Water Softener Install

elgarc · 01-02-2008, 05:31 PM

Just bought a water softener. It's the kind that is very similar to house types (only miniature), with a separate bin for the potassium chloride or salt, and has automatic regeneration. Thinking of placing it into the Hydro-hot bay as a 'semi permanent' installation. Any reason not to keep it there and to drill holes for the water lines and anchors into the bay from the utility compartment, and drill for power from the central-vac wall? Has anyone done this kind of mod? How hot does it get in that HydroHot compartment? (I emailed Tiffin and asked them the same questions, but haven't received an answer yet.)

Thanx

elgarc · 01-02-2008, 05:31 PM

Just bought a water softener. It's the kind that is very similar to house types (only miniature), with a separate bin for the potassium chloride or salt, and has automatic regeneration. Thinking of placing it into the Hydro-hot bay as a 'semi permanent' installation. Any reason not to keep it there and to drill holes for the water lines and anchors into the bay from the utility compartment, and drill for power from the central-vac wall? Has anyone done this kind of mod? How hot does it get in that HydroHot compartment? (I emailed Tiffin and asked them the same questions, but haven't received an answer yet.)

Thanx

Drifter · 01-02-2008, 06:32 PM

We were thinking of doing the same. What kind of unit did you buy and where?

NYMoose "Lenny" · 01-03-2008, 02:19 AM

Sounds like a interesting project. Please take pictures if you can as you go along. There is always someone inquiring about projects.

elgarc · 01-03-2008, 02:57 PM

Just got email word from Tiffin..."no problem" mounting the softener in the Hydro-Hot bay. As you suggest, I'll document as I go, but first I gotta replace my busted camera! Be a week or two...and I'll include the brand, cost, and source at that time.

NYMoose "Lenny" · 01-03-2008, 04:46 PM

Thanks Gary, we are looking foward to your project!

UFO Pilot · 01-03-2008, 07:43 PM

I too am interested in your project. I have looked at a couple of "portable" units but would like something permanent if possible. We have a water softener in the stick house and I highly recommend them.

slabman · 01-04-2008, 07:29 PM

One thing to keep in mind is if that salt gets loose under there, what kind of damage might it do? I'd certainly think about the downside.

elgarc · 01-04-2008, 07:38 PM

Point well taken, Slabman. In my case, I'll be using Potassium Chloride instead of salt, but still could be a mess. The 'brine' tank will be emptied before moving down the road, no chance for anything to spill. I am told that the potassium chloride is simply a good fertilizer, and will do no damage to the environment. Anyone who knows different please chime in. Thanx for the thought though.

SteveR · 01-04-2008, 08:57 PM

We want to do something along these lines too.

Here is a link to an article on the value of using Potassium vs Sodium salts in water softeners. Potassium Salts in Water Softeners

lundy · 01-06-2008, 01:19 PM

I am curious as what would be the preferred system - reverse osmosis vs. water softener. What is the cost difference?

elgarc · 01-06-2008, 06:38 PM

That's a really good question about the R/O system vs Softeners. I don't personally have an answer, however the R/O system I saw on a Windsor last summer was a rather slow process, and required all water use to come from the holding tank, rather than directly from the faucet. That's not exactly a negative aspect though and I can't remember what he said about the amount of water it took for the purge.

elgarc · 01-27-2008, 12:09 PM

My wife and I are finished putting the softener into the Hydro-Hot bay. Only got a couple pictures before it was finished....got in a time crunch. There are those and some "after" shots here: http://tinyurl.com/2t9qrm

Just so you know, this was an expensive unit and I wouldn't expect many (any?) to be interested in the same one. I hope that my install experience can be a little help to anyone else putting in another type of softener. I gave $1100 for it. No justification, simply that I didn't think I would like the frequent attention you have to give the one from Camping World and similar types and we spend a lot of time where the water is very hard. The one I got is simply a smaller version of a whole house softener, and can be set to regenerate as often as you need. Mine is now set for every 3 days while we're here in 8-grain Arizona. The only maintenance is that you have to make sure the brine tank doesn't go empty. (I used one bag of potassium chloride in 40 days.) When we're in Oregon, we can try weekly. (?) It is a 'Reionator' by watertech, www.watertech.com and ours is a smaller model made exclusively for Water Pure, 1885 N. Apache Trail Ste 9, Apache Junction, AZ 85220 (480-983-3320).

The unit is attached to the side of the bay by using two toggle bolts screwed thru the side wall, behind the vacuum, and a cheap ratchet strap across them. The light brine tank simply sits on the floor, it will be empty during travel. There was enough room to store the bag of potassium chloride there also.

Behind the top cover in the utility bay you can see an area toward the rear where there is no metal into the wall to the Hydro-Hot bay. Drill three holes, being careful to place them for no interference with the fuel lines to the water separator of the hydro hot or where it will prevent removing the cap for the antifreeze tank. Three because you'll need cold in, cold out, and one for the 'purge line' from the softener.

In my case, I wasn't able to take the top cover out without cutting it in half (see pictures of DW). Sure, by taking off/out a lot of stuff I may have done it, but I wound up with a scar that could be caulked if it bothered anybody. Doesn't bother me. Then I decided to use schedule 40 plastic pipe instead of the sort used in the coach. Price those connectors, and you won't ask why. A person could really go cheap by using white hose. I've seen even new hoses blow out their crimped ends, and thought plastic would hold up better with fewer worries. It wasn't all that expensive, but it did take longer to do the install what with the measuring and cutting and gluing.

The salesman told us that the purge water wasn't enough to concern us, and was in fact simply a good fertilizer, so the park would have no issue. Well...there seems to be more purge water than I want my neighbors to see, so I ran the line into a 'see through' sewer clean out, used by people who have no built-in tank flusher. It remains to be seen if I can remember to turn the selector to off when I dump...

You can 'snake' the electric cord of the unit around the side wall and into the storage bay without drilling. I used a multi-plug strip plugged into the vacuum receptacle. Since the unit is set to purge at about 2:30 am, there's little chance of a power overload there!

As a final touch I connected the black tank flush directly to the shower hose faucet with a diverter valve from Ace Hardware and a backflow preventer that came as part of the 'see through' clean out. Here I used a piece of hose (no pressure) and an elbow that I already had, in order to clear the paper towel rack. My reason for doing that connection is that I know how I am, and wouldn't use the flush very often if I had to hook up a separate hose to the faucet. It is also a source to attach a hose to in order to wash my toad and my MH with soft water!

I'm not posting my parts list unless asked, because it would shock me if anybody wanted to copy us. But, in case anyone does want it, just reply here with your email and I'll send it along.

What I really, really hope is that somebody will post their innovative mods to Tiffin's, ESPECIALLY anyone who's put in a separate holder for their sewer hoses. Newmar and Monaco are way ahead of us with the modifications information on their site, kudos to them!

Best Regards,