Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > RV SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES FORUMS > Gear and Product Discussions
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 03-21-2021, 09:27 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 291
Water softeners

Spent winter 2019 in Florida. Hard, hard water. Had the Camco water filter on the inlet, plus a filter under the sink for drinking water and a filter in the refer for the ice maker. Ice was cloudy and left mineral deposits in the bottom of the glass.
Spent winter 2020 in Yuma, Arizona. Water was so hard, even the water spots had water spots. Replaced the Camco exterior filter with a dual cannister, .5 micron pre and an activated carbon filter, plus all the above filters. Water still too hard. Ice now truly disgusting. Yuma has roadside water kiosks where you can fill your own containers for $0.25 per gallon. Even car washes and restaurants have reverse osmosis water purification systems. Available documentation says the water in Yuma is unsafe to drink!
Winter 2021, Florida again. Had problems with my on-board water pump. The valves internal to the pump became stuck. When I took the pump apart the internal valves had large calcium deposits. The shower head needed to be replaced because half the holes were calcified-up. Several small valves leaked, particularly the tank-fill valve slowly leaked enough that after a week the tank went from 2/3 to over-full. Between the pump and the tank-fill valve, I was partially draining the tank weekly. Replaced valve body on pump and several drain valves, leak stopped but the valves had heavy calcium deposits. Was getting worried that my washing machine and refrigerator valves and water heater would start malfunctioning.
After much research, decided a water softener was appropriate so bought a Flow-Pur 10,000 water softener. Now the water tests in the 'soft' range, but the water has an odor in the shower and a slight after taste.
I have to assume this is a problem throughout the RV community, yet I don't see many water softeners in the parks. Has anyone out there suffered any of these problems and cured them?
Bob
bobfrommaine is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 03-21-2021, 09:40 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
johnhicks's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Wandering below the Gnat Line
Posts: 1,995
Softened water is slightly salty, which may be what you're tasting. You could put your filters downstream of the softener, or the sediment filter upstream and the carbon filter downstream. The carbon filter is what removes unwanted tastes and odors.
__________________
-jbh-
johnhicks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-21-2021, 09:47 AM   #3
Community Moderator


 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Full timing
Posts: 6,185
Quote:
Originally Posted by bobfrommaine View Post
Spent winter 2019 in Florida. Hard, hard water. Had the Camco water filter on the inlet, plus a filter under the sink for drinking water and a filter in the refer for the ice maker. Ice was cloudy and left mineral deposits in the bottom of the glass.
Spent winter 2020 in Yuma, Arizona. Water was so hard, even the water spots had water spots. Replaced the Camco exterior filter with a dual cannister, .5 micron pre and an activated carbon filter, plus all the above filters. Water still too hard. Ice now truly disgusting. Yuma has roadside water kiosks where you can fill your own containers for $0.25 per gallon. Even car washes and restaurants have reverse osmosis water purification systems. Available documentation says the water in Yuma is unsafe to drink!
Winter 2021, Florida again. Had problems with my on-board water pump. The valves internal to the pump became stuck. When I took the pump apart the internal valves had large calcium deposits. The shower head needed to be replaced because half the holes were calcified-up. Several small valves leaked, particularly the tank-fill valve slowly leaked enough that after a week the tank went from 2/3 to over-full. Between the pump and the tank-fill valve, I was partially draining the tank weekly. Replaced valve body on pump and several drain valves, leak stopped but the valves had heavy calcium deposits. Was getting worried that my washing machine and refrigerator valves and water heater would start malfunctioning.
After much research, decided a water softener was appropriate so bought a Flow-Pur 10,000 water softener. Now the water tests in the 'soft' range, but the water has an odor in the shower and a slight after taste.
I have to assume this is a problem throughout the RV community, yet I don't see many water softeners in the parks. Has anyone out there suffered any of these problems and cured them?
Bob
Been to Florida, Texas and Yuma, currently sitting in Goodyear and we use the same water softener, but I use a 3 stage filter system before the softener. Since we have been here, December 6th, in Arizona I had to change the filters every 30 days instead of 3 months.
__________________
2018 Road Warrior 427
2013 Can Am Spyder RT Limited
2017 Ram 3500 w/Aisin w/4:10
2 Dachshunds DJ (RIP 9-12-19) & Joey (RIP 5-14-21)
hamm2018 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-21-2021, 09:48 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 299
We use the portable "On the Go" softener but we also filter all of our drinking water with a Berkey. I think if you look deep enough in the manufacturers product info they recommend filtering before drinking.
__________________
2019 Winnebago Forza 36G
2018 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
Anchorage Alaska when not on the road
2Newsomes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2021, 09:59 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
bddadles's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Full Timing. When I park I'm home
Posts: 1,369
I have the same softener you mention. I built my filter setup by connecting 2 whole house filters before the softener (they will screw together). I put a sediment filter in the first canister and a carbon in the second. I also have a filter under the sink for the drinking water.

I disagree that softened water tastes salty. If it does you have not flushed it long enough after a regen. I always let mine run until the salt taste is gone before hooking it back to the rig. I rarely have any water problems but do have a occasional smell. I guess you can't filter out everything all the time. We are in Edinburg, Tx right now and have started buying water (last week) because I drink lots of water and I was getting an upset stomach (even from the coffee). It has gone away now and when we move next week I'll change all the filters before we start this years FT adventures.
__________________
2004 Volvo, 2009 smart car
2008 Hitch Hiker Champagne
Full timing January 2010
bddadles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2021, 06:29 PM   #6
jrs
Senior Member
 
jrs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Full Timers
Posts: 989
i don't taste salty water (after following direction on our 16000 grain unit On The Go Softener) and utilize a sediment filter prior to the unit
__________________
Joe & Ro
2020 Dutch Star 4328 w FL Chassis
2018 Jeep GC Limited w Ready Brute Elite towbar
jrs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-28-2021, 08:01 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
gatorcq's Avatar
 
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Show Low Az
Posts: 1,321
It is obvious, you are a your guy.
Us old ones never had such stuff growing up.
__________________
Dale&Susan, 08 Alfa Gold, DaGirlsRv Blog
2015 F-150XLT_2000W Solar_800 AmpHr Lithium
Magnum_MSH 3012 & PT100
gatorcq is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
water



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
RV Water softeners moldmkr iRV2.com General Discussion 9 08-18-2010 08:12 PM
water softeners Jarhead1 Class A Motorhome Discussions 8 09-10-2009 07:03 PM
Water Softeners OldForester Alpine Coach Owner's Forum 12 11-19-2007 08:08 PM
Water Filtration and Softeners JerryKelly Newmar Owner's Forum 9 12-21-2006 02:21 PM
Water Softeners. Tincup RV Systems & Appliances 3 10-13-2005 01:19 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:16 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.