CW Water Softener - How long to recharge?

[Garth]

Hi all,

I have a question for anyone that uses the RV water softener carried by Camping World. I just picked up the other day. It's the 1200 model that uses 6#'s of rock salt to recharge the unit.

For an RV'ing couple, who also have a clothes washer on board, how often do you think that I'll need to recharge the system? I'm in a relatively hard water area so, is once per week a good estimate?

Thanks all.

[Garth]

Hi all,

I have a question for anyone that uses the RV water softener carried by Camping World. I just picked up the other day. It's the 1200 model that uses 6#'s of rock salt to recharge the unit.

For an RV'ing couple, who also have a clothes washer on board, how often do you think that I'll need to recharge the system? I'm in a relatively hard water area so, is once per week a good estimate?

Thanks all.

[Ray,IN]

Buy a swimming pool test kit available at most variety stores and of course pool stores. Most have the usual tests and a water hardness test also. The reusable tests will give you a snapshot of your water conditioners regeneration cycle. FWIW, I use potassium chloride instead of salt to regenerate our conditioner. The minuscule amount of salt remaining in the water was causing my wife's blood pressure condition to fluctuate, the Dr. was stymied until I was wondering out-loud and happened to mention our water softener. He immediately said salt is absorbed directly through the skin and just her showering could be the problem. Once I switched to Potassium the fluctuation went away.

[Garth]

I didn't know that potassium chloride could be a direct substitute for sodium chloride in the softeners. I knew that there were some household models that used the other stuff, but I didn't realize the the machines were the same.

As long as they are a direct substitute, I would rather use potassium instead of sodium, simply for health reasons. So if I understand you correctly, the RV softener can be used with potassium chloride, right?

Thanks.

[Ray,IN]

I've been using Potassium Chloride in leiu of Sodium Chloride for over 10 years now with absolutely no problems. In fact I have reduced the amount of Potassium Chloride used each regeneration cylce and lengthed the days between them. Culligan Water Softener Co. tells me all softeners will accept a direct interchange. Phone for yourself and get the straight scoop. They do not sell Potassium any longer because of lack of demand. It's about twice the price of Sodium Chloride since Morton bought up every company producing Potassium Chloride for water softeners.