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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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Colby Stichter profile picture
Colby Stichter
7 days ago
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Kervin installed our new water softener system today and did a great job!
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Bill Phillips profile picture
Bill Phillips
7 days ago
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Duane G was very good about communicating his arrival time. His service was excellent. He also made some good suggestions about ways to improve our drinking water quality
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Patrick Mcgee profile picture
Patrick Mcgee
8 days ago
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
​We have been using Martin Water for years to maintain our water filtration system, and they are truly great. Duane came over recently—he is always nice, professional, and takes the time to explain everything he’s doing so we know exactly what to expect. I highly recommend Martin Water for all your water needs!
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Pete Scarano profile picture
Pete Scarano
9 days ago
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Good work!
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Jeff Lotz profile picture
Jeff Lotz
11 days ago
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Kervin was awesome! Very experienced, talented, and skilled. Super clean job. Great with our dogs, too. Definitely recommend!
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Kelly Smith profile picture
Kelly Smith
14 days ago
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We had a great installation experience. Kervin was knowledgeable, worked efficiently and with excellence. He explained everything we needed to know very well and left everything in even better shape than he found it. We are highly satisfied with the system and the service we received.
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Tim Stahl profile picture
Tim Stahl
15 days ago
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Very impressed with Martin Water Conditioning! From Loren coming out to test our well water and walking us through and educating us about our options to Kelton and Jaishun handling the installation, the entire process was smooth and easy. The installers were polite, professional, and great to work with. Our well water is no longer acidic, and we finally have soft water again! We’re very happy with the results and highly recommend their team. Amazing job from start to finish, save yourself the trouble and headache and just call these guys.
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David Anderson profile picture
David Anderson
17 days ago
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Another year has past and we just had our yearly Kinetico Water System serviced, that makes 20 years of fantastic water ! Thank you Zach for the professional service you provided.
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Laura Wozniski profile picture
Laura Wozniski
17 days ago
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Very efficient. My house had no mess. KERVIN WAS POLITE AND EFFICIENT. THANK YOU.
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Andy LaFaver profile picture
Andy LaFaver
18 days ago
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Eric from Martin Water came to our home and installed a new water softener system. He was fantastic. Got the job completed. No issues and it looks great. He instructed us on how to do basic servicing. I highly recommend this company for your plumbing needs.
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Trisha Fittipaldi profile picture
Trisha Fittipaldi
21 days ago
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Duane is our Martin tech every year. He explains in easy to understand terms how safe our water is, what the filtration system is doing and how much life is has left, as well as what each filter can do to keep our drinking water safe. As someone who never has well water before I greatly appreciate his clear explanations and thorough work. If you can choose a check choose Duane!
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Carl Deitrich profile picture
Carl Deitrich
22 days ago
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All of the Martin businesses are run extremely well and for a few years now we have been using them exclusively for our water conditioner, flooring, and furniture needs. They are very professional and courteous to a fault. Today Kervin came and installed a new neutralizer, softener, salt tub, and RO system. Our previous system was installed by Martin's and we decided to replace it under a deal they were running. They called it an out of warranty replacement. It came with an over $2,000.00 discount / rebate for the old equipment, 0% financing for a year, a 1 year labor warranty, and a 10 year parts warranty. Kelvin was very friendly, efficient, and did a very nice clean install.
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Tom Bird profile picture
Tom Bird
22 days ago
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Dwayne was a great salesman. He explained everything thoroughly and gave us some discounts. Eric and Jason did an excellent job with the installation of the system. Upon completion they reviewed all the components of the system with me. They were very effective, efficient, courteous, and polite.
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Nate Snyder profile picture
Nate Snyder
23 days ago
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Kevin was awesome. Pipe cracked and there Was water going everywhere the guys over the phone helped me troubleshoot, initial steps and then Kevin swing by and got everything in tiptop.
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Mark Devlin profile picture
Mark Devlin
23 days ago
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Outstanding communication. Duane was very friendly and informative. He explained what he was doing, and why, status of system, and each piece of equipment, and made recommendations based on his observations with proof to substantiate his statements. All with a smile.
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Bruce Gaston profile picture
Bruce Gaston
23 days ago
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Zach completed our water system maintenance in a professional manner. Zach detected issues with the home water system that needed immediate attention. Zach scheduled a service appointment to correct the issues. Zach represented Martin Water Conditioning in a very professional manner.
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Bob Holland profile picture
Bob Holland
24 days ago
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Quick and professional service. Very happy with the service provided.
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Dennis profile picture
Dennis
25 days ago
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Very good installation. The only thing I wished they had done was test rhe water pH after install.
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Randy Ringler profile picture
Randy Ringler
25 days ago
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Always exceptional service from Martin Water. Zach and Jonny were excellent. Very grateful for a company you can trust.
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Cathy Witmer profile picture
Cathy Witmer
25 days ago
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Zach arrived in the alloted time frame & called before coming. He was very polite & efficient.
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Gordon Hammond profile picture
Gordon Hammond
36 days ago
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Excellent consultation and service from Duane.
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Terrence Breslin profile picture
Terrence Breslin
37 days ago
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Luke's exceptional technical service was complimented by his demeanor in providing the best customer service possible. He handled the entire workload himself efficiently & thoroughly and the cleanup afterwards. This is a reflection of all the Martin's techs showing consistency in providing high-quality service. I welcome Luke's service response to any & all future technical service calls.
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Lindsay Groves profile picture
Lindsay Groves
45 days ago
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
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
47 days ago
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
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
48 days ago
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
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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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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