I'm not happy with our current filtering system, so I'd like to improve it. The current setup is a pressure regulator followed by a filter. The filter is in a permanently-mounted housing, so it is fairly easy to change. The pressure regulator is mounted on the inlet of the filter housing. The advantage of this system is that all I have to do to fill is hook up a hose. We run from the fresh water tank, so once the 105-gallon fresh water tank is full I can put the hose away.
Twice in recent weeks we've encountered water that is somewhat discolored, even though it went through the filter, which is what is prompting this improvement. I'd also like to add a water softener if possible. I'm thinking that I need at least a two-stage filter. I also want to keep everything in the wet bay, if possible, and any replaceable items, such as the filters, ought to be readily available.
Please let me know what you suggest and possible sources.
Thanks.
bjoyce said
09:39 AM Sep 2, 2017
My Go To source is https://www.rvwaterfilterstore.com/. They know their stuff and are very helpful. We have a dual canister system that fits in our wet bay and handles most water we encounter. Some water is too salty (Arizona) or has too much iodine (Denali National Park area) for a dual filter to completely remove. In those places you would need an RO (reverse osmosis) system.
RonC said
09:40 AM Sep 2, 2017
No advice on the filter system, but we use an On The Go water softener that we sit on the ground, but it could be bay mounted. Our reason for setting it on the ground is that recharging and back flushing requires water to run out of the unit and it's just easier outside. A good water filtering system is on my someday list.
-- Edited by RonC on Saturday 2nd of September 2017 09:41:15 AM
Bill and Linda said
10:34 AM Sep 2, 2017
David:
One issue we've found with some of the really small micron filters is the water pressure goes to ziltch; this in spite of the filter saying the GPM is such and such. Nope. This includes products from the water filter store whom we do frequent and have liked their products.
So, we filter the incoming water for household use and then have a separate double filtration system with a separate faucet for cooking, ice and drinking water where water pressure is good enough even after three filters.
Yes, one can filter "heavily" all water coming in the rig and fill the fresh water tank, then use the on-board pump to allow good water pressure. But it takes forever to fill the tank with all those filters inline and that, at least for me, is too much trouble. The separate faucet for drinking, etc. with "heavy filtration" is a better solution for us.
In addition we really do recommend a water softener based on the results of the test strips. I.e. used when indicated by a simple test. This really will protect the plumbing and the hot water heater among other beneficial things. In our travels through out the US, Canada and Alaska, the large majority of places have "hard" water and it can do a number on plumbing and valves.
The On-the-Go system Ron commented on is the one that has worked extremely well for us over the years.
Bill, does PRESSURE or FLOW RATE drop off? We use our fresh water tank exclusively, so I don't mind if it takes longer to fill - I'm just sitting around anyway.
It sounds like the order should be:
1. pressure regulator
2. two-or three-stage filter
3. water softener
4. fresh water tank
I'm starting to rethink the idea of permanently mounting everything in the wet bay. True, being able to make one hose connection speeds the process up, but it probably wouldn't take all that long to set up the various parts, especially if I made some sort of rack to make it easier to assemble them. Of course, until I know the dimensions of all of the components it is difficult to figure out how things would fit.
Bill and Linda said
03:20 PM Sep 3, 2017
kb0zke wrote:
Bill, does PRESSURE or FLOW RATE drop off? We use our fresh water tank exclusively, so I don't mind if it takes longer to fill - I'm just sitting around anyway.
It sounds like the order should be: 1. pressure regulator 2. two-or three-stage filter 3. water softener 4. fresh water tank
I'm starting to rethink the idea of permanently mounting everything in the wet bay. True, being able to make one hose connection speeds the process up, but it probably wouldn't take all that long to set up the various parts, especially if I made some sort of rack to make it easier to assemble them. Of course, until I know the dimensions of all of the components it is difficult to figure out how things would fit.
David: Pressure and flow rate drop off. But that's cool if you want to fill the on-board tank. Just offering alternatives. We move a lot and filling the tank can be a pain all the time if I went through all the filters. No issue with the weight of water. We're fine, way below gross, even with 100 gallons on board for travel.
As to mounting it all in the bay - I considered that and with the exception of the water softener and the pressure regulator it is all mounted. I prefer to put the regulator, as you mentioned, first in line at the bib to protect even the hose. Seen 100 psi. You do need to regenerate the softener but a couple of quality quick disconnects solves that issue along with some Teflon tape to help prevent leaks. Easier to do "outside" as it requires "back-flushing."
However, the cost of the cooking / drinking water filters is another reason we put in the separate faucet for same. They are really expensive to use for bathwater filtering. Very high quality system, but expensive, IMO.
Many ways to skin the cat.
Bill
Neil and Connie said
07:51 PM Sep 3, 2017
Bill Joyce is right…rvwaterfilterstore.com. We have our regulator (Watts 360) at the bib on a Wye connector then a hose to our filter. That's a dual canister external arrangement (get 2 white canisters, not white and clear) with a 1 micron (I think, maybe 5) then a charcoal F1-Pb filter, then our On the go softener then the connection on the rig. All have Camco hoses with quick disconnects so hookups are easy.
As Bill Napier said…both pressure and flow rate are less with all that hooked up…so if you want the higher pressure you can just run off the tank as you are doing now.
I adjust our pressure to about 48-50 psi while the kitchen faucet is running…it usually goes up a bit with no flow but is almost always less than 60. Assuming of course that there's that much pressure at the bib.
We…like Bill Napier…have a separate under sink filter for the drinking water faucet on the counter and the ice maker/water dispenser in the fridge.
None of that is mounted in our basement…the filter canister lives in a plastic milk crate along with the coiled up hoses when we move, the crate goes into the truck bed. Water softener goes into the driver side basement.
I'm not happy with our current filtering system, so I'd like to improve it. The current setup is a pressure regulator followed by a filter. The filter is in a permanently-mounted housing, so it is fairly easy to change. The pressure regulator is mounted on the inlet of the filter housing. The advantage of this system is that all I have to do to fill is hook up a hose. We run from the fresh water tank, so once the 105-gallon fresh water tank is full I can put the hose away.
Twice in recent weeks we've encountered water that is somewhat discolored, even though it went through the filter, which is what is prompting this improvement. I'd also like to add a water softener if possible. I'm thinking that I need at least a two-stage filter. I also want to keep everything in the wet bay, if possible, and any replaceable items, such as the filters, ought to be readily available.
Please let me know what you suggest and possible sources.
Thanks.
My Go To source is https://www.rvwaterfilterstore.com/. They know their stuff and are very helpful. We have a dual canister system that fits in our wet bay and handles most water we encounter. Some water is too salty (Arizona) or has too much iodine (Denali National Park area) for a dual filter to completely remove. In those places you would need an RO (reverse osmosis) system.
No advice on the filter system, but we use an On The Go water softener that we sit on the ground, but it could be bay mounted. Our reason for setting it on the ground is that recharging and back flushing requires water to run out of the unit and it's just easier outside. A good water filtering system is on my someday list.
-- Edited by RonC on Saturday 2nd of September 2017 09:41:15 AM
David:
One issue we've found with some of the really small micron filters is the water pressure goes to ziltch; this in spite of the filter saying the GPM is such and such. Nope. This includes products from the water filter store whom we do frequent and have liked their products.
So, we filter the incoming water for household use and then have a separate double filtration system with a separate faucet for cooking, ice and drinking water where water pressure is good enough even after three filters.
Yes, one can filter "heavily" all water coming in the rig and fill the fresh water tank, then use the on-board pump to allow good water pressure. But it takes forever to fill the tank with all those filters inline and that, at least for me, is too much trouble. The separate faucet for drinking, etc. with "heavy filtration" is a better solution for us.
In addition we really do recommend a water softener based on the results of the test strips. I.e. used when indicated by a simple test. This really will protect the plumbing and the hot water heater among other beneficial things. In our travels through out the US, Canada and Alaska, the large majority of places have "hard" water and it can do a number on plumbing and valves.
The On-the-Go system Ron commented on is the one that has worked extremely well for us over the years.
Here's a link to a bunch of them:
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_4_16?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=on+the+go+water+softener&sprefix=On+the+go+water+%2Caps%2C162&crid=14E1OIRKR80MC
Bill
It sounds like the order should be:
1. pressure regulator
2. two-or three-stage filter
3. water softener
4. fresh water tank
I'm starting to rethink the idea of permanently mounting everything in the wet bay. True, being able to make one hose connection speeds the process up, but it probably wouldn't take all that long to set up the various parts, especially if I made some sort of rack to make it easier to assemble them. Of course, until I know the dimensions of all of the components it is difficult to figure out how things would fit.
David: Pressure and flow rate drop off. But that's cool if you want to fill the on-board tank. Just offering alternatives. We move a lot and filling the tank can be a pain all the time if I went through all the filters. No issue with the weight of water. We're fine, way below gross, even with 100 gallons on board for travel.
As to mounting it all in the bay - I considered that and with the exception of the water softener and the pressure regulator it is all mounted. I prefer to put the regulator, as you mentioned, first in line at the bib to protect even the hose. Seen 100 psi. You do need to regenerate the softener but a couple of quality quick disconnects solves that issue along with some Teflon tape to help prevent leaks. Easier to do "outside" as it requires "back-flushing."
However, the cost of the cooking / drinking water filters is another reason we put in the separate faucet for same. They are really expensive to use for bathwater filtering. Very high quality system, but expensive, IMO.
Many ways to skin the cat.
Bill
Bill Joyce is right…rvwaterfilterstore.com. We have our regulator (Watts 360) at the bib on a Wye connector then a hose to our filter. That's a dual canister external arrangement (get 2 white canisters, not white and clear) with a 1 micron (I think, maybe 5) then a charcoal F1-Pb filter, then our On the go softener then the connection on the rig. All have Camco hoses with quick disconnects so hookups are easy.
As Bill Napier said…both pressure and flow rate are less with all that hooked up…so if you want the higher pressure you can just run off the tank as you are doing now.
I adjust our pressure to about 48-50 psi while the kitchen faucet is running…it usually goes up a bit with no flow but is almost always less than 60. Assuming of course that there's that much pressure at the bib.
We…like Bill Napier…have a separate under sink filter for the drinking water faucet on the counter and the ice maker/water dispenser in the fridge.
None of that is mounted in our basement…the filter canister lives in a plastic milk crate along with the coiled up hoses when we move, the crate goes into the truck bed. Water softener goes into the driver side basement.