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Does Your Water

Contain Iron?

Rust stains, discolored water, and clogged pipes may stem from iron in your water.
 

Does Your Water

Contain Iron?

Rust stains, discolored water, and clogged pipes may stem from iron in your water.
 

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Years in Business

Signs of Iron in Your Water

Have you noticed rusty stains around your faucet or in your bathtub? Does your white clothing come out of the wash looking stained or discolored? It may be due to iron in your water. Although it’s safe to consume, water containing high levels of iron often has a bitter taste, and it can wreak havoc in your home, leaving marks on dishes and laundry and even clogging your pipes.

How Iron Enters Your Water Supply

Iron is the fourth most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, and it often dissolves as rainwater moves through soil and rocks. Eventually, that groundwater becomes your drinking water, and the iron remains in your water supply unless it goes through a filter designed to remove it. Iron can also enter your water via metal pipes and faucets.

What Damage Can Iron-Rich Water Do in Your Home?

Pipes

When your water is high in iron, it can start to collect in — and eventually clog — your pipes, drains, and faucets.

Laundry & Dishes

Once iron begins to oxidize, it leaves water with a rusty tint, which may stain your laundry and dishes.

Fixtures

Water containing iron can leave persistent rusty stains in your bathtub, sink, toilet, and other fixtures.

Drinking Water

While it’s generally safe to drink, water with high levels of iron tends to have a bitter, unpleasant taste.

Removing Iron from Your Water

Twin-tank Kinetico water softeners are extremely effective at removing iron. In some cases, you may need special filters that capture iron, sediment, and other contaminants as well. These can accompany a softener and create a powerful combo.

What Your Neighbors Are Saying

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Lindsay Groves profile picture
Lindsay Groves
3 days ago
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From the initial phone call to the installation, this company shines with professionalism and care. Eric installed our system; he was kind, professional, efficient in his skill, and even paused his work to kill a spider on my front porch for me. If I could give him 1000 stars I would (just for the spider killing.)
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Mark Fink profile picture
Mark Fink
5 days ago
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They installed a Kinetico water softener and K5 RO unit in our home + bypassed the outdoor hose bibs. They did a great job -- clean and thorough. System is working great. Highly recommend. The entire experience was smooth and easy; they did everything they agreed to do.
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Jewel Greenberg profile picture
Jewel Greenberg
6 days ago
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After purchasing our new home which is on well water, I took water samples to Martin Water Conditioning. Dave (David?) answered many questions for me by phone and in person, then Loren came out to assess our current system and walk us through it since it was new to us, followed by John that same week who came out to update some of our filters and add a UV light. From start to finish, every single person we worked with was fantastic. Dave, Loren, and John were all wealths of knowledge, amenable to answering questions, and thoroughly explained the parts of the system we have, how they work together, and how to maintain them. If you're looking for a company full of knowledgable, professional, and genuinely nice people, Martin Water Conditioning is a great match. Thank you, everyone! We really appreciate the time you took with us. :)
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Elyse Eberhardt profile picture
Elyse Eberhardt
7 days ago
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Chris was a pleasure to work with. Easy to talk to and understand, and readily available for any questions or issues. Kervin and Dan were wonderful with our installation. They were as pleasant as could be, and very knowledgeable and efficient. They went out of their way for us, knowing we were on a time frame. We will absolutely be using Martin’s again in the future and will recommend them to everyone!
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Carmen Quiñones profile picture
Carmen Quiñones
7 days ago
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Today Kervin was working in our house and he did an excellent job! He is a very nice person and very polite.
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Deborah Maurer profile picture
Deborah Maurer
7 days ago
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I love my water softener! Kervin did an excellent job. He was very efficient and customer friendly!
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LEROY SHEARER profile picture
LEROY SHEARER
7 days ago
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Zack did a great job. Was diligent and professional
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Eric Ray profile picture
Eric Ray
10 days ago
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Eric and Jason showed up at the proper time, explained their work to me and did a wonderful job install. They were both professional, neat, organized and respected our home. I would definitely use them again.
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Rick Musk profile picture
Rick Musk
11 days ago
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Honest answers on MARTINS Water Conditioning— This is a spectacular company with knowledgeable, professional installers that employed by this company. Dwayne Martin ,Kervin, ,Jay. I have 6+ Contractors , Construction , Painters, Driveways , Plumbers, Electrician I have worked with my clients for the last 26+years as a REALTOR Real Estate . Martins is the BEST🇺🇸🙏
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T O'Leary profile picture
T O'Leary
16 days ago
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My husband and I adore Duane. He is considered family. He has taken care of our water system for many years now. We don't want another guy. He is fast, efficient, friendly and just plain wonderful!!!! Thank you for all you do and that killer smile doesn't hurt😉 P.s. This is the same review I've given him before but it's the truth so no need to change it.
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Okday profile picture
Okday
22 days ago
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Very professional
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Mike Sabocheck profile picture
Mike Sabocheck
22 days ago
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Martin Water is a first class professional company to do business with. Their employees are always professional, polite, and trustworthy. Glad we chose them for our water needs.
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Barbara McLaughlin profile picture
Barbara McLaughlin
23 days ago
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Eric H was excellent in explaining, installing and demonstrating how my new system works. He was very neat, considerate and made sure all my questions were addressed. Chris also was excellent in addressing my water situation and placement of the system. Thank you.
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Following Jesus profile picture
Following Jesus
23 days ago
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Martins Conditioning is the one place where I can put my trust in for all around Top Quality in the appliances and the workmanship that are provided. I know that I can count on Martins if I would ever need them.
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Christina MacNeill profile picture
Christina MacNeill
23 days ago
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Wendell was friendly, professional, and knowledgeable.
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Kim Stone profile picture
Kim Stone
24 days ago
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Great customer service! The technician, Duane, arrived on time, was also very friendly and knowledgeable.
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Rick Loncosky profile picture
Rick Loncosky
29 days ago
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Kervin was just a pleasure to have worked on our new system. Great personality and his knowledge of water systems is top notch. Thank You “Martins Water” 👍
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Daniel Sutorius profile picture
Daniel Sutorius
29 days ago
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Another excellent water processing equipment service call today by Duane of Martin Watering Conditioning. The service call was on time and ran with no surprises. Duane was very professional and clean and thorough. He kept me informed along the way and explained each step before proceeding. Pricing was very fair given all the work that was performed. Will certainly use Martin again on future service calls.
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Don HB profile picture
Don HB
30 days ago
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Eric & Caden were great. They knew their stuff, they were polite, and they problem solved. Thanks for having such a great team.
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Laura profile picture
Laura
30 days ago
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We have been a customer of Martin for about 5 years now. I researched our options back when we were thinking about installing a water system and haven’t been disappointed in our decision. Duane, the Martin representative servicing our system, was terrific and made some important recommendations to improve our water quality. I appreciated his attention to detail and how he kept me informed of his progress. Highly recommend Martin Water Conditioning.
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Kelly Wagner profile picture
Kelly Wagner
31 days ago
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Wendall was super knowledgeable and super helpful with preventing a Potential problem! Super customer service, highly recommended!
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Jim Herman profile picture
Jim Herman
31 days ago
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Excellent sales and installation. Keevin was great at installation and Dwayne was a pleasure to work with on the contract. They really care about customer service !
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JJ D profile picture
JJ D
31 days ago
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The entire Martin staff are always on time, courteous, and more than skilled and efficient. Duane was our technician for this round of service. He is wonderful to work with and more than happy to explain the system, as well as fully outline and demonstrate any problems and/or services s in full detail. Being in service all of my career I have to say it's always a pleasure working with them and never disappointed. Highly recommend this organization for any of your water softening and water treatment needs. Thank you Duane and to all the other technicians that constantly deliver Top Notch service to our home!
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Steve Miller profile picture
Steve Miller
32 days ago
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Zach showed up at time promised. Answered all my questions and completed his work in a timely manner
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Arthur Royce profile picture
Arthur Royce
34 days ago
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We just had a new water softener system installed. Eric H. did an excellent job with the installation. I think the basement was cleaner when he finished than when he started. The piping was neatly laid out and well marked. He also took me down to the basement to explain what he did, how he set it up and what I should do going forward. Eric explained things well and asked if I had any questions. I highly recommend Martin Water Conditioning.
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Frequently Asked Questions

In most homes, iron in water is considered a nuisance issue rather than a health concern. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) classifies iron as a secondary contaminant, meaning it’s regulated for taste, odor, and staining, not safety.

That said, elevated iron levels can affect overall water quality and may point to other issues worth testing for. While it’s generally safe to drink, many homeowners choose to treat iron to improve their water’s taste, prevent staining, and protect their plumbing system.
Yes. Iron in water can leave a residue on your skin and hair, which may cause dryness or make your skin feel less clean after bathing. Over time, it can also make hair feel dull, brittle, or harder to manage.

For lighter hair colors, iron can even cause subtle discoloration or a reddish tint. While not harmful, these effects can be frustrating and are a common reason homeowners choose to treat iron in their water.
Yes, especially if the problem goes untreated over time. Iron stains on dishes and glassware can become difficult to remove, and fabric stains that set through repeated washing and drying can become permanent. Inside your plumbing, iron can build up gradually, restricting water flow and putting added strain on fixtures and appliances.

The good news is that early treatment makes a big difference. Stains are much easier to remove before they set, and buildup caught early is far less expensive to address than long-term damage.
It depends on the type and level of iron in your water. A water softener can remove small amounts of dissolved iron, along with hardness minerals like calcium and magnesium. However, higher levels of iron, visible particles, or iron bacteria usually require a dedicated iron-filtration system.

In many cases, the most effective solution is a combination. An iron filter removes the bulk of the iron first, followed by a water softener to improve overall water quality. A water test will determine exactly what’s present and which system is the best fit.
Iron in your water is not typically a health emergency, but it’s not something that improves on its own. In most cases, iron levels stay the same or gradually get worse over time.

As iron continues to build up, staining becomes more difficult to remove, and deposits can accumulate in pipes, fixtures, and appliances. This can reduce their efficiency and lead to premature wear or costly repairs.

Addressing the issue early is usually simpler and more cost-effective than waiting until the problem becomes more severe. A water test can help determine how significant the issue is and what level of treatment makes sense for you.

Contact Us

When you need water conditioning services, trust Martin Water. For your no-obligation water analysis or for more information about our premium products, industry-leading warranties, and reliable service, contact us today!

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