What causes iron stains?
Rainwater can contaminate aquifers with iron when it seeps into the soil and fills private or shared wells. This unfiltered water can then enter homes and cause iron to appear in tap water. Iron in water can appear in two forms: ferrous iron, which is colorless and turns cloudy when exposed to air, and ferric iron, which is insoluble in water and appears brownish.
Signs and Symptoms of Iron
Signs you may have iron in your water:
- Water leaves a rust stain on surfaces throughout your home
- Orangish brown water rings in toilet bowls and the toilet tank
- Reddish-orange stains in your dishwasher or washing machine
- Red and orange stains on clothing after it has been washed
How To Prevent Iron Stains
To prevent future stains, you need to understand what type of iron exists in your water. Ferrous iron is not visible in water, but it leaves rust-like stains on clothes and other surfaces that frequently come in contact with your water. When a glass of water settles, ferric iron is the brown sediment you may see at the bottom of a glass of water once it has settled. Since ferrous iron and ferric iron require different treatment methods, a water test is needed to determine which iron is in your water. Kinetico Water offers several water treatment solutions to remove iron from your water and eliminate future iron stains. Depending on your water conditions, you can use a water softener, or our Specialty Iron Oxidizing System to treat iron in the water.
To get started, call us at (515) 277-6250 or contact us to schedule your free water analysis.