Do you see a clear glass of water, or water in a bath tub, turn orange in colour if you leave it standing for some time? If yes, you likely have elevated levels of “clear water iron” in your water.
Clear Water Iron (or Ferrous Iron) occurs naturally in many well waters. In concentrations over 0.3 mg/L (PPM) it causes reddish-brown deposits (stains) on bathtubs , laundry, dishes, utensils, glassware and appliances like dishwashers, washing machines etc. It can also cause deposits in pipes, pressure tanks & water heaters reducing the available water flow and pressure. It affects the flavour and colour of food and water. It may react with in coffee, tea and some alcoholic beverages to produce a black sludge, which affects both taste and appearance.
Rainfresh CAFO948 Chemical-free Iron Filter removes Iron from all the water in the house including bathrooms, kitchen, laundry and even outside taps. Based on the technology of oxidation and filtration, Rainfresh CAFO948 filter converts dissolved iron (ferrous iron) in the water to a filterable particle (ferric iron), which it then filters out to give you clear, iron-free water.
After every few days, the unit automatically cleans itself (Backwashing) and dumps the trapped iron and other particles down the drain. A big advantage that the CAFO948 Iron filter has over other types of iron filters is that the it does not need any salt, chemicals or an air injector (venture) to work!
BENEFITS
- Reduces ferrous iron from water in the entire home
- Prevents red/brown stains in showers, bathrooms, sinks, dishwasher, washing machine etc
- Treats ALL the water in the house
FEATURES
- Top of the line electronic controls for high efficiency and ease of use
- Electronic controls with bilingual (English & French) display
- Easily programmable with a touch of the button (cycle time, backwash frequency etc.)
- 360 degree rotatable connector fittings makes installation easy as they can be easily rotated to suit any installation angle or pipe direction. Also reduces cost of extra plumbing fittings
- ¾” NPT elbow or straight fittings
INSTALLATION
- A well pump flow rate of at least 5 US GPM (19 LPM) is required for the unit to operate properly (Do not install if the well pump cannot deliver 5 GPM water flow)
- Installs on main water line after pressure tank and before water pipe divides into hot and cold.
- Requires air-gap drain connection or drain run can be run to a laundry tub
- 15 ft of drain hose included
- 120V AC power required (consumes only about 8W power)
REPLACEMENT FILTER, SALT OR CHEMICALS
- No salt, replacement filter or chemical required !
WARRANTY
SPECIFICATIONS
Model No. |
Installed Dimensions |
Max Flow Rate US GPM (LPM) |
Well Pump Flow Rate Required US GPM (LPM) |
Inlet/Outlet |
Drain |
CAFO948 |
54″H x 10″W x 13.5″ D |
6.0 (22.7) |
5.0 (19) |
3/4″ Male NPT |
1/2″ hose |
CAFO948 is suitable for most homes with up to 3 bathrooms. For larger homes or flow rates, please contact Rainfresh customer service.
How to check well pump flow rate (Download PDF)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1) What does the Rainfresh CAFO Air-Induction Oxidation (Chemical-Free) Iron Filter do?
The Rainfresh CAFO948 Air Induction Oxidation Iron Filter removes ferrous iron (clear water iron) from water. It also reduces coarse sediment.
2) What is Ferrous Iron (Clear Water Iron)?
Iron is one of the most abundant natural minerals on the earth’s surface. Often well water comes into contact with it, causing iron to dissolve in the well water. This dissolved iron is called Ferrous Iron.
3) What does Ferrous Iron do?
In concentrations over 0.3 mg/L (PPM) iron causes reddish-brown deposits (stains) on bathtubs , laundry, dishes, utensils, glassware and appliances like dishwashers, washing machines etc. It can also cause deposits in pipes, pressure tanks & water heaters reducing the available water flow and pressure.
4) How do I know if I have Ferrous Iron?
- If a clear glass of water, or water in a bath tub, turns orange after standing for some time.
- There are reddish/brown stains in your toilet bowl, cistern, dishwasher, laundry etc.
The best way to find out is to send a water sample to Rainfresh Water Lab for a FREE WATER ANALYSIS (Check with your store for details or visit www.rainfresh.ca).
5) Isn’t Ferrous Iron the same as rust?
Ferrous Iron is not the same as rust. Ferrous iron is dissolved in the water while rust is not dissolved but present as a particle. Since rust is a particle, it can be easily removed by Rainfresh sediment filters but ferrous iron requires specific removal process such as the Air Injection Iron Filter.
6) Do water softeners not reduce Iron?
A water softener will remove some iron but has several limitations. Over time iron fouls up the softener resin which eventually must be replaced. Often chemical resin cleaners have to be added to the salt tank, or specific rust-removal salts are used. Also, with higher iron levels, softeners have to be set to use more salt per regeneration, which means higher maintenance cost, and more salt going into the sceptic system.
Rainfresh CAFO948 Iron Filter can remove ferrous iron up to 15 PPM, which is much higher than what a softener can handle. Moreover, unlike softeners, it does not require any salt – so virtually no maintenance cost and no excess salt into the sceptic system.
7) Will the CAFO948 Air-Induction (Chemical-Free) Iron Filter remove rotten egg odour?
No. CAFO948 Iron filter is not designed to remove Hydrogen Sulphide which causes rotten egg odour. For removal of Iron with rotten egg odour, you should install Rainfresh CGFE Greensand Filter.
8) How does the Rainfresh CAFO Air-Induction (Chemical-Free) Iron Filter work?
The CAFO filter works by adding atmospheric oxygen to the incoming water by passing it through a bubble of compressed air which oxidizes ferrous iron to a filterable particle. The resulting precipitated iron (Ferric Hydroxide – Rust) is filtered within the system and iron-free water comes out of the system for use. All of this is done without the use of chemicals, salt or an external venture.
The unit features an electronic control valve that backwashes (cleans) the unit after a specific time interval, typically once every 3 days. The cleaning cycle is set for a default time of 2AM and lasts about 20 minutes It is completely automatic.
9) How much water does the CAFO Air-Induction (Chemical-Free) Iron Filter unit use when it backwashes?
In each backwash cycle (cleaning cycle), the unit uses as much water as a load of laundry.
10) Will the Rainfresh CAFO Air-Induction (Chemical-Free) Iron Filter work with any kind of water?
There are limitations – pH of the water should be preferably over 7.0, although the unit may work even with pH as low as 6.8. If your water is acidic, you may need to improve pH before the CAFOfilter can be effective. Call Rainfresh for solutions on treating acidic water.
11) Will the Rainfresh CAFO Air-Induction (Chemical-Free) Iron Filter unit work with any kind of water pump?
The CAFO can work with any type of well pump (submersible or jet) as long as the pump delivers a flow rate of over 5 GPM for the unit to operate.
12) Where do I install the Rainfresh CAFO Air-Induction (Chemical-Free) Iron Filter ?
The CAFO Iron filter should be installed just AFTER the pressure tank before the water pipe divides into hot and cold, so that ALL the water in the house gets treated. In case a softener is also installed, the CAFO Iron filter is installed before the softener and will not only improve the iron reduction performance, but also increase the softener life.
13) What do I need to do after the Rainfresh CAFO Air-Induction (Chemical-Free) Iron Filter is installed?
After the initial programming, there’s nothing else you need to do. Enjoy years of iron-free water.
14) Does the CAFO Air-Induction (Chemical-Free) Iron Filter use electricity?
Yes the unit requires a 110V AC power connection & stays plugged in all the time. However, it uses very little power, as much as a digital alarm clock
15) What happens if there is a power outage?
The unit will retain the time and day for 48 hours. The rest of the programmed settings are stored in a non-volatile memory and will not be lost during a power failure.
16) Is there a pressure loss through the system?
When properly sized, the system produces a very low pressure drop at service flow rates, usually < 5 psi.
17) Can I connect the backwash water to my septic tank?
Yes. The backwash water can be routed to the septic tank
18) How long will the filter last?
The filter media will last up to 10 years depending on usage and water conditions. After that just the mineral tank needs to be replaced, this is quite easy to do.
19) What is the warranty on Rainfresh CAFO Air-Induction (Chemical-Free) Iron Filter ?
Rainfresh CAFO Air-Induction (Chemical-Free) Iron Filter has a limited 5 year warranty with a 10 year warranty on the mineral tank. Call Rainfresh for details
Have more questions? Enter you own question below and our customer service will get back to you within 24 hours.
Iron removal filter from Rainfresh is an excellent whole house filter system that removes ferrous (clear water) iron from the water. Do you see a clear glass of water, or water in a bath tub, turn orange in colour if you leave it standing for some time? If yes, you likely have elevated levels of “clear water iron” in your water.
Clear Water Iron (or Ferrous Iron) occurs naturally in many well waters. In concentrations over 0.3 mg/L (PPM) it causes reddish-brown deposits (stains) on bathtubs , laundry, dishes, utensils, glassware and appliances like dishwashers, washing machines etc. It can also cause deposits in pipes, pressure tanks & water heaters reducing the available water flow and pressure. It affects the flavour and colour of food and water. It may react with s in coffee, tea and some alcoholic beverages to produce a black sludge, which affects both taste and appearance.
Rainfresh Iron removal Filter removes Iron from all the water in the house including bathrooms, kitchen, laundry and even outside taps. Based on the technology of oxidation and filtration, Rainfresh CAFO filter converts dissolved iron (ferrous iron) in the water to a filterable particle (ferric iron), which it then filters out to give you clear, iron-free water.
After every few days, the iron removal filter unit automatically cleans itself (Backwashing) and dumps the trapped iron and other particles down the drain. A big advantage that the CAFO Iron removal filter has over other types of iron filters is that the it does not need any salt or chemicals to backwash – just water! It features an electronic, programmable control valve with bilingual display and includes a bypass valve. The iron removal filter should be installed only in situations where reduction of ferrous iron only is required. If ferrous iron is accompanied by manganese or hydrogen sulphide, Greensand filter should be installed instead. Also if ferrous iron is less than 5 PPM and the water is hard, the a water softener with iron removal should be installed.
Thanks for your help in getting this thing running. I have noticed a dramatic improvement in water quality. My neighbour’s, all who have wells, will be impressed. Example: Before when I filled a water bottle with water it wouldn’t take long for the iron to oxidize and become apparent (orange deposit on the bottom of the bottle). I conducted this test yesterday and left it out in the sun for 24 hours and it is still as clear as when I first drew it.
With respect to the flow rate concerns, I think we are good. I witnessed the unit throughout the entire backwash process and I never starved the pump for water a bit. Also, while it is hard to notice, I am certain the aerator is supplying enough air to the system.
Thanks again and cheers,
Greg Middleton,
Am so happy with the iron filter,,like nite and day ,,had discolored water for so long and now it is Crystal clear ,, wish I could post a picture of before and after
We have extremely high iron content in our well water in rural Ottawa and our water softener could not remove all of the iron. By using commercial testing and the Rainfresh water testing service we determined that our problem was ferrous iron. The only other issue we had was a low odour level from the cold water running at the tap. Rainfresh tested samples of our water direct from the well and after from the softener output. After reading the specs on their machines I called Rainfresh. Their expert asked me a few questions about consumption rate etc. and then confirmed that the CAF0948 would be the best choice to address our problem. The Iron filter arrived on schedule and the installation was very straight forward. The directions in the manual were excellent and should be read through completely before beginning the install; the manual is online so preparation is easy. After doing the required initial backwash the filter provided instant results. Our water is crystal clear and feels and tastes better with no smell at all. Our water flows from the well/pressure tank through an initial 50 Micron mesh filter, through the CAF0948, through the water softener and finally through a 5 micron ‘polishing’ filter. I spent a year doing the research and the CAF0948 is the best value for money iron filter on the market with performance that I do not believe could be exceeded. The install was completed on 19th December 2020. Canadian company, Canadian staff, Canadian product. The best!”
To your laboratory expert thanks for the great guidance. To all at your company, thanks for a great product!
Terry Townshend
Posted on homeharware.ca