Water Softener and filter system photos

[Mark Saiger]

@Kellie

Those pics as I promised.

We have a filter before the head of the Hydroforce water Softener.

And here is the Salt tank we just keep in our shop. We actually have 2 of these... One for each van. Just keep in a close corner for easy hookup.

Can do a video when get home on the set up and recharge... Pretty simple.

@Scott W he could help maybe with info too, but we have had great luck with these units with the 2 hour timer for recharge on them.

 

[Kellie Hiler]

That doesn't take up nearly as much room as I thought it would!
I look forward to seeing the set up video, because I am curious as to whether the automatic one would be a better option for me, just one less thing to have to worry about in my day to day maintanence and upkeep routines.

 

[Scott S.]

That doesn't take up nearly as much room as I thought it would!
I look forward to seeing the set up video, because I am curious as to whether the automatic one would be a better option for me, just one less thing to have to worry about in my day to day maintanence and upkeep routines.

the size mark has you typically only recharge once a month. His setup is very legit, you cant go wrong with what he has there.

I use a disposable filter that filters down to 5 micron, but 'im using water from the van for window cleaning, and im a filtering freak , And it saves me alot in di resin which is expensive stuff.

 

[Onfire_02_01]

Is there a reason that you keep half in the shop and half in the truck? I am not too familiar with the operations of a water softener, something I am looking into this year. Why not keep both in the shop and save room in the truck, or keep both in the truck? I may be missing something on the operational side of how one works. As far as I know you attach water to it and keep it full of salt.

 

[Kellie Hiler]

Is there a reason that you keep half in the shop and half in the truck? I am not too familiar with the operations of a water softener, something I am looking into this year. Why not keep both in the shop and save room in the truck, or keep both in the truck? I may be missing something on the operational side of how one works. As far as I know you attach water to it and keep it full of salt.

Watch the webinar from last night with Scott Warrington. It will really help you understand the process. As to the water softener snit is in the beginning of the show so you don't have to watch the whole thing to learn about them, although the whole webinar was really informative.
But one tank is for the brine that softens the water which you use to charge the tank that is in the truck.

 

[Kellie Hiler]

the size mark has you typically only recharge once a month. His setup is very legit, you cant go wrong with what he has there.

I use a disposable filter that filters down to 5 micron, but 'im using water from the van for window cleaning, and im a filtering freak , And it saves me alot in di resin which is expensive stuff.

I think I can handle once a month! It does seem like the better one for sure.

 

[Onfire_02_01]

Watch the webinar from last night with Scott Warrington. It will really help you understand the process. As to the water softener snit is in the beginning of the show so you don't have to watch the whole thing to learn about them, although the whole webinar was really informative.
But one tank is for the brine that softens the water which you use to charge the tank that is in the truck.

I am going to do that, I was planning on watching the thing live but for some reason I was thinking it was a different day. See what happens when you don't write stuff down!

 

[Kellie Hiler]

I didn't think I was going to be able to watch it but my job ended up being moved to Monday so I was glad to be able to see it live.

 

[Mark Saiger]

Is there a reason that you keep half in the shop and half in the truck? I am not too familiar with the operations of a water softener, something I am looking into this year. Why not keep both in the shop and save room in the truck, or keep both in the truck? I may be missing something on the operational side of how one works. As far as I know you attach water to it and keep it full of salt.

The salt tank could be on the truck if you wanted, but this system is a recharge about once a month type as mentioned

 

[Scott S.]

for others who are looking for onboard water softners, how do they hook up the little one with the onboard brine tank? waste from the softner go into your waste tank or onto the ground under the van?

 

[D Luke]

This is how I have mine plumbed. Super easy access and never had a problem with scale/debris ever.

The automatic from HF is very slick. Only takes about a minute to hook up for recharge and then you set it and forget it.

The manual ones are a lot more labor intensive to recharge. You end up baby sitting them for an hour or more.

 

[rjwood]

I bought a large RV tank. Just need to add Morton's Salt to recharge. I'm told the media should last me for at least two years. Total cost - $299.00

 

[Scott S.]

This is how I have mine plumbed. Super easy access and never had a problem with scale/debris ever.

View attachment 11094

The automatic from HF is very slick. Only takes about a minute to hook up for recharge and then you set it and forget it.

The munaul ones are a lot more labor intensive to recharge. You end up baby sitting them for an hour or more.

where does your waste water go?

 

[J Scott W]

That doesn't take up nearly as much room as I thought it would!
I look forward to seeing the set up video, because I am curious as to whether the automatic one would be a better option for me, just one less thing to have to worry about in my day to day maintanence and upkeep routines.

For a water softener like Mark has, it requires about 1 sq. ft in the corner of the van and 1 sq. ft for the second tank in your shop or garage.

 

[J Scott W]

where does your waste water go?

Connect a garden hose and you can direct the waste water just about anywhere you want. Normally in a drain. Some people let it go on gravel or dirt area. Not some place you want to grow grass as the salt is bad for any kind of veegetation.

 

[Scott S.]

Connect a garden hose and you can direct the waste water just about anywhere you want. Normally in a drain. Some people let it go on gravel or dirt area. Not some place you want to grow grass as the salt is bad for any kind of veegetation.

i was wondering if people had it plumbed to go into their waste tank, or if they were just running it threw the floor of the van for the ones that are automatic. how do you explain to mrs piff that your van isnt leaking water, or making a ton of ice in her driveway in the winter?

This is why i think saiger has a great setup, because he just recharges when he wants to, and doesnt have to worry about the waste water in the cold, or in driveways.

 

[rjwood]

Connect a garden hose and you can direct the waste water just about anywhere you want. Normally in a drain. Some people let it go on gravel or dirt area. Not some place you want to grow grass as the salt is bad for any kind of veegetation.

I'm told this is not really a concern other than after back-washing the system. People use softened water to water plants and the lawn.

 

[D Luke]

i was wondering if people had it plumbed to go into their waste tank, or if they were just running it threw the floor of the van for the ones that are automatic. how do you explain to mrs piff that your van isnt leaking water, or making a ton of ice in her driveway in the winter?

This is why i think saiger has a great setup, because he just recharges when he wants to, and doesnt have to worry about the waste water in the cold, or in driveways.

You only have waste water from the softener when you recharge, which is done about once a month at your home or shop.

You would never have to worry about discharging it at someone's home unless you were recharging the unit there, which wouldn't make a whole lot of sense.

 

[D Luke]

where does your waste water go?

You hook up a 1/2" hose to that black plastic barbed elbow then direct it to a drain or gravel. Doubles as driveway de-icer in the winter time.

 

[rwcarpet]

for others who are looking for onboard water softners, how do they hook up the little one with the onboard brine tank? waste from the softner go into your waste tank or onto the ground under the van?

Scott.......I had a Kinetico onboard for 20 years. It was plumbed right into the waste tank, so the brine mixed with waste water and was APO pumped out diluted. Nice setup till it got older and started leaking. I now have a setup like Saiger. Charge once a month or more if heavy use. White scale showing up on your fittings is a good sign to recharge.

 

[rwcarpet]

That doesn't take up nearly as much room as I thought it would!
I look forward to seeing the set up video, because I am curious as to whether the automatic one would be a better option for me, just one less thing to have to worry about in my day to day maintanence and upkeep routines.

Oh God! Don't ask Saiger for more videos.

It's too late....

 

[Kellie Hiler]

So, I tested my water today while getting some more maintenance done. If my PH paper is correct...I'm at 7?!!!!
It's a little bit hard but not much. My guy Rich and I looked at everything and there are no calcium deposits or buildup of any kind on any of my connects or equipment.
Does anyone know about the magnet deal that helps with hard water?

 

[J Scott W]

So, I tested my water today while getting some more maintenance done. If my PH paper is correct...I'm at 7?!!!!
It's a little bit hard but not much. My guy Rich and I looked at everything and there are no calcium deposits or buildup of any kind on any of my connects or equipment.
Does anyone know about the magnet deal that helps with hard water?

First, Interlink sells these magnetic water conditioners. So, I may have some bias. I think they are worthless.

But I do know a few people who have them and swear they work great. To me, the science explanations about how it work seem bogus.

 

[Scott S.]

First, Interlink sells these magnetic water conditioners. So, I may have some bias. I think they are worthless.

But I do know a few people who have them and swear they work great. To me, the science explanations about how it work seem bogus.

i agree with your thoughts, but again some people like them.

In my area of hard water with iron and rust in the water I wonder if that iron/rust would build up on the inside of the pipe where the magnets are and hinder water flow over time.

 

[Kellie Hiler]

i agree with your thoughts, but again some people like them.

In my area of hard water with iron and rust in the water I wonder if that iron/rust would build up on the inside of the pipe where the magnets are and hinder water flow over time.

I had wondered the same thing....

 

[dgardner]

This is how I have mine plumbed. Super easy access and never had a problem with scale/debris ever.

View attachment 11094

The automatic from HF is very slick. Only takes about a minute to hook up for recharge and then you set it and forget it.

The manual ones are a lot more labor intensive to recharge. You end up baby sitting them for an hour or more.

@D Luke
Derek, why not flip connectors around on one side - so that one hose ends up a male and the other a female? That way if you ever have to remove the tank for whatever reason (leak, repairs....), you can just couple the two hoses together without having to get out the tools?

 

[dealtimeman]

Dan I was going to recommend the same but he might be able to just completely remove the whole system at the panel hookup.

 

[dgardner]

Or that.....

 

[GeneMiller]

I had wondered the same thing....

i had that magnet on my last machine since new. in 18k hours the bypass orifice only clogged a couple of times near the end. it seemed to work just fine. i don't have it on this machine and the bypass orifice has already clogged once. i can't remember for sure but i might have descaled it once. i have city water so no iron problem.

 

[Kellie Hiler]

I'd be curious to try it, just to see what kind of difference it makes.