Iron Filter Before Or After Water Softener

Why you might need a sediment pre filter before your water softener.

Iron filter before or after water softener.

If you have iron rich water with high hardness levels your system should be set up with the iron filter after the pressure tank. As a softener also backwashes any debris and sediment making its way through will be flushed away during backwash while at the same time expanding the space between the resin beads to increase brine contact. Here is a diagram that illustrates how such an installation might look. Should you place it before the pressure tank then the filter will not automatically backwash.

Each filter will need a particular pressure and flow rate to function optimally. Additionally if installed before the pressure tank there is a chance the water would flow backwards from the pressure and enter the iron filter control valve through the outlet pipe. Although most water filter cartridges that are used as a pre filter are not fine enough to capture non dissolved iron in the water a 5 micron pre filter cartridge is fine enough to capture iron particles. Fortunately captive air pressure tanks fill and empty through the bottom so little or no iron sludge will collect in the pressure tank.

The neutralizer should be installed before your iron filter and water softener. Again this particle filter can also serve as a barrier protecting your water softener conditioner from clogging and thus extending the life of your unit. Most iron filter medias will typically oxidize the clear iron and then filter out the solid particles which are then flushed to drain during the backwash cycle.