need opinions on water filter

I

imported_Jakerooni

New member
Seems we have pretty hard well water here at the new shop and I've been debating about putting some sort of inline filter system between the water spicket and my power washer. Problem is I've never had to do it before so I'm not sure what I need or what I need to be looking for or staying away from. Any pointers?
 
D&D Auto Detail said:
Stay away from filters like these, Deluxe Filter System They really dont do anything. Id look into CR Spotless.
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That is compltely not true at all!! Ya the autogeek system is a bit expensive for what is yes i wouldnt recommend getting it from them. Also there Filters as mentioned dont really do much so that said u have to buy the RIGHT filters!!

Crspotless system is the same things they sell on Pwgazette just with an upgragded filter which pw actually sells u just have to find it on ther site its NOT in the recommended filters sections u have to go to there filter section to find them!



Here is my exact system that i paid 200$ for and im extremely happy cause u know what IT WORKS. I tested it with my Tds meter and ive got practially 10ppm compared to 293ppm.

My water flows first into a 2.5x20in filter with a FC201 filter. (filters 45,kgal) THen right into a Deluxe filter system

Know this is where u all will find where doing some research pays off! They sell Deionizing cartridges for these filters here under the granular filters section its PW-DI for 27$ Im not sure if its a new filter offered here but either way it works and im extremely happy..

I did a test on my benz that sits in the sun all day i litterly wet the whole hood and front wheels and just left it in the 100deg sun to dry, i came back the next day and found NO water spots at all. All i had found was a residue dirt trail where the water was making the dirt run off the car with no white outlines at all..:bow
 
FC201- "A tight cartridge that may restrict flow rate." This doesnt sound good for my 2.5GPM pressure washer.



Is the "Deluxe" system just 1 filter? So you've got a total of 2 filters? What kind of filter do you have in the deluxe part? Just a water softener filter, FC024.



So let me get this right, you've got a carbon block filter FC201 and a water softener filter FC024? Or are you using one of the DI filters?



Hell, you could have the carbon block, sediment, then the DI.
 
D&D Auto Detail said:
FC201- "A tight cartridge that may restrict flow rate." This doesnt sound good for my 2.5GPM pressure washer.



Is the "Deluxe" system just 1 filter? So you've got a total of 2 filters? What kind of filter do you have in the deluxe part? Just a water softener filter, FC024.



So let me get this right, you've got a carbon block filter FC201 and a water softener filter FC024? Or are you using one of the DI filters?



Hell, you could have the carbon block, sediment, then the DI.
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Correct it goes FC201 in a 2.5x20in filter (big blue one) flows 6-8gpm

to a Deluxe system which is 2 9.75x2.5 in filter (clear ones)

My original plan was to run a FC201 to a FC024 to a FC006..

I ended up not having to use the FC024 at all so i leave that middle cartridge BLANK and still have normal water flow with exceptionally clean water!!
 
Alright, so youve got 3 filters, but only 2 cartridges, FC201 and FC006 which is the DI filter. So you really cant compare the system that AG sells to yours because you're using a DI cartridge.



That DI filter recommends only 1GPM and max 125psi. Are you using this system with a pressure washer? If so, what are the specs?



Just called them and the guy said he doesnt recommend using that DI filter for my pressure washer. The water wont be exposed long enough to filter it completely. But I guess thats why you use the big water softener filter before it.



Can you please tell me the specs on your pressure washer if you're using one, and what the TDS meter is reading for water coming out AFTER the pressure washer.
 
D&D Auto Detail said:
Alright, so youve got 3 filters, but only 2 cartridges, FC201 and FC006 which is the DI filter. So you really cant compare the system that AG sells to yours because you're using a DI cartridge.
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ya i was just merely implying the system itself is the same just with a different filter! So anyone who did buy the autogeek filter setup can buy this DI cartridge and probably get far superior results compared to the filters they sell with them!



yes thats exactly what ive got and so far its working great! I have not yet hooked it up to a pressure washer nor do i plan on it. What ive done here is made a setup that will put the filter setup inline before my hose so i can still use my hose for normal use and when i need to fill my 90gal tank I will connect the whips and fill it with pure water instead of hardwater!



The only reason i use the Big water filter before the Di filter is cuase I wanted a filter that can last and will expose the water for an ensured cleaning capabilitly even if i decided to unhook the DI filter!

I do have a Camspray 1500a on the way i could try to set up in the garage and see how it works and yes ill do a test for u out the nozzle that sounds like a good experiment and fun none the less to use it for the first time.

Sounds to me like your wanting a defininte inline filter and wont be using a tank so yes i would have to do this experiment to find out if it works, or if the gpm is to low and is not filtering the water! Im with u on this itll just be a couple days till i get it!
 
See the problem is a lot of these DI systems need a slow flow of water so they can filter them. The faster the water goes the lesser the water is exposed to the filter, thus not filtering it as well. Thats why I said the big filter before the DI is a good idea, more exposure and cleaner water for the DI to filter. Instead of it trying to filter straight 293ppm water, it doesnt need to work as hard. Thus lasting longer too and working better.



Another problem is a lot of people will test their water right after the filter, instead of after the pressure washer if they are using one. This gives you bad readings because the TDS will be higher out of the pressure washer compared to before it.
 
For a CR Spotless, Costco.com has a better price than the manufacturer. Plus, this would qualify for Costco's unconditional guarantee. I've thought about getting it for months, but I don't know what my TDS is and the cost of the resin is what's stopping me from buying it.
 
BlackElantraGT said:
For a CR Spotless, Costco.com has a better price than the manufacturer. Plus, this would qualify for Costco's unconditional guarantee. I've thought about getting it for months, but I don't know what my TDS is and the cost of the resin is what's stopping me from buying it.
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Well a TDS meter does come with the system. But you can get one for 10- 20.
 
I have been using a CR Spotless system for almost 2 years. I cannot imagine being without it.



The TDS at my folk's house was nearly 300 some days with public water. At my house, where I have a well...it is under 150. Output is right at 0 to 002.



Obviously, the less TDS from the source, the longer your resin will last. Even at my folks, I seemed to get plenty of use out of mine before needing to be replaced.
 
Does the TDS meter that comes with the CR Spotless tell you what your TDS is or does it only tell you if it needs to be replaced or not? For example, we have a filter in our fridge for the drinking water, but it lights up green when its good, orange when it's about to need replacement soon, and red to replace now.



Matt M, PA can you give a good estimate as far as what you consider plenty of use is? Let's say you have 2 cars and you wash each once a week, how long do you think you can go before the resin needs to be replaced?
 
BlackElantra...the TDS on the Spotless system actually give readings as I mentioned above.



The biggest unit, the DIC20 (which I have) is good for 300 gallons before the resins needs to be replaced. The less your TDS is incoming, the more your resin will last.



I use a 1.3GPM pressure washer and use plain old water in my bucket. Figuring 1.5GPM, and 5 full minutes of spray time would use about 8 gallons per wash, which is likely more than needed. So, using 300 gallons as a benchmark, something like 80 washes?



I know mine seem to last long enough that when the meter gets close to 25 (which is where spotting starts) I don't feel I was shorted, and that I got my money's worth.
 
Thanks for your honest opinion Matt. This was the unit that I originally wanted, but lately I've been close to ordering just those 2 garden hose filters from pwgazette since it's much cheaper to recharge the softening cartridges. I don't need it to be completely spotless, but I figured anything would be better than hard water.



So it looks like I'm gonna have to save up a bit more and somehow manage to convince the boss (aka wife). She doesn't see all the little products I buy, but there's no way she won't notice a big unit like that. Sometimes I feel like my little detailing products are my little mistresses on the side! She does the same thing though with all the crap she buys from HSN and QVC.



Are you only using your unit during the final rinse or throughout the whole process?
 
I have mine hooked up to a pressure washer, with a retractable reel for the hose, so I use my Spotless water for both initial rinse and final rinse. I use regular water in my bucket.
 
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