Washing with well water - how are y'all avoiding hard water?

[Summit981]

This solution from Obsessed Garage - the CR Spotless Mobile Solution can be used at home and away from the home for mobile detailers.

https://www.obsessedgarage.com/collections/water-filtration/products/cr-spotless-mobile-solution

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[Pokey_Cacti]

Deionizer is the way to go. We rushed drying for years to avoid spots, and so bought a DI tank a few years ago, mostly cuz I didn't like getting up on the RV roof to dry. BUT, we use the DI tank on all the cars, too. Keep in mind, there's cation (+) and anion (-) resins, so two tanks, or you buy a mixed bed tank that has both resins in one tank, but you have to buy new resin 'cuz you can't recharge mixed tank. That said, we have 150 grain water (pretty hard) here and it's going on four years with the original resin charge. Most people just replace their resin regardless 'cuz it's easier than dealing with chemicals.

 

[I_Fly]

This is the deionizer that I'm using. You could use this with hard water but you'd need to replace the resin more frequently

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FK4YGB2C

How often do you need to replace the resin? (I.e. every 10 washes)

Thanks!

 

[Brian_B]

How often do you need to replace the resin? (I.e. every 10 washes)

Thanks!

I’ve got about 8 on it now and it’s still ok - so not sure how many more I will get before it needs it

 

[Tim Smith]

Hey all! I live with my parents, and we have well water. While I love the taste compared to city water, I can see that we've got a crazy hard water problem, especially because the garden hose bypasses the whole-house filter we have. What do y'all recommend for filtering the water and getting those minerals out to prevent water spots? I typically dry my vehicle immediately after washing it, but sometimes I either miss a spot or just don't have time. Any solutions y'all have found?

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Here is the solution if your parents don't have a water softener. https://tinyurl.com/2d9a5maz .

 

[Pokey_Cacti]

I can't say...we've washed ours cars and RV over a dozen times and the conductivity meter still reads "0".

 

[Nibroc99]

I can't say...we've washed ours cars and RV over a dozen times and the conductivity meter still reads "0".

Good for you I guess? Idk how that was meant to be helpful

 

[cowman]

Been washing my butt and cars with well water for 60 years... never hurt either one.... Lord help us all...

 

[cbrenthus]

I use this one, a bit better priced. I only use it for the final rinse, rinsing off salt in the winter, or a quick rinse if I'm washing a car and something comes up and I need to step away

https://www.vevor.com/other-c_45583...MI8-jGvMK5lgMV4EdHAR1uWzY4EAQYASABEgL4W_D_BwE

 

[Brian_B]

Been washing my butt and cars with well water for 60 years... never hurt either one.... Lord help us all...

Not all well water is equal

 

[Dral97]

Not all well water is equal

Truth. I live up on a small mountain with tons of what I think is shale. There is maybe just 7 or 8 inches of soil and then you hit layers of it. My well water has a ridiculous amount of sediment in it to where I could probably change the filter weekly and still not keep up with it.

OP, I just found this stuff over the weekend. It may help to get rid of any lingering spots you have after drying.

Chemical Guys Swift Wipe Waterless Car Wash, 16 oz, bright shine - Walmart.com

Or could try this:
Heavy Duty Water Spot Remover Kit | Chemical Guys

 

[BroncoChallenger]

When I was on well water (and agreed, I preferred the taste), I intentionally tied the outdoor faucets into the main water system AFTER the filter/softener (it had originally been plumbed BEFORE the filter/softener). It actually doesn't take a lot of work if things are in close proximity, and it's even easier if it's a newer house that uses Pex or something like it.

 

[Pokey_Cacti]

Good for you I guess? Idk how that was meant to be helpful

Just that the DI lifetime isn't short...he asked how long my resin lasts and I don't know after a few years...

 

[Brian_B]

Just that the DI lifetime isn't short...he asked how long my resin lasts and I don't know after a few years...

Really depends on your water quality going in. If you have really hard water it won't last long at all.

I'm not a water quality expert but we touch on it at work - water quality varies a lot by well, reservoir, and even season as some municipalities will shift their water sources.

Here in Central CA water quality can vary from very soft pure spring water you could bottle straight with no treatment to some of the nastiest hard water that almost looks like chalk coming out of the ground.

Also, for those on municipal water (or shock a water tank) - chlorine will absolutely destroy these resin beds. Make sure to either use an unchlorinated source or a carbon filter to get the chlorine out.

 

[Jakob1972]

Our well water is so hard you have to chew it. Since we have no pavement and the only concrete we have is under the house and in my garage I don’t have a good place to wash a vehicle without making a muddy mess so I just take my vehicles to the car wash about 13 miles away. And when I get to the house they are so dusty they need to be washed again. Usually I leave a protective layer of dirt on my cars. I usually was it when we go out of town and I’ll be parked on pavement.

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