What are folks doing to have their well water tested? Seems like there’s a lot of options out there ranging from $30 to $300.

We have rain soft for our well system.

https://www.pureeffectfilters.com/filter-units/pure-effect-ultra-uc.html

This unit filters out contaminates but leaves the useful minerals.

Without a water test, you have no idea what type of filter you need.

To answer your question at face value; based on my test results my setup is as follows:

First filter is a Venturi style “sand spinner”. It basically catches all of the big particulate crap. It has a metal mesh filter in it. I have to clean it once a month. They are pricey compared to a cartridge filter but I never have to stock filters at home and it does seem to catch more than the standard paper or string wound cartridges.

Second in line is something known as an “iron curtain” (It is a Helenbrand unit there are a couple of technologies used based on how much you are filtering- ozone/compressed air) it has a large membrane filter for smaller particulate and also has an ozone generator for the 2nd stage. It helps tremendously with smell and taste. It was like $2k but is a game changer.

Third is a softener for final filtering. I’m guessing no explanation needed on this.

After all of this, I still use a Brita pitcher when I fill ice trays. I have high amounts of iron, black chunkies (manganese?) and strong sulfur smell. My well is labeled by the county as “age undetermined” 😆 they had pretty bad records until the 50s. House is from 1861. I have the county test for everything they can every 3 years as recommended. It costs around $300. I hand the test results to the water company that maintains my softener and iron curtain and they make sure I can’t tell I’m drinking and bathing in well water.

Many water companies will do testing as well but they usually don’t test for the really nasty crap like parasites, Ag runoff, and micro plastics.

I have a kinnetico whole house system with ro for drinking and frige. Great system. Not cheap to maintain as you are tied to an individual franchise area. It came with the house when I bought it.

You don’t want whole home RO unless you have absolutely no other options. Get your water tested and go from there. You cannot build a system without a water analysis.

I have seen several mentions of this system.

One thing to keep in mind with whatever filter systems you pick. Make sure its minimum pressure required to get water through the filter is LOWER than your well water. Well water pressure if usually 20+ psi less than town supplied water. I am sure most filters will be fine, but still something to double check before installing and finding you only get a dribble out of your faucets now.

I installed this system - Express Water Heavy Metal Whole House Water Filter – 3 Stage Home Water Filtration System – Sediment, KDF, Carbon Filters – includes Pressure Gauges, Easy Release, and 1” Inch Connections https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LFMTYBM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_55KwFbJTXGDJE

There are different filters you can use to target specific problems, in my case I got the heavy metals filter since I have really high levels of iron.

Works well, no real complaints for the price. Better stuff out there of course, but you’ll be spending thousands.

I’d also look at a uv filter for added layer of protection. You should have your water tested though, see what you need to filter out.

UV plus RO is kind of overkill in my opinion. RO already eliminates 99%+ of virus and bacteria sized particles. Viruses aren't typically found in wells, generally we get viruses from other people directly or indirectly so unless there is sewage contamination in the well... Even then I would be more concerned about bacteria.

Get the well water tested. Look specifically for a Coliform bacteria test. The only reason I would consider doubling is if you have a shallow/dug well (possible groundwater contamination) or a deep well with high coliform. UV+RO would be for drinking river or lake water. If you have a deep well and low coliform then the point of RO is for things like lead, nitrates, etc.

Source: Grew up on well water, family ran hydroponics and aquaponics systems off of shallow well, deep well, and city water so I'm pretty familiar with water analysis and filtration. I've built RO-DI systems for saltwater aquariums as well.

I would recommend getting your water tested. I ended up needing a sediment filter, iron filter, water softener, and RO filter (just for drinking water).

If it is for drinking water, a reverse osmosis system is great. On arsenic, that should be treated for the whole house since arsenic absorbs through the skin during bathing (showering included) and most your exposure to arsenic is during bathing. Of course, a good water test will tell you about anything that should worry you, instead of worrying about everything but not addressing actual issues properly.

Look into a permeate pump or booster pump for the RO system if you want full water pressure at the drinking tap.

A combination of sediment filter (for large stuff), UV for micro organisms and virus, and reverse osmosis for everything else.

When I moved in here and had the well company out to inspect, they tested. They found pretty high levels of iron, but nothing rose of concern. Iron had a pretty distinctive and noticeable smell, so I didn’t test it afterwards because I stopped smelling it. Still on my list of things to do, but haven’t gotten around to it. If there were any bacteria or anything that could cause health issues, then yea that’s def a reason to get tested.

I also have a lot of sediment, so I got a spin-down sediment filter ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072YVNRZN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_CALwFb3VBZG90) that goes before the main filters.

Maintenance isn’t too bad. I flush the spin-down filter when I notice a drop in water pressure, maybe once a week or two. I wash out the first sediment filter once a month, replace it every other. The kdf and carbon filter are more like every 6 months. Usage dependent of course, I live alone.

Pretty painless to install, don’t regret it one bit.

We have a spin down filter for large particles to a 25 micron sediment filter, connects to a water softener, then to a whole house carbon filter and finally through a UV filter just for peace of mind. Best water I have ever tasted!

We have both an iron removal system (aerates the water to oxidize the iron then removes iron in a resin bed) and a regular water softener. It has done the job well. The iron system also removes some of the other stuff. We bypass both systems for outside water.

It was pricey but worth it in my case.

I got whole house iron and arsenic filters, each came with a sediment and carbon filter so also put it threw three sediment filters before going to the iron, and then arsenic and then lastly threw a carbon

After that it hits my water softener

I am adding a SMART filter in between the arsenic and carbon to help with pfas and pesticides

My drinking water goes through all of that and then into a RO system because I'm bougie :)

My water was very bad living near an old dump and well casing rusting it cost me around 10k but it's super good now (about 200 in filters a year, I get those from Amazon instead of manufacture)

The whole house filters are good for 1.5 million gallons so for me that's about 10 years until I replace the media

My advice is call then place and haggle a deal out of them before buying it all :) I went with CrystalQuest

How much did you flush before taking sample. Elevated levels of minerals are very common after drilling. I usually tell my customers to use as much water as they can for at least 2 weeks before taking a sample I would base filtration off of. Any installer that takes samples immediately and bases their filtration off of this is dishonest.

Going from first piece of treatment to the last. Katalox unit with AIO or ozone injection valve, water softener, post carbon filter.

You have high turbidity, hardness, iron and lead.

Installing a SpringWell Whole House Filter was the best decision I made to treat the high iron, manganese, and total dissolved solids (TDS) in my well water. For the past 5 years, this system has reliably and effectively removed these unwanted contaminants, making my water cleaner, safer, and better tasting.

The installation process was straightforward, requiring only simple tools and basic plumbing skills. The system connects directly to the main water line entering my home. Annual testing consistently shows the filter is performing flawlessly, removing over 95% of the iron, manganese, and TDS.

I highly recommend SpringWell filters to anyone seeking an efficient, low-maintenance solution to improve well water quality.

SpringWell has been having a lot of negative reviews lately. Instead look at something like a VIQUA UV System. Cheaper, has a better reputation, 3 stage filter and ultraviolet to kill microorganisms (like Cryptosporidium, Giardia, E.Coli).

It doesnt have Reverse Osmosis, but thats better to have a seperate system for anyways and buying that seperately will let you get a dedicated one and save you money.

I installed a Springwell system 3 years ago and it has performed well so far. Our water is clean and healthy and testing shows everything falls within normal levels. Would recommend it if you are still looking.

Trying to address problems you don't have can create problems.

Adding additional filters and water softeners add maintenance items and points of failure.

We put a water softener for the house and a reverse osmosis system at the sink with a line to our fridge.

You can get a whole house filter, just gotta keep an eye on how often you'll be replacing it and what that cost is. I would guess that depends on your overall water quality.

When we moved in, there was a Lifesource water system installed, but it never worked as well as they claimed. I would never recommend someone waste their money on it.

We're happy with the setup we have now.

Definitely get actual lab results. Copper and Iron are really high and alkalinity is either fine or more than double what it should be. That large of a range tells me it’s not a very good test.

I’ll put it this way, as a water treatment professional, I use much nicer equipment in the field for quick analysis, but I wouldn’t trust anything but certified lab results for my drinking water.

Iron and copper seem ridiculously high? Was this a lab that did the test?

I’m dying! ������ I was reading the instructions online and it’s worse than I could have imagined!

Send it to the folks on tap score -- they'll help

Hey all I just did a water test of my house that uses well water. I've attached picture of the result to this post. I've been here for the last two years and finally got sick of the iron taste and stains on the appliance.

The house came with an old Culligan 89 that was on bypass mode for the last two years.I decided to turn it on so I can start conditioning the water, it's in regenerating mode as i type this post lol. I had to pull up the old manual to figure out how to operate this thing.

I was also looking into adding a while house filter and was looking at this model Do you think this filter plus the water softener will help in removing the iron from my well water? Thanks

Most people have well water because they can't get city, you should compare the costs of equipment purchase, installation and monthly salt replacement against your current water bill. Even with a decent salt system it can still have an adverse effect on your hair, skin and clothes.

Typically there is a lot of iron in shallow wells in southeast Florida. It will stain your sinks, tubs and toilets. I have no idea what it would do to your laundry.

What's your primary motivation? The systems to condition water are expensive.

I've always had city water. When I visit someone on well water, it's awful. Showering, washing dishes, brushing my teeth, I hate it. The water feels wrong, like it's slippery.

The water here sucks anyway. I would get a whole house filter for the city water.

Ooof. Really shallow aquifer in florida, especially south Florida. Would not want to drink