City water is too hard, what are my options?

[xenonsupra]

Non pro here. Just an enthusiast.

I just got a new truck and applied my first ceramic coating. Gtechniq CSL with 2 coats of C2v3 on top. Very happy with the results.


My garden hose city water is awful, 400-500ppm and leaves nasty water spots. I’m looking for a solution.


My plan is the following:

• Drive to local DIY carwash. While I’m waiting on a stall I’ll hit the exterior with a IK foam 9 sprayer.
• It’ll be filled with distilled / low ppm RO water and chemical guys snow foam. One gallon should be enough to foam my truck.
• Pull into the stall and use the spot free rinse. Hopefully this removes or loosens the majority of buildup.
• Come home, spot clean with diluted ONR (spray bottle) and a high quality microfiber.

Option 2: I'm considering is to invest in a CR spotless system, but this is super expensive considering how bad my water is. I’ll likely go through filters every 5-6 washes.
Option 3: Use a water delivery service and fill up a 55 gal drum in my garage. Pair that with something like the worx hydroshot/ two bucket wash. This is roughly the same cost per gallon as the CR spotless but less $$ up front ($100 on a drum, $100 on hydroshot rather than $400+ on CR).

What else should I consider? Location is Southern California so generally it doesn't get too crazy dirty.

View attachment 65805

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Can you get a water softener (I know there are some areas of CA where they have outlawed softeners)? I have a water softener, but not at the outside faucets. I got a CR but it became too much of a pain bringing it out all the time, and the cost of the resin, so I started running a hose from inside the house to use the soft water. Finally I broke down and got the outside faucet near the driveway repiped to the inside soft water. You still get some spots, but they're not hard water spots, so they come off easily. I'd never go back to the DI, the bang for the buck just isn't there.

The other thing you can do is see if one of the water treatment companies like Culligan does industrial DI tanks, they will usually exchange them...think of it as a super-sized CR. So they will bring you a DI tank, when the light goes out you call them and they bring you a fresh one and take back the other for recharge. Or if the rental isn't bad, they can leave you 2, and when you switch to the backup you call them to get the dead one.

 

[xenonsupra]

Can you get a water softener (I know there are some areas of CA where they have outlawed softeners)? I have a water softener, but not at the outside faucets. I got a CR but it became too much of a pain bringing it out all the time, and the cost of the resin, so I started running a hose from inside the house to use the soft water. Finally I broke down and got the outside faucet near the driveway repiped to the inside soft water. You still get some spots, but they're not hard water spots, so they come off easily. I'd never go back to the DI, the bang for the buck just isn't there.

The other thing you can do is see if one of the water treatment companies like Culligan does industrial DI tanks, they will usually exchange them...think of it as a super-sized CR. So they will bring you a DI tank, when the light goes out you call them and they bring you a fresh one and take back the other for recharge. Or if the rental isn't bad, they can leave you 2, and when you switch to the backup you call them to get the dead one.

I don't have a softener. I definitely could pick up a $200 RV softener for my hose, that's another option I considered. I'd still have to finish with a quick detailer to remove the salt residue but it's a decent option. Easily rechargeable too so over time a good investment.

I spoke with culligan the other day, maybe I'll text the rep and see about the industrial DI tank.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

So what did Culligan suggest when you spoke to them, a whole-house or garage-only softener?

 

[ClearVue18]

Non pro here. Just an enthusiast.

I just got a new truck and applied my first ceramic coating. Gtechniq CSL with 2 coats of C2v3 on top. Very happy with the results.


My garden hose city water is awful, 400-500ppm and leaves nasty water spots. I’m looking for a solution.


My plan is the following:

• Drive to local DIY carwash. While I’m waiting on a stall I’ll hit the exterior with a IK foam 9 sprayer.
• It’ll be filled with distilled / low ppm RO water and chemical guys snow foam. One gallon should be enough to foam my truck.
• Pull into the stall and use the spot free rinse. Hopefully this removes or loosens the majority of buildup.
• Come home, spot clean with diluted ONR (spray bottle) and a high quality microfiber.

Option 2: I'm considering is to invest in a CR spotless system, but this is super expensive considering how bad my water is. I’ll likely go through filters every 5-6 washes.
Option 3: Use a water delivery service and fill up a 55 gal drum in my garage. Pair that with something like the worx hydroshot/ two bucket wash. This is roughly the same cost per gallon as the CR spotless but less $$ up front ($100 on a drum, $100 on hydroshot rather than $400+ on CR).

What else should I consider? Location is Southern California so generally it doesn't get too crazy dirty.

View attachment 65805

Where do you live? Geez lol

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[xenonsupra]

So what did Culligan suggest when you spoke to them, a whole-house or garage-only softener?

I was only looking at 5 gallon jug delivery, if I'm going to install a whole house or garage only softener I would just purchase it outright rather than rent from them.

I just spoke to him again and they do not do any sort of industrial size tank fill-ups.

Where do you live? Geez lol

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San Diego.

 

[boosteddub69]

I've been looking into this myself. I'm in San Antonio TX and my water is about 275ppm. The DI resin systems don't work well for the reasons that have already been mentioned. I would either go with a water softener or if you're set on a spotless rinse system, you could look at this: 35 GPD Spot Free Car Rinse System – Martin Water Conditioning- Spot Free, it's a combination RO filter and a tank which will store your rinse water. It is not cheap by any means but would certainly work.

As I type this and think about it more...go with the softener. I'm not sure how well the inline softeners work, they may not be nearly as effective as getting your outdoor wash spigot plumbed to use the softener from the house.

Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.

 

[xenonsupra]

So what did Culligan suggest when you spoke to them, a whole-house or garage-only softener?

I was looking at 5 gallon delivery jugs. I wouldn't rent a system from them I'd just buy and install one probably.

Where do you live? Geez lol

Sent from my SM-N960U using Autogeekonline mobile app

San Diego

I've been looking into this myself. I'm in San Antonio TX and my water is about 275ppm. The DI resin systems don't work well for the reasons that have already been mentioned. I would either go with a water softener or if you're set on a spotless rinse system, you could look at this: 35 GPD Spot Free Car Rinse System – Martin Water Conditioning- Spot Free, it's a combination RO filter and a tank which will store your rinse water. It is not cheap by any means but would certainly work.

As I type this and think about it more...go with the softener. I'm not sure how well the inline softeners work, they may not be nearly as effective as getting your outdoor wash spigot plumbed to use the softener from the house.

Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.

That product is actually pretty slick. I hadn't seen that. Very temping and much lower cost long run than CR spotless.

 

[Markymapo1]

Why not wash with regular hose water n rinse with this SPX6000C-XR that u fill with DI. It holds 5 gallons which is more than enough to rinse a car ( I can wash a car with 1.5 fills); just a suggestion.

 

[boosteddub69]

Why not wash with regular hose water n rinse with this SPX6000C-XR that u fill with DI. It holds 5 gallons which is more than enough to rinse a car ( I can wash a car with 1.5 fills); just a suggestion.

I have one of those and tried it. It seemed like I was chasing the soap off my car. I haven’t revisited this in a while and will try it again when it stops raining (in San Antonio of all places)

It’s a good idea and when I get a chance to try it I’ll post up.

 

[392hemi]

Truck looks amazing. Couple of questions.

1) Cant you remove the nozzle from hose and just sheet the water off?

2) If you wash in shade or night does it still spot?

3) Would a rinseless or waterless alleviate this? Especially since you clean one panel, dry and move to next?

 

[bofh]

Soft water isn't enough, you need de-ionized water. There is a company called CR Spotless that a lot of people here buy products from. It's expensive, but like you I just don't have any choice. They are based out of Chula Vista, IIRC.

 

[sudsmobile]

You have a choice, you can have a PureTec DI system installed. It's pricey up front, but the price per gallon is manageable. The price per gallon out of the little RV systems is like $1/gallon when your water is 500ppm.

 

[sudsmobile]

And, no, soft water isn't enough. Not when your water starts at 400-500ppm. Not even close to good enough. And to answer the question about washing it in the shade, no that doesn't work either. And forget it when summer gets here, which in SoCal is like 9 months a year.

 

[392hemi]

Wash with rinseless or waterless using $1 gallon of distilled water from grocery store? Buy and mix batches and use them?

 

[OMGClayAiken]

One thing to consider is a pressure washer hooked to a CR spotless will use less water and help your resin last longer if you went that route.

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[sudsmobile]

That tiny double resin system is rated at 300 gallons, I believe, when your input is 100-150ppm. I did the math once, it's been awhile, it was like $1-1.50/gallon at 450ppm and that was exclusive of the cost of the system.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

And, no, soft water isn't enough. Not when your water starts at 400-500ppm. Not even close to good enough.

I believe the OP's 400-500 ppm water will be just as soft as my 200-300 ppm water after going through the softener, he will just not be able to treat as many gallons as I do (with the same size softener).

No, you can't do "rinse and walk away" drying with soft water, but I was never able to achieve that with my CR, either. But you don't get spots that won't wipe off, which for me, is "enough".

But, as other members have mentioned, for SoCal dirt, maybe rinseless using distilled supermarket water is the way to go.

 

[xenonsupra]

Why not wash with regular hose water n rinse with this SPX6000C-XR that u fill with DI. It holds 5 gallons which is more than enough to rinse a car ( I can wash a car with 1.5 fills); just a suggestion.

Yeah it's an option but then I'll be lugging 5 gallon jugs back and forth from the grocery store everytime I want to wash my car. Kind of obnoxious.

Truck looks amazing. Couple of questions.

1) Cant you remove the nozzle from hose and just sheet the water off?

2) If you wash in shade or night does it still spot?

3) Would a rinseless or waterless alleviate this? Especially since you clean one panel, dry and move to next?

1. Yes but it'll still leave spots in some areas
2. Yes, the water is so bad, like really really bad.
3. Yes I could fill a bucket with DI or distilled water and use that, but I'd probably need to hit a local DIY wash to get the worst off first.

Soft water isn't enough, you need de-ionized water. There is a company called CR Spotless that a lot of people here buy products from. It's expensive, but like you I just don't have any choice. They are based out of Chula Vista, IIRC.

Yup considering it, see my original post. It's El Cajon just 20 min from me. This would slightly reduce the cost of the filter exchanges but not much.

You have a choice, you can have a PureTec DI system installed. It's pricey up front, but the price per gallon is manageable. The price per gallon out of the little RV systems is like $1/gallon when your water is 500ppm.

I went to their site but dont see any pricing? Whats the approx price?

Wash with rinseless or waterless using $1 gallon of distilled water from grocery store? Buy and mix batches and use them?

One thing to consider is a pressure washer hooked to a CR spotless will use less water and help your resin last longer if you went that route.

Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk

Yeah I'd definitely go that route if I get it as I already have an electric pressure washer, but I'll still likely use 5-10 gal per car which will chew through the resin pretty fast.

I believe the OP's 400-500 ppm water will be just as soft as my 200-300 ppm water after going through the softener, he will just not be able to treat as many gallons as I do (with the same size softener).

No, you can't do "rinse and walk away" drying with soft water, but I was never able to achieve that with my CR, either. But you don't get spots that won't wipe off, which for me, is "enough".

But, as other members have mentioned, for SoCal dirt, maybe rinseless using distilled supermarket water is the way to go.

Yeah I think I'll likely go with my first option (DIY wash/foam) then come home and rinseless ONR.

 

[Mad Wax]

Use a bucket filled with your favorite rinseless wash solution and use a Worx Hydroshot when your ready to rinse