Choosing a Mid-Grade RV Water Softener

[Recman25]

I'm looking into buying an RV water softener, and the more I read about different brands, the more confused I get! So I ask you, do you have a preference of one over the other? I can say I'm not interested in buying a super duty expensive one for several hundred dollars. Just a mid grade type that does what I want it to do.
Thanks for all your help

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

It boils down to what sorts of chemicals do you want this softener to remove and the volume of water to be processed. You pay extra bucks for:

• Capacity (amount of water processed daily)
• Higher flow volumes (probably not a concern in an RV)
• Salt-free vs salt types(salt-based systems are the least costly but also least convenient)
• And for an RV, portability and easy of setup & takedown.

Here is a US gov't article explaining water softener type & features.

 

[UTTransplant]

We use traditional water softener technology in an On-the-Go model. We have the biggest capacity they have since the Arizona desert has really hard water. The RO methods use way too much water (see aforementioned “desert”).

 

[dcorbtt]

The salt method is easy with the larger unit only need to use 2 Lbs of table salt once a Month.

 

[zulutron]

The RO methods use way too much water (see aforementioned “desert”).

If you're talking about an RO system for the whole RV water tank, then, yes, an RO system would use far too much water . . . and would be very very slow to fill the water tank,

However, if you're talking about filtering just the drinking water, then an under-the-sink RO system would work fine. To save water, you would just plumb the RO waste water back into the RV water tank. Zero water loss.

 

[mevman]

I'm looking into buying an RV water softener, and the more I read about different brands, the more confused I get! So I ask you, do you have a preference of one over the other? I can say I'm not interested in buying a super duty expensive one for several hundred dollars. Just a mid grade type that does what I want it to do.
Thanks for all your help

I recently replaced one that I failed to winterize with a Vevor unit I found on Amazon. Comes complete with adapters and hoses. I have been pleased with it