So around here, to clean/recycle the whole house filter, which is between the pressure tank and water softener, iron-out is being used.

The method is, the filter is taken out, soaked in a bucket with water and iron-out for quite some time. It gets pretty clean. Then, its rinsed (ideally atleast) and put back into the filter housing. THEN the water is ran for about 10 minutes at the nearest location.

My question is, is this safe? Nobody has ever experienced any taste issues and it seems to work well to clean the filters.

 

I've never cleaned whole house filters..... only replaced them.

What type of chemical is iron out ?
Does it have a toxicity warning on it ?
Is it designed to clean potable water filters ?
People don't have to taste it for it to be unhealthy for them.

 

If you scroll down a little on this link and click the “Directions” tab it indicates it can be used for dishwashers and water softeners. The directions for iron-out toilet tank cleaning say it won’t hurt pets or children but … it is not recommended if your dog drinks out of the toilet bowl. So I guess that tells you something.

All Purpose Powders | SuperIronOut.com

If the whole house filter cartridge absorbs that stuff it seems to me that would be different than a dishwasher or softener. It seems to me that might be more like a constant slow release of that stuff into the drinking water – maybe not. Just a thought.

I assume the reason the cartridge is cleaned rather than replaced is because it is a big one and expensive and gets clogged frequently. I think I would just replace the cartridge rather than clean it with that stuff. But others may disagree.

 

The part on the very bottom "if taste or odor is detected in tap water, manually regenerate softener, run cold water until odor is gone"

I wonder if the odor theyre referring to is iron out or the iron thats released from the softeners beads?

Correct me if im wrong, but if you put iron out in the brine tank, as suggested....that WILL, atleast some, get into the water system correct?

 

I don’t have a softener myself (just an Acid Neutralizer tank) but I think you are correct.

texasdude -

I just found this. Looks like it might be helpful, I think this applies to all the products, not sure:

http://www.summitbrands.com/Data/Acc...perIronOut.pdf

 

texasdude-

I think I see where you are coming from. It sounds like the product is safe around potable water, yet it is not crystal clear (like the don't let your dog drink it advice).

Why don't you post this on the "Water Softeners and Air Filtration Systems" forum. I know there are guys there that know a lot about water treatment systems and what is and what is not safe.

 

We keep a single topic in a single thread. I moved this thread here from the wells forum.

 

Thanks for helping zoesdad.

And thanks for moving it PJ. You helped me in another thread once involving a breaker panel

 

Yeah. Its a 2 (moderate) health hazard on the msds. I *believe* its more dangerous to inhale than ingest. All I keep seeing is nausea/vomiting. Ofcourse this is for the chemical itself. Not after its dissolved and diluted in water.