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How to Regenerate a Portable Water Softener

 

Benefits and How to Regenerate a Portable Water Softener
A portable RV Water Softener is what I consider to be an essential item for RV'ing. Many RV destinations have hard water as illustrated by the map below.
Water Hardness Map
Hard water not only leaves water spots on your glassware and dishes, it shortens the life span of faucets, water heaters, kettles, etc.
 
Hard water also does not make great ice for drinks. When ice made with hard water melts, white flakes (we call them floaties) can be seen floating in clear drinks. Liking my Vodka and Bourbon adult beverages, I don't care to see floaties in my drinks.
I personally use a portable water softener from a company called Water To Go. You can get pricing or purchase the water softener by clicking on the picture on the left for a larger view.
Water softeners can also remove a small amount of iron as a part of their process, so iron stains can be reduced or eliminated in toilets , tubs and shower stalls.
People on salt reduced diets should be aware that there will be a slightly elevated sodium content in the softened water consumed.
 
  Click on Picture for Larger View & Pricing
 
 Many Benefits of a Using a Water Softener
  • Softer skin
  • Use less soaps and detergents with softened water
  • Longer life out of your water heater
  • Kettle works better (no scale build up in the bottom)
  • Espresso machines last a lot longer
  • Longer life from your clothes washer
  • No water spots around sinks
  • Spot free dishes
  • Faucet aerators do not plug up with scale build up
  • Shower doors remain cleaner longer and do not have hard water stains
  • Pots and pans remain ring free when boiling water
  • Spot free car, RV, boat, motorcycle washing

 

 
How to Regenerate a Portable Water Softener
 
The process is quick and simple.

1.       Turn off the water supply

 

2.       Remove the outlet hose from the water softener

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.       Unscrew the top cap from the top of the water softener
 
4.       Pour in 26 ounces of fine ground salt into the top of the softener. For extremely hard water situations, add 2 tablespoons of Super Iron Out (iron remover) which is available from hardware stores or Walmart. Add the iron remover along with the salt during regenerations.
 
5.       Replace top cap

6.       Let the salt (brine solution) sit in the softener for at least 15 minutes. I have found 30 minutes better as a more complete release of hardness minerals from the resin beads occurs.

 

7.       After the soak time of 15-30 minutes slowly turn on the water supply so that a small stream about the size of a pencil thickness comes out of the outlet of the softener. Let this stream run for 15 minutes to flush the salt from the softener.

8.       After the 15 minute flush time, open the water full force to complete the flush and eject any loose sediment . Do this fast flush for 3-5 minutes or until sediment is eliminated.

9.       Reconnect the outlet of the water softener back up to your RV.

 

10.   You are done.

 
I find that the softener needs to be regenerated on average about once a week. The cost for salt is about $0.35 a week.
 
 
 

 
 

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