Hi,

So last year we bought a house - the well was not working so the previous owner put in a new well for us. We are experiencing very high levels of iron, to the point that our white toilet and bath are extremely stained.

We have a lot of equipment in the basement, and honestly I do not know what any of it is, or how to maintain it, assuming it needs regular upkeep, and if the lack of maintenance is what is causing our high iron issue.

I've attached pictures in the hope that someone will be able to, at least, tell me what all the components are so that I can do further research.

Thank you for reading!

 

The two tanks (one with regen display) are the water softener, and the grayish tank is apparently the salt/brine tank (used to regenerate the media in the softener tanks. The tall blue tank is your pressure tank. And the pump control box is....the pump control box for the submersible well pump.

Have you ever had to add salt to the brine tank?

If I were you, I'd pay a local well service company to do a service call, check everything out, and explain proper operation and maintenance of all the items. Yours is a straightforward well system, quite typical, but does require periodic maintenance, especially the softener.

Water softeners can remove some iron, but if it's really high in your water, you may have to add a separate iron remover stage.

You should also consider having your water tested by an independent lab so you know exactly what's in your well water.

 

I'll bet the second connected unit is a carbon filter!

Softeners can remove a good amount of iron but it's hard on the resin bed and agree a pre-iron removal system is very useful for high iron water.

You need to be carful here, get your average screw ball water salesman and they will likely try to sell you thousands of dollars of "theirs is better" equipment when yours could be in working condition.

I swear some of these guys are worst than window and car salesmen!

 

Unfortunately, circumstances mean I do not have spare cash to get someone in, hence I was hoping to get suggestions and advice.

On the assumption that nothing in those pictures is meant to remove iron, I can only assume that the new location of the well is why we are now experiencing very high levels of iron.

The two identical units which are wrapped in foil - so they are water softeners? They have tubing going to outside so I assume it's meant to be flushed - is it automatic? I've never seen it flush.

Thanks

 

No... and what's in there is solid.... what should/can I add to this, and to what level? There appears to be very little liquid in there - is that ok?

 

The pump controller and pressure tank must at least be functional; otherwise you would not have water at all, or would have volume or pressure issues.

It sounds like the softener isn't working at all, or at least not right. Normally one would have to add salt regularly, perhaps as often as every few weeks.

I don't recognize the softener control panel, perhaps someone else here will. Is there any manufacturer name or model information anywhere on the control units or tanks?

Are the control units on the two silver tanks the same?