Water Filtration System!

[Kean]

If my TDS readings are lower with the pre-filtering and the soft water is not hurting the DI resin some other way, then wouldn’t it help extend the life of my resin since there are less dissolved solids flowing through it vs. being fed directly from the tap? ….or am I missing something?

 

[Accumulator]

Kean- I don't *think* you're missing anything, your reasoning seems fine to me.

 

[Shawn F.]

So what kind of pre filters are you guys talking about? Any links to one?

 

[Kean]

So what kind of pre filters are you guys talking about? Any links to one?

Personally, I bought the following system from Autogeek years ago:



Deluxe Clean Water Filter Kit, 2 step water filter system, water filter for car washing, inline hose filter



However, the components for this can be purchased from a variety of sources. At some point I will be looking into some sort of whole house filtration that will include a tap for washing my vehicles.

 

[togwt]

[As always, not intended as an :argue:]



I very rarely see your posts as argumentative. Civil and open discussion and an exchamge of ideas should be (and is with this forum) the basis of any forum.

 

[togwt]

Personally, I bought the following system from Autogeek years ago:



Deluxe Clean Water Filter Kit, 2 step water filter system, water filter for car washing, inline hose filter



However, the components for this can be purchased from a variety of sources. At some point I will be looking into some sort of whole house filtration that will include a tap for washing my vehicles.

That's what I use on the mains water as it enters the house and then I split the supply, drinking water, water softner and 'other' water (garage sink, hose and sprinkler system and CRS unit)

 

[Accumulator]

..I very rarely see ...

Glad to hear that, but well, you know...it's the internet and we're talking through keyboards; lots of opportunity for subtleties to get lost in translation.



Sometimes I'd rather waste bandwidth making that no-argue explicit, especially since somebody new to Autopia might not know how to interpret Yours Truly.

 

[GatorJ]

The increase in Sodium (salt) levels in the water can be significant, especially when treating very hard water; therefore a water softener would be somewhat of a compromise when it comes to vehicle washing



A water softener does not remove the minerals (calcium Ca and magnesium Mg) that are responsible for ‘water spotting’, softened water tends to strip wax by increasing the effectiveness of detergents; the softener doesn't get rid of all the minerals. The only way to get truly "clean" water is distilled or de-ionized water



I think a pre-filter may be of some help, but IMO a water softner is unecessary in conjuction with a CRSpotless filter system

This is not correct. The entire function of a water softener is to replace calcium and magnesium ions with sodium (or potassium) ions. It is an ion for ion exchange, so softened water will have the same amount of TDS as the unsoftened water. I have had a whole house Kinetico for many years. It does not strip wax. You just learn to use less car wash product just as you do with shampoo, laundry detergent, etc. I have never had a problem with water spotting on my vehicles, either.



I recently purchased a CRS DIC-20 and it's interesting to note the manufacturer recommends either bypassing a water softener or using a hard water spigot when using their equipment. I've ignored that and have been quite pleased with the life I've gotten from my resin. I definitely have to dial down the water pressure, however, my house water pressure can easily overwhelm it.

 

[togwt]

[The entire function of a water softener is to replace calcium and magnesium ions with sodium (or potassium) ions. It is an ion for ion exchange...]



Water softening is not a complete ion exchange process; but rather a reduction of the concentration of calcium, magnesium, and certain other metal cations in hard water.

 

[TroyScherer]

Personally, I bought the following system from Autogeek years ago:



Deluxe Clean Water Filter Kit, 2 step water filter system, water filter for car washing, inline hose filter



However, the components for this can be purchased from a variety of sources. At some point I will be looking into some sort of whole house filtration that will include a tap for washing my vehicles.

You can actually find these canister unit and the hardware at most home improvement stores. If you build your own unit it could be cheaper and you can customize the setup.

 

[Kean]

You can actually find these canister unit and the hardware at most home improvement stores. If you build your own unit it could be cheaper and you can customize the setup.

....definitely an option if you can source the cartridges, housings, fixtures, etc. for cheaper. Not to sound like a snob, but the price for this kit was cheap enough for me not to bother creating my own.

 

[Accumulator]

..I recently purchased a CRS DIC-20 and it's interesting to note the manufacturer recommends either bypassing a water softener or using a hard water spigot when using their equipment. I've ignored that and have been quite pleased with the life I've gotten from my resin. I definitely have to dial down the water pressure, however, my house water pressure can easily overwhelm it.

Huh, I didn't notice that "bypass/use hard water" bit when I got mine.



Get that 40psi pressure limiter...check your local RV store, they use them to limit the inlet pressure when RVs hook up to utilities. Cheap, simple little gizmo.

 

[Kean]

This is not correct. The entire function of a water softener is to replace calcium and magnesium ions with sodium (or potassium) ions. It is an ion for ion exchange, so softened water will have the same amount of TDS as the unsoftened water.

Interesting.... My own experience taking readings with my meter actually showed a reduction in TDS through my soft water filter vs. directly from my tap. ....it was actually less of a difference than I recall but still a noticeable decrease:



Directly from tap:

Through my soft water filter:

However, I will say that I also am using a sediment filter but I didn't think that it would necessarily filter out dissolved solids and make a difference in my readings, right? ....just the "big chunks"?

I recently purchased a CRS DIC-20 and it's interesting to note the manufacturer recommends either bypassing a water softener or using a hard water spigot when using their equipment. I've ignored that and have been quite pleased with the life I've gotten from my resin. I definitely have to dial down the water pressure, however, my house water pressure can easily overwhelm it.

I found this interesting as well. I didn't notice that either when I purchased mine. I'm obviously ignoring that advice as well though.