Top 5 Best Shower Head Filters for Well Water With Iron ~ 2024

Showering in iron water is no fun. From its metallic taste to its harsh effects on the hair & skin, no one should have to suffer through showering in it. For renters and homeowners with iron issues, removing iron can be a difficult task. For instance, if your current well water treatment system needs to be replaced, that’s a large investment. In the meantime, a solution is to invest in the best shower head filter for well water with iron.

Yes, it is more like putting a Band-Aid on the wound, but for renters, replacing a water system might be impossible. For homeowners, a shower head filter offers relief until a new whole house filter becomes an option. The aim of this article is to introduce you to your best options for eliminating iron in your shower water.

As a result, you’ll have a more comfortable showering experience that you look forward to instead of dreading. Additionally, I share reviews of each filter along with helpful tips to lead you in the right direction.

Top 5 Shower Head Filters for Iron Water

Reviews: Best Shower Head Filter for Well Water With Iron

When choosing the best shower head filter for iron water, it’s important to stick with the right filter media. Additionally, a small handful of companies do provide water test results that show real reduction levels.

In most cases, shower filters are primarily made to remove chlorine. Because of this, the filters in this guide use multiple filtration stages to cast a wider net when removing contaminants.

For people on well water, the filters in this guide are all great choices for different reasons. Below, I share reviews of each filter to help you understand why one might be better for you than another.

#1) AquaYouth 2.0 Shower Head Filter

For the most reliable iron removal from your well water, choose the AquaYouth 2.0 shower filter. It’s one of the only filters on the market that shows a 100% iron removal rate. Also, the company has had its filter tested to comply with NSF/ANSI Standards 177 and 372. On top of that, AquaYouth filters are one of the very few not made in China.

In addition to iron removal, you also get efficient removal of other common water contaminants, including chlorine, lead, copper, and mercury. Next, the horizontal configuration doesn’t require you to have extra clearance to accommodate the filter. For tall users, this is good news to avoid interference.

However, the one drawback is that it’s difficult to use a shower wand with this filter if you were thinking of installing your own. Also, replacement filters aren’t the cheapest, and the filter life is shorter than competing models. Those are the tradeoffs for getting the most efficient iron removal offered by a shower filter.

#2) Shower Filter System by Crystal Quest

Crystal Quest is one of the leaders in the home water filtration space, and its shower filter is an underrated gem. Firstly, this filter is one of the most powerful on the market because it uses a special filtration process. Crystal Quest uses its own Eagle Redox Alloy filtration media that utilizes an oxidation/reduction process.

Essentially, this process exchanges electrons for contaminants in your water. As a result, Crystal Quest shower filters remove up to 98% of iron. Additionally, it boasts impressive 98% removal rates for lead, chromium, hydrogen sulfide, and other common water contaminants. Comparatively, this filter is better at reducing some contaminants than the AquaYouth filter, such as lead.

Next, one of the greatest advantages of this filter is its long filter life of up to 1 year. Compared to other filters that require several changes a year, you’ll save money by choosing this filter. Finally, the upfront cost is even lower than other options at the time of this writing. Overall, this shower filter is a winner for well water with iron.

#3) Frizzlife Luxury 17-Stage Shower Filter Set

Now if you’re in the market for a true luxury shower experience, Frizzlife’s shower head filter is the one. With 17 stages, this filter puts your shower water through the works before it touches your hair and skin. In total, there are plenty of filtration media types that capture iron as it passes through the filter.

Mainly, KDF-55, calcium sulfite, and activated carbon do the heavy lifting to eliminate contaminants. Then, the water passes through a resin to remove calcium and magnesium for softer-feeling water. Finally, the filter features Vitamin C and microfilters to eliminate any residual rust. Beyond filtration, the water pattern is one of the most relaxing you’ll find offered by a shower head filter.

Next, one drawback to consider is that the shape of this filter requires the most shower height. So, if your shower head is already feeling low, chances are that this will reduce your shower height too much. The solution is to install a shower head extension arm. For people who are somewhat handy with plumbing, installing one is no problem.

#4) Aquasana AQ-4100 Deluxe Shower Filter System

One shower filter that’s been on the market longer than most others is the AQ-4100 Deluxe by Aquasana. Because of this, you know for sure that you’re getting a shower filter that actually works. Plus, Aquasana has a wealth of water filtration knowledge since it’s been in business for decades.

First, similar to the AquaYouth filter, this one has been tested to comply with NSF/ANSI Standard 177 for a minimum chlorine reduction of 90%. In addition to removing chlorine, the coconut shell carbon does an efficient job of removing iron, lead, and other common water contaminants found in well water.

Second, the up-flow design offers several benefits, including better water pressure, more contact time between your water & filter, and less reduction in shower height. Finally, the filter life of up to 6 months or 10,000 gallons stands up well to competitors. Also, with the option to select a system with a wand attachment, you get more flexibility.

#5) AquaHomeGroup Luxury Filtered Shower Head

An alternative option to Frizzlife’s shower filter is this one by AquaHomeGroup. Essentially, these filters are the same. In total, the filtration stages feature KDF-55, alkaline ceramic balls, calcium sulfite, and activated carbon for the efficient removal of common well water contaminants.

One slight difference between this model and the Frizzlife model is the addition of Vitamin E and C in the showerhead portion rather than Vitamin C only. For this reason, it’s important to note that this type of filter does function in two parts. First, there’s the main 15-stage filter that attaches to your shower arm. Then, there’s the showerhead portion that contains Vitamins C & E.

Because of this, there are two filters to replace and maintain. Depending on how much you value the Vitamin C & E portion, you may find that other options are more convenient since you only have to swap out one filter. Other than those considerations, this multi-stage shower filter does a good job of eliminating iron issues from well water.

Bottom Line

Selecting the best shower head filter for well water with iron requires several basic steps that I outline below:

• Iron Reduction Rate – Check to see if the manufacturer lists an iron reduction rate provided by a lab. This way, you know for sure how much iron the filter removes.
• Replacement Filter Cost – Take the time to calculate your annual filter cost based on filter life to get an idea of how much it will cost to run the filter throughout the year.
• Size – Always check the size of the filter to determine how much it will reduce your shower height. Tall people may need a shower head extension arm.
• Water Pressure – Adding a shower filter to your home should not reduce your water pressure. In some cases, such as with the Frizzlife filter, you should notice an increase in water pressure.

Overall, those are the most important points to consider. After installing one of these filters in your shower, you should notice a reduction in brown deposits, metallic flavor, and any foul odors you might currently be experiencing due to iron.