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11-12-2019, 10:16 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 28
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Mineral Rich Water
Hello! Brand spanking new to the RV game here (yeah, we jumped in feet first into the Class A pool). Our sticks-n-bricks home is on well water and it seems like the water is very rich in minerals - we frequently (a couple times a year) have to CLR our faucet screens. My question is - should we subject our RV to this water? Do dump stations provide enough water to fill the tank from a better water source? Does it cost more? Would our limited use (maybe 5-6 times a year) really be a problem with our mineral-rich water? Any information and insight is greatly appreciated!
__________________
First Time RV Owner
Will be towing a Race Car and seeing the country one race track at a time
2000 Newmar Dutch Star 38' Class A DP ~ Spartan Chassis ~ Allison Transmission
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11-13-2019, 05:32 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Duluth, MN
Posts: 411
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I would suggest getting a water softener for the RV. We have well water in northern MN and got sick of cleaning/replacing faucets, etc. Installed a whole house water softener and found an RV one to use at parks. Depending on where you go, we have encountered very hard water.
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Kent and Sally Lunda 2006 Newmar Mountain Aire 4141 4 Slide 400HP Cummins, Spartan Chassis, Hydro Hot 2016 Ford Explorer (Toad)
Living the dream until the money runs out.
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11-13-2019, 07:05 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Jayco Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: NE Florida
Posts: 288
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I would not recommend using dump station water. It is normally either not potable and is often used for black tank cleaning where cross contamination is very possible.
Use the potable water from the campsite. I have a "On The Go" brand of water softener.
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2015 Newmar Bay Star 3215 Motorhome
Accompanied by a 2019 Chevy Equinox LT 2.0L or a 2016 Ducati Scrambler or 2006 BMW R1200RT Sidecar Rig
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11-13-2019, 11:06 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Rogers, AR
Posts: 2,590
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When you go to a campground, look around and possibly 5% of the campers have a softener. That tells you something, but my opinion is soft water is better for your camper and house, but not as healthy. You pay to get mineral water to drink. In the in-laws condo building, a high mineral water line ran to each unit for the frig. and one kitchen faucet, everything else went through a whole building softener.
Well water is usually high mineral water, lake water is normally lower mineral water, know what the community’s/campsites source of water is. Water at the campsite will come from the same source as dump station water comes from.
Below is a couple of campsite pictures. Hard to determine if this water source is more or less contaminated than dump site water.
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2019 Fleetwood Discovery LXE 40M w/2021 Equinox
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11-13-2019, 11:38 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,539
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The separate line to fridge and kitchen faucet is for people on low sodium diets because softeners add a small amount of salt to the water. Has nothing to do with needing minerals in your drinking water.
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2020 F28 RKS Titanium
2017 Creekside 23 RBS Sold
2016 F250 Super Crew XLT Overworked
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11-13-2019, 04:11 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 3,400
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sylphy
Hello! Brand spanking new to the RV game here (yeah, we jumped in feet first into the Class A pool). Our sticks-n-bricks home is on well water and it seems like the water is very rich in minerals - we frequently (a couple times a year) have to CLR our faucet screens.
My question is - should we subject our RV to this water?
No. You need to get a water softener
Do dump stations provide enough water to fill the tank from a better water source?
Do not fill your fresh water tank from a water source at a dump station. Period.
Does it cost more? ???
Would our limited use (maybe 5-6 times a year) really be a problem with our mineral-rich water?
Maybe not but...Hard water which is basically calcium and potasium rich water will hurt your HWH, plumbing, faucets, and appliances over time. Installing a water softener will eliminate these problems. With regular use you should flush your HWH
with white vinegar twice a year without a water softener, once a year with one. With your limited use these PM items could be twice as long.
Whether you are on well water or city water camping...having a water softener is always a good idea.
Any information and insight is greatly appreciated!
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My answers in red.
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11-13-2019, 07:42 PM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 28
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Thank you everyone! Sounds like a water softener is in our future!
__________________
First Time RV Owner
Will be towing a Race Car and seeing the country one race track at a time
2000 Newmar Dutch Star 38' Class A DP ~ Spartan Chassis ~ Allison Transmission
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11-13-2019, 07:51 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Fleetwood Owners Club Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: North East Florida
Posts: 1,994
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Like others have said, use a water softener. I built my home 20 years ago and have well and a whole house water softener. Still using the original water heater. Never changed an element, never descaled a faucet.
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2019 Horizon 42Q
Cummins L-9 450 HP
Maxum Chassis / IFS with Tag
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11-14-2019, 02:14 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Vintage RV Owners Club Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Lexington, SC
Posts: 2,804
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Here is a current thread about Portable Water Softeners
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f103/port...ll-453752.html
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Vera & Ken
1998 Holiday Rambler Imperial, RR8S Chassis
Cummins 6C8.3 mechanical engine, 325HP, 3060 Allison
Towing 2014 Ford Explorer
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11-14-2019, 02:31 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 37
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Here's what some folks from the Entegra forum are doing with regard to water softeners. Some of them have switched from the "On the Go" to the permanently mounted version.
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f278/wate...er-384395.html
ron
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11-14-2019, 08:57 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 30,593
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For just 5 - 6 times a year useage I would not spend the money for a water softener. Consider using these "softener filters" made for RO systems, in a standard whole house water filter housing: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...CQ1ZC8U1&psc=1
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2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD , ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG 11B5MX,Infantry retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA. " My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
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11-14-2019, 09:18 PM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 28
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray,IN
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OOoh! This looks like a good option! Could probably fit these filters into my current water filter canisters that are already in the RV!
__________________
First Time RV Owner
Will be towing a Race Car and seeing the country one race track at a time
2000 Newmar Dutch Star 38' Class A DP ~ Spartan Chassis ~ Allison Transmission
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11-15-2019, 09:19 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Sarasota, FL
Posts: 5,228
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If you look at the canisters in the link, and zoom in on them, the stated "good for x gallons" is for a tds of 50 or less. Typically you wouldn't need to soften water that is 50ppm or less. Usually you're trying to soften water that is above 300ppm. So I am not sure how long one of these filters would last in a high ppm situation, and at $30 per pair, it could get as expensive as buying a real softener pretty quickly.
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Rick and Larrie Dee
1997 40' Newmar London Aire DP CTA 8.3 (Mechanical) 325 Spartan MM
Bringing her back to her glory.
'08 Jeep GC Overland.
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11-15-2019, 10:19 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 30,593
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RKins
If you look at the canisters in the link, and zoom in on them, the stated "good for x gallons" is for a tds of 50 or less. Typically you wouldn't need to soften water that is 50ppm or less. Usually you're trying to soften water that is above 300ppm. So I am not sure how long one of these filters would last in a high ppm situation, and at $30 per pair, it could get as expensive as buying a real softener pretty quickly.
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Having never owned a portable softener for an RV, how much do they cost and what is the regeration cost and frequency?
__________________
2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD , ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG 11B5MX,Infantry retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA. " My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
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