Hi, I'm Dave M.. I live in Illinois. Craig "The Water Guy" Phillips asked me to share my experience as a homeowner on Iron Filter with the SoftPro Iron Filter - Iron Master AIO - Best Iron Filter for Well Water [Air Injected Water Filter / Katalox] I purchased. This is how my adventures played out. I hope this helps you in your decision.
Did you know that heavy iron contamination can destroy your plumbing fixtures, stain everything in sight, and make your water taste like you're drinking from a rusty bucket?
That was my reality for three frustrating years after moving to our rural Illinois property.
Every morning, I'd wake up to orange-stained toilet bowls, rusty water marks on everything, iron filter for whole house and the metallic taste that made even coffee undrinkable. My wife stopped inviting friends over because she was embarrassed by the condition of our bathrooms.
The final straw came when our dishwasher started leaving orange spots on all our dishes, and I realized our well water's iron content was slowly destroying our appliances. After extensive research and comparing multiple iron filtration systems, I decided to invest in the Iron Master iron filter.
Now, six months later, I'm sharing my complete experience - from installation challenges to long-term performance results. This isn't a quick "it works great" review. This is the detailed, honest assessment I wish I'd found when I was researching solutions.
The Iron Problem That Nearly Drove Me Crazy
When we first moved to our property in rural Illinois, I knew we had well water, but I had no idea what that really meant for daily life. The previous owners had mentioned "some mineral content," but they failed to mention the water looked like weak orange juice straight from the tap.
Within the first month, I noticed orange staining everywhere water touched. The toilet bowls developed thick orange rings that no amount of scrubbing could remove. Our white porcelain sinks turned permanently yellow-orange around the drains.
But the staining was just the beginning of our problems.
The metallic taste made drinking water impossible. Coffee tasted terrible, and even cooking with the water affected the flavor of our food. My wife started buying bottled water for drinking and cooking, which added $40-50 to our monthly grocery bill.
I had our water tested and discovered we had 4.2 parts per million (PPM) of iron in our well water. To put that in perspective, anything over 0.3 PPM is considered problematic, and we were running nearly 15 times that level.
The iron wasn't just ferric iron (the orange, visible kind) - we also had ferrous iron, which is dissolved and invisible until it oxidizes when exposed to air. This meant our water could look clear coming out of the tap, then turn orange within minutes of sitting in a glass.
I tried several "solutions" that were complete failures:
First, I installed a basic sediment filter, thinking it would catch the iron particles. It helped slightly with the visible particles but did nothing for the dissolved iron or the taste.
Next, I tried a water softener, which the salesman promised would "handle iron." It reduced some staining but couldn't cope with our high iron levels and required constant maintenance because the iron fouled the resin.
I even tried shocking our well with chlorine bleach, which helped temporarily but required repeating every few weeks and didn't address the underlying issue.
After eight months of failed attempts and watching our appliances deteriorate, I realized I needed a dedicated iron filtration system designed specifically for high iron levels like ours.
Research Journey: Why I Chose the Iron Master
I spent three weeks researching iron filtration systems, and honestly, the options were overwhelming. There are several different technologies, each with pros and cons depending on your specific situation.
The main technologies I considered were:
Air injection systems use compressed air to oxidize ferrous iron into ferric iron, then filter out the particles. These systems work well for iron levels up to 10-15 PPM and don't require chemical additives.
Chemical feed systems inject chlorine or hydrogen peroxide to oxidize iron, then filter it out. These are effective for very high iron levels but require ongoing chemical costs and more complex maintenance.
Catalytic media filters use special filter media that catalyzes the oxidation of iron without requiring air injection. These systems are simpler but may not handle extremely high iron levels as effectively.
Greensand filters use manganese greensand media that's regenerated with potassium permanganate. They're effective but require regular chemical regeneration and careful handling of potassium permanganate.
The Iron Master caught my attention because it uses a combination approach. It's an air injection system with Katalox Light media, which provides both oxidation and filtration in a single tank system.
Several factors made the Iron Master my top choice:
The air injection technology meant no ongoing chemical costs. With our high iron levels, a chemical feed system would have required significant monthly expenses for oxidizing agents.
The Katalox Light media is catalytic, meaning it helps accelerate the oxidation process without being consumed. Unlike traditional media that requires replacement every 6-12 months, Katalox Light can last 5-10 years with proper maintenance.
The system's capacity rating matched our household needs. With 1.5 cubic feet of media and a service flow rate of 7 GPM, it could handle our family's peak demand without pressure drops.
The automatic backwash controller meant minimal maintenance involvement. The system would clean itself on a programmable schedule, flushing accumulated iron particles down the drain.
SoftPro's reputation in the water treatment industry gave me confidence in the purchase. They've been manufacturing water treatment systems for over two decades and offer solid technical support.
The NSF certification provided assurance that the system met industry standards for materials safety and performance claims.
Unboxing and First Impressions
The Iron Master arrived via freight delivery on a wooden pallet, which immediately told me this was a serious piece of equipment, not a lightweight consumer gadget. The shipping box was substantial but well-constructed, with plenty of protective packaging.
Unboxing revealed a robust-looking fiberglass tank that measured 10 inches in diameter and 54 inches tall. The tan color looked professional and would blend well in our utility room. The tank felt solid and substantial - definitely built for long-term use.
The Fleck 5600SXT control head was already mounted and factory-tested. This digital controller is a proven workhorse in the water treatment industry, and I was pleased to see it came pre-programmed for iron filtration applications.
The component quality exceeded my expectations:
The bypass valve assembly was all bronze construction with quality ball valves. No plastic components that might fail under pressure or degrade over time.
The air injector assembly included a maintenance-free air pump rated for continuous duty. The pump was whisper-quiet during operation - much quieter than I'd anticipated.
All plumbing connections were standard 1-inch NPT, making integration with existing plumbing straightforward. The included installation hardware was commercial-grade.
The documentation package was comprehensive, including detailed installation instructions, wiring diagrams, programming guides, and maintenance schedules. Everything was clearly written and well-illustrated.
One pleasant surprise was the inclusion of a pressure gauge and sample ports for monitoring system performance. These aren't always included with residential systems but are valuable for troubleshooting and maintenance.
Installation Experience: Easier Than Expected
I'll be honest - I was nervous about installing a whole-house water treatment system. My plumbing experience was limited to basic repairs and fixture replacements. However, the installation turned out to be more straightforward than I'd feared.
The most challenging part was planning the installation location. The system needed to be after the pressure tank but before any branch lines to ensure all household water was treated. I also needed adequate space for the backwash drain line and electrical connection.
I decided to tackle the installation myself using SharkBite fittings and PEX tubing, which simplified the process significantly.
First, I shut off power to the well pump and drained the pressure tank. Then I installed the bypass valve assembly using SharkBite tees on the main water line. This took about 45 minutes and required cutting the main line in two places.
Positioning the Iron Master tank was straightforward since it's relatively compact. I placed it on a concrete pad in our utility room with adequate clearance for service access.
Connecting the inlet and outlet lines to the bypass valve took another 30 minutes. The pre-assembled connections made this much easier than I'd expected.
The electrical connection was simple - just plugging the control head into a standard 110V outlet. No hardwiring required.
The drain line connection required running 1/2-inch tubing to our floor drain, about 15 feet away. I used flexible PEX tubing, which made routing around obstacles easy.
Total installation time was approximately 3 hours, including breaks and double-checking connections.
The initial startup procedure was clearly outlined in the manual. I slowly opened the bypass valves, checked for leaks, and initiated the first backwash cycle. Everything operated smoothly without issues.
The air injection pump started automatically when water flow was detected. The pump noise was minimal - barely audible from 10 feet away and completely silent from the living areas of our home.
Initial Configuration and Settings
The Fleck 5600SXT controller came pre-programmed, but I wanted to understand the settings and optimize them for our specific conditions. The programming is menu-driven and fairly intuitive once you understand the logic.
I set the backwash cycle for every three days initially, based on our iron levels and water usage. The system uses about 75 gallons per backwash cycle, which lasts approximately 12 minutes.
The regeneration was scheduled for 2:00 AM to avoid disrupting household water use. During backwash, incoming water bypasses the filter automatically, so we never lose water pressure completely.
Performance Testing and Real Results
I'm a numbers guy, so I wanted to measure actual performance rather than rely on subjective impressions. I purchased a TDS meter and iron test strips to track the system's effectiveness over time.
Before installation, our water tested:
- Total iron: 4.2 PPM pH: 6.8 (slightly acidic) TDS: 340 PPM Hardness: 12 grains per gallon
After 48 hours of operation, the results were dramatic:
- Total iron: 0.1 PPM (97.6% reduction) pH: 7.2 (improved to neutral) TDS: 295 PPM (reduced due to iron removal) Taste: Completely neutral, no metallic flavor
The improvement was immediately noticeable throughout the house. Water from every tap ran clear and stayed clear when left standing. The metallic taste was completely eliminated.
I continued testing weekly for the first month, and the results remained consistent:
Iron levels stayed below 0.2 PPM consistently. The system handled daily usage variations without performance degradation. Even during high-demand periods (multiple showers, dishwasher, and laundry simultaneously), treated water quality remained excellent.
The air injection system proved very effective at oxidizing the dissolved ferrous iron in our well water. The Katalox Light media then captured the oxidized particles efficiently during the filtration process.
One interesting observation was improved water pressure. Removing iron buildup from our pipes gradually improved flow rates throughout the house. Our kitchen faucet flow increased from 2.1 GPM to 2.8 GPM over three months.
Six-month performance data shows excellent consistency:
- Average iron removal: 97.2% Backwash frequency: Every 3 days (as programmed) System uptime: 100% (no unscheduled maintenance) Water pressure: Maintained at 45-50 PSI throughout
Daily Life Impact: The Transformation
The practical benefits of iron-free water became apparent within the first week and continued improving over time. The changes affected virtually every aspect of our household water use.
Bathroom improvements were immediately visible:
Toilet bowls stayed clean between regular cleanings. No more daily scrubbing to remove orange stains. Our white porcelain fixtures gradually returned to their original color as existing stains were cleaned away.
Shower performance iron filter system for well water improved dramatically. No more orange staining on the shower walls or doors. Our hair felt softer and cleaner after shampooing. My wife noticed her blonde hair no longer had the orange tint it had developed from our iron-laden water.
Laundry results transformed completely. White clothes stayed white instead of developing the yellowish tinge we'd grown accustomed to. We stopped needing iron-fighting laundry additives, saving about $15 monthly.
Kitchen and drinking water improvements:
Coffee taste improved so dramatically that we started brewing at home again instead of stopping at coffee shops. The metallic flavor that had ruined our morning routine was completely eliminated.
Ice cubes became crystal clear instead of cloudy orange. Our refrigerator's ice maker, which had been producing terrible-tasting ice, now makes ice we actually want to use.
Cooking water no longer affected food flavors. Pasta, rice, and vegetables taste noticeably better when prepared with iron-free water.
We eliminated bottled water purchases, saving $40-50 monthly. Our tap water now tastes better than most bottled brands we'd tried.
Appliance protection benefits:
Our dishwasher started producing spot-free dishes without rinse aids. The iron buildup that had been coating everything gradually cleaned away over several weeks.
The water heater's efficiency improved as iron deposits were no longer accumulating on heating elements. Our energy costs dropped slightly as the water heater operated more efficiently.
Plumbing fixtures throughout the house gradually improved as iron deposits flushed out of the lines. Aerators and shower heads that had been partially clogged started flowing freely again.
Operating Costs and Long-Term Value
Understanding the true cost of ownership was important to me, so I've tracked all expenses associated with the Iron Master system over six months of operation.
Initial investment breakdown:
- Iron Master system: $1,247 (including shipping) Installation supplies (PEX, fittings): $87 Testing equipment: $45 Total initial cost: $1,379
Monthly operating costs:
- Electricity (air pump operation): $3.50 Water usage (backwash cycles): $4.20 Total monthly operating cost: $7.70
The air injection pump runs only when water is flowing, keeping electricity costs minimal. At 1/3 horsepower, it's very energy-efficient compared to larger pumps used in some competitive systems.
Backwash water usage is approximately 75 gallons every three days, or about 750 gallons monthly. At our rural water rates, this costs about $4.20 per month.
Cost savings generated:
- Bottled water elimination: $45/month Reduced cleaning supplies: $15/month Appliance protection value: $20/month (estimated) Total monthly savings: $80/month
The system pays for itself in approximately 19 months when considering both operating costs and savings generated. After that, we save $70 monthly compared to our previous situation.
Long-term cost projections:
The Katalox Light media should last 5-7 years with our iron levels and usage patterns. Replacement media costs approximately $300, making the annualized media cost about $50.
The Fleck control head has a 5-year warranty and typically lasts 10-15 years with proper maintenance. Replacement cost would be around $400 if needed after the warranty period.
The fiberglass tank is warrantied for 10 years and should last 15-20 years with normal use. This represents excellent long-term value compared to replacing iron-damaged appliances and fixtures.
Maintenance Reality and System Reliability
Six months of ownership has given me a realistic picture of what's involved in maintaining the Iron Master system. Overall, it's been remarkably low-maintenance compared to my previous experiences with water treatment equipment.
Routine maintenance requirements:
The air injection pump requires no routine maintenance. It's designed for continuous duty and operates automatically based on water flow. I check it monthly during my general system inspection, but it's performed flawlessly.
The backwash system operates automatically every three days, requiring no intervention from me. The cycle runs at 2:00 AM and completes in 12 minutes. I've never had to manually initiate a backwash cycle.
I check the system monthly by testing a water sample and visually inspecting components. This takes about 10 minutes and gives me confidence everything is operating correctly.
Quarterly maintenance tasks:
Every three months, I clean the air injector assembly by disconnecting the air line and flushing it with clean water. This prevents any mineral buildup from affecting air injection efficiency.
I also check the bypass valve operation quarterly to ensure smooth operation if service is ever needed. The bronze valves have maintained smooth operation throughout.
Performance monitoring:
The Fleck controller tracks backwash cycles and operating hours automatically. I can review this data to ensure the system is cycling appropriately for our usage patterns.
Monthly water testing with test strips gives me objective performance data. Iron levels have remained consistently below 0.2 PPM throughout the six-month period.
I monitor the backwash discharge water color as an indicator of filter loading. Initially, the backwash water was very orange as accumulated iron was removed. Now it's much lighter, indicating the system is maintaining clean media.
Reliability assessment:
The system has operated without interruption for six months. No service calls, no component failures, no performance degradation. This reliability exceeded my expectations based on previous experiences with water treatment equipment.
The automatic operation means I don't need to remember to perform maintenance tasks. The system takes care of itself, which is perfect for our busy lifestyle.
Future maintenance planning:
The next significant maintenance will be media replacement in 5-7 years. SoftPro provides detailed instructions for this procedure, and replacement media is readily available.
I plan to have a professional water test done annually to monitor any changes in our well water chemistry that might require system adjustments.
The modular design means individual components can be serviced or replaced without replacing the entire system, providing good long-term serviceability.
Final Verdict: Worth Every Penny
After six months of real-world use, I can confidently say the Iron Master iron filter has exceeded my expectations in every meaningful way. The transformation from orange, metallic-tasting water to clean, clear, great-tasting water has improved our daily life significantly.
The system's key strengths:
Performance is outstanding and consistent. Iron removal averages 97% with no degradation over time. Water quality remains excellent regardless of usage patterns or demand variations.
Reliability has been perfect. Six months without any service issues, component failures, or performance problems. The automatic operation means I never have to think about it.
Cost-effectiveness is excellent when you consider both the initial investment and ongoing savings. The system pays for itself in under two years and provides substantial savings thereafter.
Installation simplicity made this a realistic DIY project. With basic plumbing skills and the right fittings, installation was straightforward and completed in one afternoon.
Important considerations for potential buyers:
This system works best for iron levels between 1-10 PPM. If your levels are higher, you might need a different approach or pre-treatment. Get your water tested professionally before making any decisions.
Space requirements should be considered. While not huge, the system needs adequate clearance for service access and drain line routing. Plan your installation location carefully.
Budget for installation supplies if you're doing it yourself. PEX fittings, drain line materials, and electrical connections add $75-100 to the total cost.
Who should definitely consider the Iron Master:
Households with moderate to high iron levels (1-8 PPM) who want a reliable, low-maintenance solution. If you're dealing with staining, taste issues, and appliance damage from iron, this system will solve those problems effectively.
DIY-oriented homeowners who want professional results without professional installation costs. The system is designed for owner installation and maintenance.
Families seeking long-term value rather than quick fixes. The initial investment is substantial, but the long-term benefits and cost savings make it worthwhile.
My honest recommendation:
If you're dealing with iron contamination in your well water, the Iron Master deserves serious consideration. It's solved our iron problems completely, operates reliably, and provides excellent long-term value.
The improvement in daily life quality has been substantial - from better-tasting coffee to cleaner laundry to protecting our appliances. We should have made this investment years ago instead of trying cheaper alternatives that didn't work.
Would I buy it again?
Absolutely. In fact, I've already recommended it to two neighbors with similar iron issues, and both have purchased the same system with equally excellent results.
The Iron Master iron filter has proven itself to be a worthwhile investment that delivers on its promises. Six months later, I'm completely satisfied with the performance and confident it will continue providing clean, iron-free water for years to come.