[Jeff]

I’ve been looking as well and they’re expensive and the resin doesn’t last long. Make sure to get one with a bypass so you can wash without using DI.

Also get water filters and a softener. I have a 2 stage filter and a softener to clean the intake water for fresh. I use a giraffetools pressure washer in my wash bay. Plan on plumbing a DI with bypass valves and tucking it away just out of room and need to reconfigure the genny vent fan to make smaller to get a bit more room in that bay.

[Jerry]

Captain,

guess you have been lucky to not get water spots when using softened water prior to the DI filter. I did and got water spots. Afterward, I researched and found, at least CR Spotless, the maker of my unit, does not recommend using softened water in advance of the DI filter.

Copied from their website:
Will soft water extend the life of my resin?

Softened water (potassium or sodium-based) will not extend the life of the resin. The TDS count of the water coming out of the water softener will be (more or less) the same as the water going into your softener and may damage your work surface in cases with high levels of total dissolved solids in the supply water.

[Isaiah]

There’s nothing special about different types of DI resin or enclosures or any reason to get a “car wash” type. Water softeners don’t help reduce TDS so they wouldn’t help extend the DI but they don’t hurt. Having multiple pre-filters will definitely help remove TDS and extend the life of DI.

I’m hoping to find some whole home pre-filter that can use DI with bypass and see if I can build something cheaper and easier. I feel these car wash types are overpriced, plus I want it all to fit inside the wash bay with accessible valves in some custom casing.

[Jerry]

My new to me 2000 Royale XLV has a CR Spotless that in the default water intake configuration is bypassed. It’s also plumbed into a pressure washer that sits behind the front bumper (nothing else in there – i.e., roof airs).

That said, I’m not real keen on having a pressure washer in that area. I know the prior owner used it often, but every pressure washer I’ve used in the past seems to leak just as much water as it sprays.