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Iron Pro 2 Water Softener Review: The Truth (2024)

Iron Pro 2 Water Softener
Iron Pro 2 Water Softener

Today, I will run you through an in-depth Iron Pro 2 water softener review to solve your hard water woes in 2024.

I have personally tested the water softener on five critical parameters and compared it with its close competitors so that you can get the best deal in record time.

Here you go!

Iron Pro 2 Water Softener: Pros and Cons

Pros

  • 16 GPM Flow Rate
  • Pre-loaded fine mesh resin
  • Serves a family of 10 or more
  • Digital control meter with LCD display, touchpad, and a timer clock
  • Simple programming
  • Available in different grain units
  • Back-up power
  • Meter-based Regeneration
  • Durable construction

Cons

  • Very heavy 
  • Occupies more space
  • It takes time and expertise to install
  • Pipe modifications may be necessary 
  • Not effective for complete removal of Ferric Iron.

The Fleck Iron Pro 2 is more efficient than a traditional salt-based softener since it employs a digital meter to regenerate only when necessary, reducing water wastage.

Here's How We Test Products At Aquaprofessor

Review Table (Ratings on a scale of 1-10)

As the name suggests, Iron Pro 2 combines water softening and an Iron filtration system. These AFW Filters are manufactured in the US and comprise the renowned Fleck 5600SXT Digital Metered Valve for better monitoring.

Parameters Iron Pro 2 Water Softener
Hard Water Removal9.5
Easy To Install 8.7
Easy To Maintain8.5
Water Filtration Capacity 9.0
Smart Features 9.2

Alkaline water is great, but should pregnant women consume it? Access complete details here!

Iron Pro 2 Water Softener: Detailed Review

Iron Pro 2 (1)
Adarsh P/ Aqua Professor

Well, it’s safe to say this water softener is a complete package! With excellent working and added features, this one is a great investment.

It is beneficial for localities with high Iron content in their water. It has a durable construction that is corrosion resistant and made with non-reactive fiberglass components.

Let’s look further in detail and explore the various aspects and working of Iron Pro 2 water softener that makes it stand out from the rest:

Also Read: Looking For Cheap Ways To Remove Iron From Well Water? Our Latest Guide Is Here To Help!

Hard Water Removal

Fleck Iron Pro 2
Adarsh P/ Aqua Professor

Iron Pro 2 water softener includes a mineral tank containing resin beads and a brine tank with the salt solution to convert hard water into soft water.

The fine mesh resin has a tremendous 64,000-grain capacity and high efficiency at removing the hardness of water up to 75 GPG (grains per gallon).

The grain capacity is chosen according to your requirements and water hardness levels in your area. Usually, water drawn from the wells has more iron content than city water.

Hardness is mainly determined by the presence of Magnesium, Calcium, Iron, Manganese and their salts.

  • Manganese leaves black slimy layers on the surfaces, which are hard to remove.
  • Iron leaves reddish stains on the utensils and clothes, which is again a nuisance for the user.
  • Magnesium and Calcium salts decrease the cleaning capacity of soaps and form a thick residue on clothes and the body.
  • Calcium Carbonate leads to limescale buildup in pipelines and appliances like water heaters and water filters.

Thus, water treatment is necessary to remove hardness and get softened water for the trouble-free and economic functioning of a household.

Do you know that water softener salt melts ice more effectively than rock salt? Here are fascinating facts we found now!

The resin in the water softening tank is basically ‘Polystyrene’ beads ranging from 0.3 to 1.2 mm in size.

They are specially designed for iron removal, mainly Ferrous (Fe2+) ions up to 6 – 8 ppm range, along with other minerals and contaminants from the water, in exchange for Sodium ions from the salt reservoir. Some people prefer potassium salt instead of sodium salt, but both work fine.

The used brine water containing hard water minerals is then discharged into a drain using a suction mechanism.

An efficient regeneration process is followed by backwash and rinsing with fast-flowing water to remove any residual minerals and used brine water, which is again passed down the drain tubing. The water softener is again back at your service in about 30 to 40 mins.

The outer bin has to be refilled with salt timely; otherwise, the ion-exchange process will come to a halt due to low salt levels, and hard water minerals will enter your pipelines.


Also Read: Join This Reddit Discussion on Finding Water Softeners!


Easy To Install

This water softener comes with a DIY installation guide, containing step-by-step installation instructions which are easy to follow. Basic skills are required for careful installation to avoid any leakage or discrepancies in the future.

The system is quite heavy, so it’s better to have a few helping hands unless you are a bodybuilder. It may require some alterations as per your main water pipeline’s household connections and location.

Remember that,

Fleck also offers phone and email support if you have any queries regarding the procedure. Delegating the task to a skilled professional or plumber would be wiser if you are stuck or incapable of installation.


Also Read: Sterling Water Softener Reviews


Easy To Maintain

purpose
Adarsh P/ Aqua Professor

Once installed, the Iron Pro 2 water softener does not require any constant supervision. Just set your water usage level and suitable regeneration timings, and it will take care of the rest.

Regeneration is the cleaning cycle that helps wash off all the adsorbed ions and minerals on the resin beads, making them ready to clean the next batch of water.

It includes a bypass valve that doesn’t let the main water supply shut off even if the water softening system shuts down due to some reason. The round brine tank comes with a safety float to prevent accidental overfilling.

Further, you also get an optional plastic cone to prevent the resin from entering the home supply when in use. The regeneration process does require some clean water to carry out the procedure.

It has a built-in conservation mechanism that measures your daily water usage and only regenerates when needed to save water. If the water consumption increases, the system regenerates more frequently.

Additionally,

There are four modes of operation to choose from as per your convenience, depending on the regeneration cycle time.

Select that time of day for regeneration, when you know your family won’t be needing water. Usually, people prefer to run the regeneration cycle between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. as the water requirement is at least during this time.

  • The first mode is for Immediate Meter Regeneration, which occurs after a set volume of water has been treated.
  • The second is the Delayed Meter Regeneration mode, where regeneration occurs at a preset time after a set quantity of water has been treated.
  • The third mode is the Delayed Time Clock Regeneration, which occurs after a preset time.
  • The last is the Day of the Week Regeneration mode, which allows you to choose a particular day for regeneration.

Setting up the system is straightforward with the Fleck 5600SXT digital controller, and you can schedule regeneration to occur when it is most convenient for you, not the system!

You may purchase the Iron Pro 2 system with confidence since it comes with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, a 5-year warranty on the valve, and a 10-year warranty on the tank.


Also Read: Pelican vs Springwell Water Softeners [It’s a close contest!]


Water Filtration Capacity

With an exceptional flow rate of 16 GPM (Gallons per minute), you will not face low water pressure problems during household chores. This rate is more than sufficient for a family of ten members or more, according to the use of water per day.

The mineral tank measures 13×54 inches and includes a cap and tube. The maximum grain capacity can be modified up to the 96,000 range.

The Iron water filter removes Ferrous ions up to 6-8 ppm range and moderate ferric iron levels. It also helps filter out sand, sediments, and rust from the incoming water supply.

US Water Systems owns Fleck Systems, which sells and supports Fleck softeners and parts such as backwash filters and replacement valves.

Also Read: Did You Buy Iron Pro 2 and now the water is tasting salty? It's not the fault of your softener. Read this to know more!

Smart Features (Digital Display)

features

The Digital control head has a touchpad for ease of use, with LCD monitoring and a timer clock, unlike other manual meters and regular water softeners. Once the settings are done, there’s no need to keep an eye on the unit.

If there is a power outage, the controller comes with backup power and memory of the last settings used. So, you won’t have to enter the settings again and again, every time there is a power cut.

There is a ¾ inch and 1-inch stainless steel bypass valve with the digital control valve that makes a massive difference to the texture and quality of water.


Also Read: 5 Best Tankless RO Systems In 2024 [#3 Is My Favorite!]


Heads Up:

Fleck Iron Pro 2 water softener has a 5-year warranty on the valve and a 10-year warranty on the tank. And guess what? You also get a 30-days satisfaction guarantee!
If the machinery is cared for nicely, the resin can work for many more years.

Which is the better water softener among Fleck Iron Pro 2, Iron Pro 3, and Fleck 5600sxt overall?

Best Fleck Water Softener

All three are manufactured by AFWFilters and accompanied by the tried and trusted Fleck valves, certified to NSF standards for material safety.

The 5600SXT is the latest controller from Fleck. This ultra-efficient water softener valve helps you save water and salt consumption.

The main areas of comparison lie on the basis of filtration capacity, the number of minerals removed, family size, resin bead quality, and affordable price range. So, let’s find out:

The Iron Pro 2 Whole House Water Softener and Iron Filter have several features that make it an appealing option for improving water quality in your entire house.

  • Fleck Iron Pro 2

    • Combination of Water softener and Iron filter 
    • Fleck 5600SXT digital metered valve
    • 64,000 Fine Mesh resin (also available up to 96k range) 
    • Removes hardness upto 75 grains per gallon.
    • 2.3 cubic feet of 10% resin
    • Reduces mineral content, including Iron up to 6-8 ppm and Manganese up to 6 ppm.
    • It also filters out some chemicals, heavy metals and contaminants.
    • Sufficient for a family of 10 members and above. 
    • Available in 3 colors – Almond, Blue, and Black.
  • Fleck Iron Pro 3

    • 64,000 Fine Mesh Water Softener plus KDF85 with Fleck 5600SXT digital control valve.
    • 2 cubic foot resin. 
    • 8 ppm capacity to remove moderate levels of iron (Ferrous and Ferric ions).
    • Polyglass resin tank 
    • The addition of KDF85 media in the resin bed makes it capable of removing Hydrogen Sulfide and Chlorine ions as well.
  • Fleck 5600SXT

    • On-demand digital meter system with 64,000 grain
    • 2 cubic feet high capacity resin installed within its tank 
    • The one-inch neutral threaded bypass made from plastic is compatible with any standard flex lines and plumbing pipes. 
    • No connection line for the resin tank (drawback)
    • The Flow rate is 12 gallons of water per minute.  
    • Suitable for a family of 6 people. 
    • 1.5 cubic feet of 8% resin.

The choice of water softener systems depends on your usage and the quality of source water.

But, according to us, keeping all things in mind, Fleck Iron Pro 2 would be a better choice due to its high efficiency and all-round performance that can fulfill every type of household needs.

We hope this water softener review has put an end to your troubles. Check out the FAQs if you have any further queries and leave a comment.

Got More Questions About Our Iron Pro 2 Water Softener Review?

faq

Q1. What impurities does Fleck Iron Pro 2 Remove?

Ans: Fleck Iron Pro 2 water softener’s fine mesh resin is made of a unique material that attracts Ferrous and Ferric ions from the hard water, along with other mineral ions such as Manganese, Calcium, and Magnesium, in exchange for Sodium or Potassium ions of the salt solution (Brine). It also filters out sediments, sand, and rust to give user-friendly soft water.

Q2. Do all water softeners remove iron from water?

Ans: No, all water softeners are not specialized in removing iron. Some remove only ferrous ions, while others only ferric ions.
 
Iron levels of an area greatly determine the color of the water. Water with soluble ferrous iron appears clear, while insoluble ferric iron particles cause water discoloration. Even amounts of as little as 0.3 ppm can cause staining.
 
Most salt-based water softeners hardly remove 1 ppm of iron, but Iron Pro 2 has a 6 ppm range.

Q3. Why should we remove iron from drinking water?

Ans: Iron-rich water usually doesn’t present any health risk unless at toxic levels. The main problems are the appearance, odor, and clogging effects of such water due to mineral accumulation.
 
Due to the red color of the iron, the water looks dirty. It smells differently, and its buildup causes scaling, rusting, and blockage of pipelines and appliances.
Dark water spots, rust stains are commonly seen on dishes, clothes, and floors.

It affects the taste of beverages and food. Excessive iron in water can also cause degradation of your hair, making it dull, lifeless, unmanageable, and discolored. Hard water issues may even lead to skin problems like skin irritation and dry skin.

So, if you are living in an area with a high iron content in the water supply, you should install a high-quality water softener and iron filter to remove hardness and impurities.

Q4. Can boiling water remove iron?

Ans: Boiling of water might have other benefits, like the killing of germs and bacteria, but for the removal of dissolved iron compounds, it is not a good idea. If you are a chemistry student, you’ll know that there are two types of water hardness – temporary and permanent.
 
Temporary hardness mainly constitutes carbonates and bicarbonates of Calcium, Magnesium, and Iron, which are insoluble salts. Permanent hardness is when water contains chlorides and sulfates of these elements, which are soluble in water and cannot be easily removed mechanically.
 
So, boiling water can be an effective method to remove the temporary hardness of water through precipitation of salts, but permanent hardness can only be removed through specialized machinery like water softeners. As iron is usually present in the form of chlorides and sulfides in water, you cannot remove it by boiling.

Iron Pro 2 Water Softener

The Iron Pro 2 Water Softener combines water softening and iron removal to provide the bestwater softener. This is one high-quality, dependable whole-house system.

Product SKU: WS5600SXT10x54

Product Brand: Iron Pro

Product Currency: USD

Product Price: 839

Product In-Stock: InStock

Editor's Rating:
4.18

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