We've always had soft water and an on demand (endless hot water) system in our S&B house. I've got the water heater thing handled by installing a Truma AquaGo Comfort (LOVE it) ... as a side note on the Truma, it is very efficient with propane. I thought it would suck our propane tanks dry quickly. That hasn't been the case ... it has only used 1 and 1/2 inches in 3 days with two long hot showers per day ... (full 30 lbs tank is about 17 inches of propane, measured from the bottom of the tank). That implies 34 days (or more) from one 30 lbs tank. Pretty good economy IMO. AT ANY RATE, I'm now looking for help on a whole house water softening system. Suggestions and success stories appreciated. I don't have unlimited basement space, but I do some. Thanks in advance!
This does a good job for us. Many sizes to select from. We feel this is a good compromise as to size vs. capacity.
FWIW, we test the water each time we stop. We've found it unusual for the water not to be hard through out our US and Canada travels. Sure helps keep the pipes and fittings in better shape as well as the HW heater.
RonC said
03:09 PM Jun 10, 2016
Thanks ... The hot water heater (and DW) were my two greatest concerns 😎
Bill and Linda said
05:29 PM Jun 10, 2016
RonC wrote:
Thanks ... The hot water heater (and DW) were my two greatest concerns 😎
One can also have issues with check valves and that means, potentially, water "cross over" from the HW tank to the cold water lines that ends up in the fresh water in some conventional installations.
The water has to check "really good" before I don't install the water softener in the fresh water line from the bib.
Sean said
05:53 PM Jun 13, 2016
I (and 4 friends from the park where we winter) use this one.
Works very well for us and is fairly easy to recharge with common table salt. We travel with it throughout the summer and like Bill and Linda test the water at every stop. Haven't been anywhere yet (east coast) that we haven't hooked it up.
Genecolleen said
08:51 PM Jun 21, 2016
We also use the system Bill & Linda use. We have it plumbed in in the basement with quick disconnects. I have valves so I can bypass softener but I only use them to take softener out for recharge. We run softener all the time and find we need to recharge about once a month. This is with doing laundry.
RonC said
09:11 PM Jun 22, 2016
Great info as always ... This is a GREAT forum.
RonC said
07:07 PM Jun 29, 2016
Bill,
Based on your posts, I take it that the water softner sits on the ground outside your coach.
Do I understand that correctly?
Bill and Linda said
02:04 PM Jun 30, 2016
RonC wrote:
Bill,
Based on your posts, I take it that the water softner sits on the ground outside your coach.
Do I understand that correctly?
Ron, that's correct, it just sits outside. I could have plumbed it in but didn't because, at home base, the water is very soft and so it reduces the need to regen it as often. And when doing regen its just easier, due to the reversing of connections, etc. to do outside the coach, IMO. With quick disconnects it works well either way. A choice simply based on ones needs or desires.
Bill
RonC said
07:25 PM Jul 7, 2016
Bill
My "On the Go Double Soft" water softner arrived today ... can't wait to use it. Thanks for the suggestion.
RonC said
07:34 PM Jul 7, 2016
One more question ... how do you handle it when traveling? I assume you drain it? Does it travel laying on it's side, or do you secure it in the vertical position? Sorry to ask so many questions, but there's no substitute for experience.
Bill and Linda said
06:34 AM Jul 8, 2016
RonC wrote:
One more question ... how do you handle it when traveling? I assume you drain it? Does it travel laying on it's side, or do you secure it in the vertical position? Sorry to ask so many questions, but there's no substitute for experience.
I have a nice corner in the basement and just bungee it to the wall. Never had a problem and don't expect too. But I do use a rubber (strong) strap. According to the directions, you don't need (want) to drain it except for long term storage. Like 1 - 2+ months. You can drain it if you like or have any concern but not necessary according to the directions. If you should drain it be sure not to loose the small orange-ish pellets you placed in the top when initially. They are expensive to replace.
Read and understand the regeneration directions carefully and you should be fine. They are not 100% clear but if you follow the order they work fine IMO.
We test the water after the water softener (at a faucet in the rig) to determine when it needs recharging. (Or when Linda says, "Recharge it.")
TRAILERKING said
10:54 AM Jul 10, 2016
I mounted my whole house filter right on the panel in my water bay. Shore water gets connected to the filter and my tank then is filled with filtered water. I am eventually going to put a drinking water charcoal filter under the sink. We have been caring bottled water for drinking and cooking.
gdsmit1 said
06:21 AM Jul 28, 2016
Awesome thread and something I never thought of. I didn't know that water softeners were available for RVs.
Anyone know if potassium versions area available? The reason I ask is a family member is on a reduced sodium diet and just in case it is genetic I'd want to keep that in mind.
Clay L said
11:25 AM Jul 28, 2016
I used a Mark 8000 which is similar to the On The GO but less expensive. It sat outside and under my coach. I used a short hose with quick disconnects to connect it to the city water inlet . When traveling I used the short hose to connect the softener inlet to the outlet and stored it in the trunk of my toad.
RonC said
05:47 PM Jul 28, 2016
I'm pretty sure that using Potassium in place of salt is commonly done and works well. The water softener itself remains the same, just the method of regeneration changes.
RonC said
05:55 PM Jul 28, 2016
Clay L ... Your unit is an 8,000 grain unit and the On the Go double soft is a 16,000 grain unit. It will soften twice as water (of equivalent hardness), meaning it needs regeneration half as often. Just make sure price comparisons are "apples to apples". Not much to a water softener ... Just some resin and a container. No moving parts, etc. I would assume they are are all pretty similar in price and quality.
Clay L said
09:39 AM Jul 29, 2016
I wasn't referring to the On the Go Double Plus. The plain On the Go is an 8000 grain unit like the Mark 8000.
RonC said
09:03 PM Aug 10, 2016
I've been using our new water softner for the last two weeks ... LOVE IT!! Soft Water makes a big difference in how your clothes feel out of the washer/dryer and how your skin and hair feel after a shower. Really a nice enhancement to our 5th wheel home. Highly recommended, and adds just a little to the set up /tear down process.
-- Edited by RonC on Wednesday 10th of August 2016 10:23:58 PM
We've always had soft water and an on demand (endless hot water) system in our S&B house. I've got the water heater thing handled by installing a Truma AquaGo Comfort (LOVE it) ... as a side note on the Truma, it is very efficient with propane. I thought it would suck our propane tanks dry quickly. That hasn't been the case ... it has only used 1 and 1/2 inches in 3 days with two long hot showers per day ... (full 30 lbs tank is about 17 inches of propane, measured from the bottom of the tank). That implies 34 days (or more) from one 30 lbs tank. Pretty good economy IMO. AT ANY RATE, I'm now looking for help on a whole house water softening system. Suggestions and success stories appreciated. I don't have unlimited basement space, but I do some. Thanks in advance!
https://www.amazon.com/Go-OTG4-DBLSOFT-Portable-Grain-Water-Softener/dp/B00KVPNVJ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465588988&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=on+the+go+water+softener&psc=1
This does a good job for us. Many sizes to select from. We feel this is a good compromise as to size vs. capacity.
FWIW, we test the water each time we stop. We've found it unusual for the water not to be hard through out our US and Canada travels. Sure helps keep the pipes and fittings in better shape as well as the HW heater.
One can also have issues with check valves and that means, potentially, water "cross over" from the HW tank to the cold water lines that ends up in the fresh water in some conventional installations.
The water has to check "really good" before I don't install the water softener in the fresh water line from the bib.
www.amazon.com/Watts-RV-PRO-1000-M7002-Water/dp/B0050EITTK/ref=sr_1_4
Works very well for us and is fairly easy to recharge with common table salt. We travel with it throughout the summer and like Bill and Linda test the water at every stop. Haven't been anywhere yet (east coast) that we haven't hooked it up.
Bill,
Based on your posts, I take it that the water softner sits on the ground outside your coach.
Do I understand that correctly?
Ron, that's correct, it just sits outside. I could have plumbed it in but didn't because, at home base, the water is very soft and so it reduces the need to regen it as often. And when doing regen its just easier, due to the reversing of connections, etc. to do outside the coach, IMO. With quick disconnects it works well either way. A choice simply based on ones needs or desires.
Bill
My "On the Go Double Soft" water softner arrived today ... can't wait to use it. Thanks for the suggestion.
I have a nice corner in the basement and just bungee it to the wall. Never had a problem and don't expect too. But I do use a rubber (strong) strap. According to the directions, you don't need (want) to drain it except for long term storage. Like 1 - 2+ months. You can drain it if you like or have any concern but not necessary according to the directions. If you should drain it be sure not to loose the small orange-ish pellets you placed in the top when initially. They are expensive to replace.
Read and understand the regeneration directions carefully and you should be fine. They are not 100% clear but if you follow the order they work fine IMO.
We test the water after the water softener (at a faucet in the rig) to determine when it needs recharging. (Or when Linda says, "Recharge it.")
Awesome thread and something I never thought of. I didn't know that water softeners were available for RVs.
Anyone know if potassium versions area available? The reason I ask is a family member is on a reduced sodium diet and just in case it is genetic I'd want to keep that in mind.
I used a Mark 8000 which is similar to the On The GO but less expensive. It sat outside and under my coach. I used a short hose with quick disconnects to connect it to the city water inlet . When traveling I used the short hose to connect the softener inlet to the outlet and stored it in the trunk of my toad.
I wasn't referring to the On the Go Double Plus. The plain On the Go is an 8000 grain unit like the Mark 8000.
I've been using our new water softner for the last two weeks ... LOVE IT!! Soft Water makes a big difference in how your clothes feel out of the washer/dryer and how your skin and hair feel after a shower. Really a nice enhancement to our 5th wheel home. Highly recommended, and adds just a little to the set up /tear down process.
-- Edited by RonC on Wednesday 10th of August 2016 10:23:58 PM