Iron & Sulfur Removal
Iron & Sulfur Removal in Sunnyvale
Oxidizing filtration for wells in Los Altos Hills, Saratoga and the hills above Los Gatos.
Iron, manganese and sulfur in local wells
Iron and sulfur removal in Sunnyvale's service area is well work. Dissolved iron arrives clear and turns orange when it meets air, staining sinks, toilets and laundry. Manganese leaves black or brown specks. Hydrogen sulfide makes water smell like rotten eggs.
The fix is oxidation and filtration: turn the dissolved iron, manganese and sulfur into particles, then trap them in a media bed that backwashes itself clean. Air injection suits many wells; heavier sulfur or high manganese can need a stronger oxidizer. We measure iron, manganese, sulfur and pH first, because all four decide the method.
If the odor is only in the hot water, the cause may be the water heater's anode rod reacting with bacteria rather than the well itself. Replacing the anode can solve it for far less than a filter. We check that first.
Also worth knowing: iron and manganese levels in a well can change after drought, heavy rain or pump work. A system sized for last year's readings may need its settings adjusted. Annual well tests catch that early, and because every system we install has its settings written down, adjusting it is a quick visit rather than a fresh design. You will see the before-and-after iron readings on the same page as the price.
At a glance
- Treats
- Dissolved iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide
- Does not treat
- Hardness or bacteria (separate stages)
- Typical install time
- 3 to 5 hours
- Service interval
- Backwash tuned in the first weeks; media checked annually
- Certification
- Media and components from certified manufacturers
- Where it goes
- Near the pressure tank, with a drain
What the system includes
Built from your test numbers.
Iron, manganese, sulfur and pH test
The four readings that pick the method.
Oxidation stage
Air injection or chemical feed, depending on levels.
Backwashing media tank
Traps particles and flushes them to drain.
Sediment pre-filter
Keeps sand out of the oxidation stage.
pH adjustment if needed
Oxidation works poorly in acidic water.
Water heater anode check
A cheap fix for hot-water-only odor.
Drain and backwash timing
Set for low-use hours.
Before-and-after iron reading
Proof the stains have a cause that is now gone.
From stains to clear water
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Test
On-site readings plus lab confirmation for manganese if needed.
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Install
Oxidation and media tanks with a bypass. Three to five hours.
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Tune and verify
Iron re-checked after startup; backwash tuned over the first weeks.
Why our iron systems work long-term
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All four numbers measured
Skipping pH or manganese is how systems fail.
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Anode checked first
Sometimes the cheapest fix is the right one.
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Backwash tuned to your well
Clean bed, minimal water waste.
- Before-and-after readings
- Written spec sheet and price
- Certified components
- Two-hour arrival windows
Done scrubbing orange out of everything?
Book a well test. We will measure iron, manganese and sulfur and tell you exactly what stops the stains.