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AJ Alberts Plumbing service truck and team in the Twin Cities

Iron & Odor Removal

Orange staining, rotten-egg smell, or metallic taste in your water? Common in Minnesota private wells (Hugo, rural Washington County, Anoka County) and select municipal supplies like Blaine. Treatment depends on whether you have ferrous (dissolved) or ferric (rust) iron, and whether sulfur smell is from hydrogen sulfide gas or sulfate-reducing bacteria. We diagnose on-site for free and install the right specialty system.

Call 651-738-0580

Quick Summary

A.J. Alberts installs iron filters, sulfur removal systems, and aeration units for Twin Cities and East Metro homes. We diagnose ferrous vs ferric iron and identify whether sulfur smell is from H2S gas or sulfate-reducing bacteria, then install the right system. Free on-site water test, written upfront pricing, lifetime craftsmanship warranty. Call 651-738-0580.

Ferrous vs Ferric Iron: Different Problems, Different Fixes

Iron in water comes in two forms that require completely different treatment. Identifying which form is in your water is the first step.

Ferrous (Dissolved) Iron

Invisible when water comes out of the tap, then turns orange after exposure to air. Common in deep wells with low oxygen.

Treatment:

Oxidation (air injection or chemical) followed by filtration. Or a specialty iron-rated softener for low levels (under 2 ppm).

Ferric (Rust) Iron

Visible from the tap as orange-brown particles. Common in older galvanized supply lines or shallow wells.

Treatment:

Sediment-style filtration. Sometimes combined with a fine-particle pre-filter to protect downstream systems.

Why this matters for your softener

A water softener installed without considering iron will fail. Iron fouls the resin bed and shortens softener life by years. If your water tests with any iron, your softener programmer should be adjusted: add 5 grains per gallon of hardness for every 1 ppm of iron detected. We do this on every install.

Sulfur "Rotten Egg" Smell: Gas or Bacteria?

The sulfur smell in your water has two completely different possible sources. They smell the same. Treatment is different.

Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Gas

Comes from the aquifer itself. Smell hits you from both hot and cold taps and is constant.

Treatment:

Aeration or oxidation followed by carbon or specialty media filtration.

Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria (SRB)

Often produces smell only from hot water (the bacteria live in your water heater anode rod environment). May be intermittent.

Treatment:

Anode rod change to aluminum or powered anode, water heater flush, occasional shock chlorination of the well.

Where Iron and Sulfur Are Most Common

A.J. Alberts sees iron and sulfur issues most often in these areas:

  • →Anoka County wells: Coon Rapids, Andover, Ham Lake, Lino Lakes. High iron and manganese are routine.
  • →Rural Washington County wells: Hugo and surrounding areas. Iron stacked on top of PFAS concerns.
  • →Blaine city water: Documented iron and manganese in municipal supply along with the hardest hardness in the metro.
  • →Western Wisconsin private wells: Hudson, River Falls, and St. Croix Valley wells often carry iron and sulfur.

Our Process

1

On-site water test

Free testing for hardness, iron level, iron form (ferrous vs ferric), pH, and sulfide concentration.

2

Source identification

For sulfur, we determine whether it is H2S gas or sulfate-reducing bacteria. For iron, we identify the form. This drives the recommendation.

3

Sized recommendation

We recommend the right technology (aeration, chemical injection, oxidation media) sized to your flow rate and severity. Written upfront price.

4

Professional install

Iron filter installed before any softener so the softener stays protected. Calibrated and tested under load.

Iron & Sulfur FAQs

What is the difference between ferrous and ferric iron?
Ferrous iron is dissolved iron — invisible in the water until it hits oxygen, then it turns orange. Ferric iron is already oxidized (rust particles) and visible from the tap. They require different treatment. Ferrous iron is removed by oxidation followed by filtration. Ferric iron is removed by sediment-style filtration. A.J. Alberts tests on-site to identify which form is in your water.
What causes the rotten egg smell in well water?
Two different sources, each requiring different treatment. Hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S) is a chemical contaminant from anaerobic decomposition in the aquifer. Sulfate-reducing bacteria in your water heater or supply lines can also produce H2S. They smell the same but require different solutions. We test on-site to identify the source before recommending treatment.
Will a water softener remove iron?
A water softener can remove small amounts of dissolved (ferrous) iron, typically up to 1 to 2 ppm if properly programmed. For iron above 2 ppm, or any ferric iron, a dedicated iron filter installed before the softener is required. Without it, the resin bed gets fouled and the softener fails prematurely.
How do I program a softener if my water has iron?
Add 5 grains per gallon of hardness to your softener programmer for every 1 part per million of iron detected in your water. So if your water tests at 15 gpg hardness and 2 ppm iron, program the softener for 25 gpg (15 + 2×5). A.J. Alberts does this calculation and programs the unit on every install where iron is present.
Which Twin Cities areas have iron issues?
Iron is common in private wells across rural Washington County (Hugo, Mahtomedi area), Anoka County (Coon Rapids, Andover, Ham Lake, Lino Lakes), and parts of Dakota County. Within city water, Blaine has documented iron and manganese. Any home on a private well in Minnesota should test for iron at least annually.
What does iron filtration cost?
Iron filtration cost varies by type of iron (ferrous vs ferric vs both), severity, flow rate, and whether sulfur or manganese are also present. Most quality iron filter installations fall in a predictable range. A.J. Alberts provides written upfront pricing after a free in-home water test.
How long does an iron filter last?
A quality iron filter properly sized and serviced should last 10 to 15 years in Minnesota water. Media replacement every 5 to 7 years is typical for oxidation-type systems. We include maintenance scheduling in our maintenance plans.

Sources & Citations

Tired of Orange Stains and Sulfur Smell?

A free in-home water test gets you the exact iron level, iron form, and sulfur source. From there we recommend the right specialty system in writing.

Schedule Free Water Test Call 651-738-0580