If you live in a home or have an RV, then you know that your water can be pretty hard.
This hardness can cause problems, from scaling your fixtures and appliances to clogging up your safe water pipe.
So, it would be best to have the perfect water softener specifically designed for your mobile home and RV.
This blog post will discuss the best softeners for RVs and help you decide which one is right for you.
We’ll also discuss some benefits and how they can improve your quality of life.
So, keep reading to get the answer to all of your questions.
7 Best Water Softener Systems for Mobile Home and RV 2022
- Portable RV Water Softener
- On The Go OTG4-DBLSOFT-Portable 16,000 Grain
- Clearsource Premium RV Water Filter System
- Watts RV PRO-1000 OR M7002 Portable Water Softener system
- Mobile-Soft-Water Portable 16,000 Grain (TM) Unit
- On The Go OTG3NTP3M Portable Softener
- On The Go OTG4-StdSoft-Portable RV Water Softener system
1. Portable RV the softener system for well water, mobile home
It is the best portable softener for homes and RVs with a 16,000-grain capacity and a powerful flow of 3/4″.
It makes the unit perfect for your home and gives your RV an ample supply of softened water.
The large 10-3/8″ base ensures the unit is stable on any surface. Additionally, the department has high flow ports with a 5 GPM capacity.
It means you won’t lose water pressure when using the unit. The best part is its quick time per regeneration time of only 30 minutes.
You have to put some salt into the unit and activate it. The entire process of softening your water takes about 30 minutes or less.
Features
- 10 inches x 19.5 inches, weighing 15 lbs.
- 16,000-grain capacity provides up to 40 days (2,000 gallons) of softened water, depending on your hardness and usage.
- 5 GPM flow and 3/4″ high flow ports provide minimal pressure.
- Built tough with a 16 inner shell made of high-grade Polyethylene, the unit has 3/4″ female in/out garden hose ports for easy connection.
- Uses sodium chloride (table salt) to regenerate. It comes with a female-to-female adapter for water pressure washers.
- Quick Regenerates process in under 30 minutes.
2. On The Go OTG4-DBLSOFT softener as consumer reports
On the Go OTG4-DBLSOFT-Portable, 16,000 Grain RV softener is a favorite among the mobile home.
This unit comes from one of the leading brands on the market.
The hard water problem is a thing of the past as this unit offers you up to an overwhelming 1600 gallons of softened water quality or pure water supply of up to 40 days.
The unit is designed to fit the tight space in your home or RV. It does not require any tools or electricity and can be installed within minutes.
Features
- Produces up to 1600 grains per gallons
- Provides quality water supply of up to 40 days
- Designed for hard water problems
- Easily installed
- No tools or electricity required
- Space saver design with easy access to remove the cartridge.
3. Clearsource Premium system and filter system
Clearsource is a high-performance bottled water filter, but it has a low price.
That makes it perfect for individuals looking for safe drinking while on the road.
The portable capacity water softener system uses two filters to remove unsafe and unwanted contaminants.
The sediment filter with a pore size of 1 micron effectively removes debris and sediment particles.
The carbon filter with a pore size of 0.5 microns removes chlorine and certain pesticides.
Clearsource uses a durable tank system to provide a continuous supply of filtered drinking water from the in-line filtration system.
The construction of the water filtration system ensures that all parts are reliable and provide long-term functionality.
The components of the Clearsource in-line filtration system are manufactured with corrosion-resistant material to ensure that the product is durable enough to withstand harsh elements.
Features
- Clearsource uses two filters – a 5-micron sediment filter and a 0.2-micron absolute charcoal water filter – to provide clean drinking water.
- The in-line filtration system has a built-in stand ideal for freestanding use, especially during traveling.
- Safer complete water treatment system than other systems
- The filters are more efficient at removing contaminants than the standard micron rating.
- CLEARSOURCE is an industry leader and has been widely tested and accepted by many consumers.
4. Watts RV PRO-1000 OR M7002 portable RV water softener system
Watts RV PRO is for those who need a hard softener unit but are looking to save money.
This little sleeper is ideal because it has all the features you’ll find in these higher-priced units but at a fraction of the price.
For instance, this unit can make up to 1,000 gallons of useable water for every regeneration it completes.
It is perfect systenm for RVs, campers, and boats because it is lightweight and easy to install.
Features
- Effective regeneration of 55% more capacity
- Comes with a built-in drain line flow restrictor for more effective regeneration
- Regeneration is quiet with no leakage.
- All regeneration instructions, salt consumption, and resin beads usage charts are printed on the control box.
- It has the lowest operating cost of any portable RV softener system.
- Primary Benefit: This unit provides a quick, simple and effective solution to water softening.
- It works on almost any washing machine, boat, or vehicle.
- It is lightweight and easy to carry or install.
5. Mobile-Soft-Water softener for a mobile home, Portable 16,000 Grain (TM)
While you are on a trip, it is generally not a good idea to have hard water. Nowadays, the trend has turned towards soft water for this reason.
This Mobile-Soft-Water Portable Unit is the perfect addition to your RVs and campsites.
You don’t need to use hard water on a trip. You can clean your utensils and take a nice shower in soft water.
If you have this unit, your camping trip will be a breeze. The best thing is that this unit doesn’t need electricity to regenerate. It is a very mobile home water softener and easy to use, too.
Features
- Best for mobile homes, Rv & Car Wash Applications.
- Regenerates Without Electricity
- It Is Mobile
- Easy to Use
- It Is Easy To Regenerate.
- One Year Limited Warranty On Materials.
- 5 GPM of clean water supply.
- Half (1/2) Cubic Feet Of space Softener Resin Loaded Into the brine tank.
6. On The Go OTG3NTP3M is the best portable water softener
Suppose you want the best portable softener to provide fresh, clean, tasty water quality for your RV. In that case, this is another excellent option that you should look into.
It is mainly designed to be very easy to use while also providing the option of using soft water for 7 to 14 days at a time.
One of the most important things is to know. You can use it in different situations, and you will benefit from having a small and compact design, making it lightweight and portable.
It is also worth mentioning that this softener from On the Go can remove excessive salt from water.
You can enjoy a gentle water treatment that is ideal for washing your clothes or dishes.
This water softening unit is designed to be very easy to use and has a small and compact design.
Features
- It can produce 320 to 800 gallons of fresh water.
- It can remove hardness for up to 20 days.
- There is a unique indicator that will let you know when to regenerate.
- The softener has a comfortable handle for easy carry.
- It is lightweight and compact, making it portable and easy to use.
- The hardness test strips are included.
- The design is limited space-saving, and it has a good size.
- It is straightforward, and the instruction manual will provide you with all the information you need to know about using it.
7. On The Go OTG4-StdSoft 8,000 grain portable RV water softener
The Go OTG4-StdSoft Portable 8K softener is a must-have for your RV, boat, and other recreational vehicles.
While traveling, the RV is constantly bombarded with hard tap water, leading to scaling and rust in your appliance, making appliances inoperable.
This best model has an 8,000-grain capacity and is perfect for RV owners, homes, and campers.
It comes in a compact size, and an easy-to-carry handle is just a few of its best parts.
Preventing rust and scale-buildup on boats and RVs is a no-sweat job of this compact water softener system.
Features
- Compact size – Lighter weight for easy storage
- Fast Regeneration Time: Less than 15 minutes, no electricity required
- Easy installation, No Tools required for hookup.
- High Capacity: 8,000-grain capacity is perfect for RV.
- Compact, 6.75″ X 22″, lightweight, portable design that fits into tight storage compartments
- Simple to use – Connect a garden hose and turn on the water
- No electricity is required for regeneration and low operating costs
What is a Portable Water Softener?
A portable softener is a compact water treatment system for a mobile home that reduce the water’s hardness.
The unit uses 50-100 gallons (200-400 liters) of circulated water per regeneration.
Their patented design is based on a conventional softener. Still, it uses a self-contained reservoir filled with brine solution for desalinization.
The softener uses a timer to control the quick regeneration time, which flushes out concentrated brine and restores softness.
They are perfect for homes, RVs, or temporary relocation situations.
The unit will soften water up to 50 grains per gallon a day, depending on the degree of hardness and amount of softer water.
Types of Portable Water Softeners
Ion Exchange softener
Ion exchange or salt-based water softener brands removes calcium and magnesium ions from hard water through an ion-exchange process.
The latest technology learns your water usage patterns to optimize salt and conserve water and energy for you.
The electronic water softener exchanges the calcium and magnesium (Mg) ions in hard water for sodium (Na) ions through an ion-exchange resin bed.
Then, the hard minerals attach to the resin through ionic attraction. The sodium ions are exchanged for these mineral deposits by displacement.
The water then passes through a selective membrane that blocks sodium while allowing calcium and magnesium to continue with the water flow.
It provides softened water for about 18 to 24 cents per 1000 gallons.
Salt-free water softener:
The Salt-free water softener unit is a device to soften water without salt.
It adds calcium and magnesium ions to the water through an ion-exchange process at point-of-use.
The calcium and magnesium ions in hard water precipitate as scale, leaving soft water behind.
Note: This device only functions properly if the feedwater is already “hard,” generally meaning it contains at least 100 ppm (mg/L) of calcium and magnesium ions.
The Salt-free Water Softener consists of a cation exchange resin bed in which calcium and magnesium ions in the water exchange for sodium mineral ions (table salt).
The calcium and magnesium in the softened water precipitate out as scale, leaving soft water behind.
Magnetic Descalers softener:
The magnetic water softener promises to solve your hard water problems without adding chemicals, salt, or potassium.
The makers claim that the inside of the Magnetic Descaler contains hundreds of thousands of tiny magnetic particles.
It works to clean the hard water, which then flows through your home appliances and plumbing fixtures.
The Magnetic Descaler claims to soften your water by replacing the large calcium particles with tiny magnetic particles that your appliances do not detect.
According to the article, a few “hundred dollars” worth of use will last up to 7 years.
Reverse Osmosis system
Reverse osmosis is a technique used to purify water by increasing its purity.
It uses pressure to force pure water through a semi-permeable material that retains impurities.
The RO can remove contaminants from water when ordinary distillation, deionization, and activated carbon filtration are not feasible.
It has a few different water treatment stages, depending on the intended use of the produced water.
A reverse osmosis system is a suitable purification method because it can remove up to 99% of specific contaminants from water.
It includes the most level of mineral content ions and molecules, as well as larger particles.
What to Look for When Buying Water Softener for Mobile Home?
Water hardness level
Before buying a magnetic water softener for a home, you must know the water hardness level.
The hard mineral level is either high or low and affects the tap water.
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Hard water needs to be softened, while low water hardness has no effects.
Before selecting a water softening system type and compact size, you must know the hardness level.
Type
Before buying a softener for a mobile home, you need to know what type of system would match your needs.
The type of system depends on the hardness level of water, size of the home, and general needs.
Types include Salt-free and salt-based systems and manual and automatic regenerated systems.
You need to know how much water your family uses, the hardness level of water used in the home, and general needs.
Size
The softener’s size depends on your water usage and its hardness level.
The home size determines how many gallons of water are used daily.
To select the best size for your home, collect all details about the size of your home, its average water usage per day or month, and the hardness level of water.
Grain Capacity
Grain capacity is defined as “the number of water heaters that it can soften.”
The best grain capacity for a softener depends on the hardness level of water.
If the water hardness is high, buy a system with higher grain capacity and vice versa.
Before buying a Softener for your RV and mobile home, it is essential to know the grain softening capacity of your water system.
Built-in features
Some Softeners of homes come with built-in features such as:
Salt level indicator: This shows you when to refill salt.
Softener Bypass valve: This allows water flow even when the system regenerates. Manufacturers use a separate piece bypass valve for additional safety.
Drain cleaning filter: Keeps your drain clean and prevents clogging.
Maintenance port: Helps you to maintain the system quickly.
These features are beneficial, but you must check your system specifications before buying.
Flow rate
Flow rate is the amount of water your system can deliver in a minute.
When buying a Softener for a mobile home, you need to check your softener’s flow rate.
If you have high water usage, you will need a system with a higher flow rate and vice versa.
Please select the best product from the list of the best softeners as per your budget and size.
Installation & Maintenance
If you are planning to get a perfect Softener for your home, you need to find out if the system is easy to install or not.
If it is easy to install, you will have an easier time maintaining it.
You also need to know about the system’s maintenance needs to choose between salt-based or salt-free methods.
Salt-based water softeners need more maintenance than salt-free systems. Salt is the main ingredient of salt-based water softeners.
If you are uncomfortable with the maintenance, go for a salt-free system.
What size softener should I get for my mobile home?
To decide which size of the softener you need, you should find out how much your household uses.
And then, you can choose from various capacities to find the one that matches your water use.
To determine how much water you typically consume, look at your past months’ water bills.
Many home softener brands range from about 1,300 to 8,000 grains. It is a good choice for a family of three to five people.
If you have a family of four, a 5,000-grain capacity is a standard size that can be used efficiently if the water is not too hard.
In this case, a 7,000-grain water softener is the best option for you.
If you have a family of five or more people, you should consider getting a 10,000-grains softener.
Like the 7,000-grain capacity, this type also has outstanding performance and is considered the best.
Where to install a softener in a mobile home?
When you have a home or RV, find space for a softener
can be challenging.
To avoid finding the right place to put your unit, you might be interested in buying a portable RV water softener.
If you wonder where to install a softener system in a home, here is a quick rundown of some available options.
No matter what softener you have, if it is a traditional style, you will need to choose between in-line under-the-counter for softener installation.
For in-line, you would place the unit directly after your meter. You should install at least a ¾-inch drain line on the team.
It should also be 5-10 feet from your main water line.
You can also install your unit under the counter, as long as you have about 3 inches of vertical space where you plan to install your unit.
A traditional water softener installation will require a bit of work and a little bit of money.
If you’re not up to the task, consider buying a portable RV softener.
How big of a water softener system do I need?
If you have an existing well, this will be easy to determine if you already know how much water you use daily and how many people live in your mobile home.
The easiest way to determine how much water you use each day is to measure the amount of water used by all appliances over 24 hours.
That should give you a good indication as to what size water softener you can afford.
It’s also a good idea to get a few estimates from plumbers before deciding what type and size you want.
Be prepared to pay more than $50 monthly for installation and service after installing the unit.
Can I install a water softener myself?
Yes! If you are handy with tools, have basic plumbing skills, and know-how to work around pipes and fittings, installing a small water softening system may not be difficult.
You will need PVC pipe (or other material that has been cut into pieces), some piping elbows, plastic tubing, valves, and possibly a filter or 2.
For sizing the system, it’s best to call a professional who knows what they are doing.
They will help you choose the correct equipment size and advise on installation techniques.
What are the disadvantages of a water softener?
- The main disadvantage is that it adds chemicals to your water, which can cause problems for people with certain medical conditions (e.g., kidney disease).
- They do not always provide 100% removal of minerals.
- It also requires regular maintenance and replacement of filters.
- Water softeners tend to be more expensive than other methods of treating water.
- They may require additional plumbing work in your home.
- Some models are noisy.
- They can be challenging to install correctly and very heavy.
- They can be difficult and time-consuming to maintain.
What happens if a water softener is too big?
The biggest problem with an extensive water softener system is the cost.
A very large unit takes up a lot of space and requires a lot of power to run.
Most often, these units are oversized because they were purchased with the intent to sell them later.
If you decide to go ahead with the purchase, make sure you have room for it and plan accordingly.
Otherwise, it could be a real pain to move.
Conclusion
It is essential to get the perfect water softener for home or RV. It will make your life easier.
When deciding which one to buy, consider the amount of water your household generally uses, the cost of softener you are willing to spend on, and the ease of installation.
And once you have decided on the type of water softener for your mobile home, it is time to look for a good deal.
