We have some seriously hard water here in TX... I was looking at the Griots Garage softener and it seems like a good idea, but too expensive. I found this one but it seems too cheap to be any good.

Anyone know anything about water softeners? Is there a good alternative to the Griots one?

 

The water in my area is also hard enough that it used to make me dread washing the car. I use the Mr. Clean system now--makes all the difference. The initial set-up including the spray nozzle costs around $30 now I think, but the refills for the de-ionizer and car shampoo last for quite awhile. There are several "Mr. Clean" threads around.... :smile:

 

I've had the Griot's softener for some time now, and it really does work. used it about ten times - it'll be interesting to see how long the media lasts.

I agree that it's too expensive. A small consolation, but the Griot's price is about the same as the original Euro item costs. I've seen this kind of product advertised in the back of Car and Evo for some time.

 

We have very hard well water where we live. Rather than deal with Mr. Clean or some $100 plus gadget, I just quick detail off the hard water spotting with with Zaino 6 or NXT and they disappear.

hs

 

Another easy way to deal with hard water is to put a couple of drops of Jet Dry in the bucket of wash water. It helps to sheet the water off when you use an "open" (no nozzle) hose to rinse off the car.

 

I can wash my wife's dark blue SUV in full sun (I did it last weekend in 98 degree F temps). After you wash each panel, you have to rinse that panel and then wet the entire car quickly. You do one final rinse of the car after you finish washing the last bits and then dry quickly.

Your QD of choice should take care of any spots that might remain. I've never had a big problem with water spots as long as the water doesn't have hours to evaporate and bake onto the car. I've also got several coats of Zaino on there which probably helps shed the waterspots.

 

I got a whole-house water line filter at Lowes Home Improvement and put brass adapter fittings to go from pipe threads to hose threads, along with some quick-disconnect fittings. I put it in the hose I use for car washing. It filters out the heavy sediments, rust, sand, etc. and I can tell a big difference when I use it. It just sits behind my hose reel so it's hidden from sight.

Cost was under $50 for everything and the replacement cartridges are fairly cheap. Each cartridge is supposed to last 3 months filtering all water for the house, so I figure it's good for 1.5 to 2 years for just carwash water.

The best part is that it has a bypass so my wife can still use the unfiltered water for her plants.

 

Sounds good... just out of curiosity... does the device need to remain horizontal? I live in an Apt, so I will be using an outside hose fitting....

 

Not that I can tell. Mine stands upright but I don't see where it would really make any difference. The water flows in one side and must pass through the filter to get to the outlet side. I didn't see anything in the instructions that said it had to be mounted a particular way.

 

Do you mind emailing pictures and part numbers( jsandler@excite.com )?

 

Hmm. I have well water - very ironey. But, the house has a water softener, which I have to add salt to (giant chunks, not the large salt blocks). Outside, there are two taps - hard and soft water.

If I let the soft water dry, I get all these salt dots on my paint. Is this a bad thing? Or is that the hard water and not the salts fault?

 

I'll try to get some pictures tonight when I get home.

As for part numbers, the Whirlpool part number is WHCF-DWHV. The brass fittings were just dug out of the adapter bin - I think it's 1/4 NPT to hose end (one male, one female) and then some quick disconnect hose fittings.

 

Out of curiousity, how is the water pressure out of your hose? Since the filter and size of the inlet-outlet impact flow....

 

I've tried an in-line filter on the hose to combat water spotting. It won't hurt, but an in-line sediment filter won't help with hard water spots. Believe me -- I wish it would (it's simple and cheap)! If your spotting problem is caused by "hard" water (and it probably is), only things like softeners or reverse-osmosis filtration will correct it. In answer to your question, hose water pressure won't really be effected by an in-line sediment filter.

Getting an in-line sediment filter to combat hard water spots is kinda like getting a loud muffler on an otherwise stock exhaust system; get the filter 'cause it looks cool, but don't be surprised if you don't notice any difference.

EDIT: I've got to try the Jet Dry idea -- if that works on the spotting, you should get the Nobel Prize!