's bad news for anyone with sensitive skin. Overload of iron can exacerbate acne or eczema, setting you up for more frustration.

Iron Type	Looks	Messy Bits
Ferrous Iron	See-through till air hits it	Stains surfaces, clogs up your plumbing
Ferric Iron	Reddish-brown particles	Leaves your water and home looking grubby
Organic Iron	Sticks like gum to organic stuff	Hard to clean, residue trouble
Colloidal Iron	Makes water cloudy	Needs top-tier filtering to clear out

Knowing these iron players and their impact helps us grasp why iron removal systems are must-haves for making sure your water stays clean and safe.

Importance of Iron Filters

So, why should you care about iron filters? These little gizmos are household heroes when it comes to sprucing up your water. Let's check out how they work and the different options you can choose from.

How Iron Filters Work

These filters are like the bouncers of your water system, kicking out unwanted guests like iron, manganese, and that funky-smelling hydrogen sulfide. They usually do their magic with a "media bed" loaded with stuff like manganese dioxide. As water flows through, it turns the normally invisible iron into visible particles, making it a breeze to capture and yank out.

With one of these filters, you'll have water that's clear and doesn’t leave your sinks looking like a rusty graffiti wall (Reliance Home Comfort). Curious about the nitty-gritty? We've got more details on what does an iron filter do.

Iron Filter Systems You Can Choose From

Let's chat about some of the top iron filter systems out there – each uses its own brand of magic to get that iron out of your water:

1. BIRM Filters

• These guys (Burgess Iron Removal Method) skip the chemicals. They use a special mineral in their media bed to help iron out your water without the extra fuss.

1. MGS (Green Sand) Filters

• With greensand coated in manganese oxide, these filters turn dissolved iron and manganese into solid stuff you can easily fish out.

1. Greensand Plus Filters

• A bit fancier, these filters have an upgrade that makes them even better at cleaning up iron and other nasties.

1. MTM Filters

• Manganese Treated Media filters use a special stuff that regenerates with potassium permanganate. They do a bang-up job on both iron and manganese.

1. Air Injection Oxidation (AIO) Filters

• Systems like our SoftPro AIO Iron Master use air to help wrestle out iron, sulfur, and manganese. They're tops for efficiently kicking these guys to the curb.

Type of Filter	How It Works	What’s Good About It
BIRM	Special Mineral Coating	No chemicals needed
MGS (Green Sand)	Greensand & Manganese Oxide	Clears iron and manganese
Greensand Plus	Better Coating	Improved cleaning action
MTM (Manganese Treated Media)	Potassium Permanganate	Cleans up iron and manganese
AIO (Air Injection Oxidation)	Uses Air	Great for multiple contaminants

If you want to geek out on how each system works, hop on over to our guides like can you filter iron out of water and how iron filter works.

Choosing the right iron filter means your water worries are yesterday's news. Like, if your well water's rich in iron, the SoftPro AIO Iron Master might just be your new best friend. Want more deets on iron and manganese removal? We've got all the juicy insights waiting for you.