Added in-line water filter

[Bill-n-Gina]

We just bought a 3231CK and I have seen quite a few posts about water quality. I decided to add an in-line filter to ours. After about 6 or so hours and a couple extra trips to the store, here is the finished product. I will remove the handle on the black water flush valve so it can’t be accidentally opened. I was also able to use the old close out panel to make the end panel.

*for some reason the pics aren’t oriented correctly

[Foldbak]

That's quite the install. Good job.

[Daryles]

Nice job

[jeffba]

I never knew that the filters should be installed that way. Turns out I have been installing them upside down.

[Lee-CI]

Originally Posted by jeffba

I never knew that the filters should be installed that way. Turns out I have been installing them upside down.

Ya got to admit our forum software keeps things interesting

To the OP - great install

[Bourbon County]

That's a well planned professional quality install. Those PEX fittings get expensive but I'm sure you learned that.

I'll give a word of warning. I installed a reverse osmosis unit in the kitchen island on my Monty. The RO unit was like the 3 stage filter you have plus the RO membrane and a storage tank. The mounting brackets that are normally supplied have a lot of flex in them and was enough to allow the filter housings to bang against the surface I mounted them on enough to bust the housings. I would highly recommend wrapping the housings with some kind of padding at least for travel. Don't forget to remove and drain the filters when you winterize, they are always full of water.

[Bill-n-Gina]

Thanks for the kind words on the install! There is room behind the plywood to install a water softener based on the measurements I have seen. If this doesn’t cut it I will add the softener.

I do need to recover from the cost of the Pex fittings first !!��

[Bourbon County]

You've gotten me thinking about an RV water softener now. I installed one in our home a few years ago and am extremely pleased. I had our water lab tested and it was 15 grains per gallon, for reference, 1.5 grains is at the very low end of hard water. I was 10X the low end. The limestone water is highly coveted in making bourbon, so I can't complain.

Depending on where you camp the water quality can vary greatly. If you install one, I would first buy a hardness test kit like the Hatch 145300; I've had no luck with the test strips and don't recommend them. If you install with bypass valves, you can determine if you even need it at that location. It would need to be connected so it can be easily removed for regeneration.

US Water Systems in Indianapolis has a "limeblaster" filter element available in the 2.5X10" size that should fit your filter housing. It's only good to a degree of hardness, but will help save your water heater. They also sell a small model softener for RVs and tiny houses. It's probably considerably more expensive than what you might be looking at but it has the separate brine tank and doesn't have to be removed for regen. I would highly recommend giving them a call before doing anything; their customer service is amazing and you will speak to a real water quality expert. They also have a very compact RO system for RVs and boats that I gave serious consideration too.

[Carl n Susan]

Originally Posted by Bill-n-Gina

....*for some reason the pics aren’t oriented correctly

Yea, that is an issue using a smartphone camera. Here is one Thread about "Rotated Pictures" .

https://www.montanaowners.com/forums...ad.php?t=83314

[DutchmenSport]

Looks good, nice and clean. Good job!