Problem Index
Fix My Water
Symptom first, product second. Find your water problem in the table below, understand the cause, and follow the link to the right solution.
Symptom → cause → fix
Most water problems have a specific cause and a specific fix. The mistake is buying a product before confirming the cause — a carbon filter does nothing for iron staining, and a softener alone will not clear hydrogen sulfide. Use the table to find your symptom, then read the linked guide for sizing, cost ranges, and which brands publish the specs to back up their claims.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange or brown stains on sinks, tubs, laundry | Dissolved or particulate iron | Air-injection oxidation filter | Iron guide → |
| Rotten-egg smell | Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) | Air-injection + catalytic carbon | Iron & sulfur guide → |
| PFAS detected in local tests or news | Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances | Carbon + under-sink RO strategy | PFAS guide → |
| Cloudy or milky water | Sediment (sand, silt, particulates) | Spin-down prefilter, sediment cartridge | Well-water guide → |
| White scale on fixtures and appliances | High hardness (calcium/magnesium) | Salt-based softener or TAC system | Well-water guide → |
| Chlorine taste or smell | Municipal disinfection residual | Catalytic carbon whole-house filter | Best whole-house filters → |
Always test before you buy
The table above maps single symptoms. Many wells have compounding problems — iron plus hardness, or sulfur plus sediment — that require a treatment train rather than one device. A certified water test ($30–$60 through your state extension lab) shows every contaminant at once and gives you the ppm numbers filter manufacturers use for sizing. It is the cheapest step in any well-water project.
City-water households can usually skip testing and go straight to a whole-house carbon filter for taste, odor, and chlorine. If your municipality has issued PFAS advisories, read the PFAS guide before selecting a system.