Pentair Pelican Iron & Manganese Water Filter Full Review

If your well water leaves a red or orange residue around sinks, toilets, and other appliances, you probably need an iron treatment system for well. The colored water is caused by excessive iron in your water, and while it’s not harmful to you, it may not taste, smell, or look all that great.

Similarly, manganese may be present in your water, since it frequently accompanies iron. Manganese can cause some of the same issues that iron does, and it may stain appliances (or clothes from the washing machine), produce black sediment, or cause cloudy water.

Luckily, if you have iron in your water, you can easily treat it. Pentair Pelican is one of the nation’s leading brands in sustainable water solutions, and their Pelican WF4/WF8 Iron Series employs the latest technology to efficiently remove iron from your water with minimal maintenance. With its four-stages of water treatment, this whole-house salt-free system is extremely effective, and its quality performance cannot be matched.

Key Features of the Pelican Iron & Manganese Filter

The Pelican Iron & Manganese Filter is loaded with features. It comes in one of two models: the WF4 is designed for 1-3 bathrooms, while the WF8 is for 4-6 bathrooms. Both models feature the four-stage system works to oxidize and remove up to 10PPM iron from the water, improve the taste, and eliminate any odor, to ensure you have the purest, cleanest water possible.

The 5-micron pre-filter, known as the Pelican Sediment Filter, reduces dirt and debris from sediment down to 5 micron, which is 20 times smaller than a human hair! If not removed, all of these particles will build up and can clog up your pipes.

The second stage, the Pelican Chlorination System, uses the injector (without electricity), which pulls the specific percentage of concentrate from the chemical solution tank and then mixes it  with the water before the pressure forces the solution downstream. Variations of flow or pressure will not affect the proportions between the concentrate and the water.

Stages three and four are where the magic happens, thanks to the WQA Gold Seal Certified GreensandPlus Iron Filter that traps the iron with a filter media and gravel before the backwash system flushes it out. Stage four, the Carbon Filter Media, reduces chlorine, chloramines, any remaining sediment, while improving taste and odors that may be present.

This system uses a non-electric self-priming chemical pump, which is not only economical but also eco-friendly.

In addition to the WQA Gold Seal Certified GreensandPlus media, the Carbon Filtration Media is also NSF/ANSI 42 certified. The Clack V3006 Bypass Valve and Clack V3007 Bypass Fittings (Copper and PVC) are WQA/NSF 61 certified, too.

Both models feature a recommended operating pressure and temperature of 25-80 PSI and 36-120F. The flow rate differs between the two models: WF4 model’s maximum flow rate is 10 GPM, while the WF8 model is 15 GPM.

The width differs slightly in these two models, too. The dimensions of the WF4 is 23.5 x 37, while the WF8 is just an inch more in width.

What does the Pelican Iron & Manganese Filter Remove?

 The Pelican Iron & Manganese Filter removes up to 10 PPM of iron, chlorine, and chloramines to non-detectable levels for five years or 600,000 gallons (WF4) /1,000,000 gallons (WF8).

If you need to replace a filter before this time frame, Pelican promises to send you a replacement carbon media at no cost.

What Comes with the Pelican Iron & Manganese Filter?

This system comes with everything you need in order to install it right away. In the package, you will find the following:

• Sediment pre-filter system with mounting hardware
• Pelican Iron Series filter tank
• Pelican Carbon Series filter preloaded
• Chlorination System with metering pump and solution tank
• Bypass valve and fittings (1”)
• 50 ft. drain line (3/4”)
• User/installation guide

This system isn’t cheap, but it’s designed to last, and you will save money in the long run since you won’t need to be replacing pipes, appliances, or even bottled water.

In addition, the Pelican Iron & Manganese Filter is backed by a limited lifetime warranty of 12 years on its valves, non-electric heads, bypass valves, fittings, and housings. A seven-year limited warranty, that covers any defects in material and workmanship for seven years from the purchase date also comes with the deal!

What to Expect with the Pelican Iron & Manganese Filter

The Pelican Iron & Manganese Filter is advertised as complete and ready to install, meaning you won’t have to assemble any of the parts. The clear, concise user manual shows you step by step, how to install this system, and most customers agreed that installation was relatively easy. You will connect the system to your main water supply, and the only thing you need that is not included in the package is either Teflon tape or Pipe Thread Seal Paste for the threaded connections.

Once installed, you will need to wait 48 hours while the Carbon Soak occurs, and then you can start enjoying great tasting water. Also, no more red residue around your appliances!

Another great perk of this system is that it is virtually maintenance-free after it is installed. You will need to replace the Sediment filter every 6-9 months, depending on how much sediment you have in your water. If the pressure starts slowing down, it may be time to change this filter.

The Chemical Injector Pump should be replaced every 6-12 months, and check the Solution Tank Refill twice per month. Don’t let the liquid fall below ¼ full.

Pelican’s customer service is excellent, so if you have issues, you can contact them, and they will be happy to help. Even better, the expected lifespan of this filter is 10-15 years, so expect to get many years of use from it.